Oakland City Council President Rebecca Kaplan Releases A Video Addressing Oakland Residents Regarding COVID-19
Oakland- City Council President Rebecca Kaplan released a video for Oakland residents on the City’s actions to address COVID-19. In this video, linked here, the Council President explains the City’s move to provide more toilets and hand-washing stations, and requests the state to issue a moratorium on evictions and to immediately provide places for unhoused residents.
To be clear, Governor Newsom’s Order, while a step in the right direction, stops short of a moratorium. As stated in a previous tweet by Council President Kaplan, the Executive Order allows cities to pass ordinances to halt some evictions, which requires public meetings and requires staff to come in and open facilities, while simultaneously being asked to stay home.
Press said the order halts evictions – it doesn't – but allows cities to pass ordinances to halt some evictions. This requires public meetings and requires staff to come in and open facilities, while we've been directed to stay home. Can State directly halt evictions please? https://t.co/rAmsfJwSxH
— Rebecca Kaplan, Oakland Council President (@Kaplan4Oakland) March 17, 2020
Said Council President Kaplan, “As we work to protect public health and respond to the coronavirus, please join me in asking the State of California to put a moratorium on evictions, so we don’t have more people put at risk and displaced.”
Last week, the Oakland City Council moved quickly to convene a special meeting and unanimously approved a Resolution confirming the existence of a local emergency in the City of Oakland in the face of the COVID-19 virus, which was declared a pandemic by the World Health Organization. In addition the Council sent a letter to the Alameda Court to pause hearing new and ongoing evictions which they did. Agenda is linked here.
Yesterday, Interim City Administrator Steven Falk announced temporary changes to City government functions linked here, as a response to the Alameda County Department of Public Health Order to shelter in place. Here is a FAQ sheet by the County detailing how sheltering in place requirements will impact day to day activities and lists exempted essential services. The Alameda County webpage also provides up to date information on COVID-19.