THE OAKLAND EMERALD NEW DEAL
IS A COMMUNITY-BASED INITIATIVE TO
EQUITABLY REINVEST IN COMMUNITIES
OF COLOR WHO HAVE BEEN MOST
IMPACTED BY THE WAR ON DRUGS AND
DECADES-LONG POLICIES CRIMINALIZING
PEOPLE OF COLOR.
OAKLAND’S WAR ON DRUGS:
POLICIES THAT HAVE LASTING IMPACT ON FAMILIES AND
NEIGHBORHOODS
Nuisance Abatement Evictions
At least 164 households evicted
(2004-2019)
Anti-Loitering Law 1983Civil Asset Forfeiture
Over-policing of neighborhoods and
harassment of residents. Some were fined
for just congregating in their
neighborhood.
Finally repealed in 2018.
For years, Oakland had the most draconian
statute in the State: no convictions were
necessary, and law enforcement can seize
as much of an individual’s assets as they
can.
1970: Congress passed the Comprehensive
Drug Abuse Prevention and Control Act to
authorize drug-related civil asset forfeiture.
1984: Amended law to allow law enforce-
ment agencies to keep forfeiture proceeds,
thus funding the War on Drugs. In 2015
alone, California seized $179 million in
assets.
2016: Gov. Jerry Brown signed SB443 to
close loophole to finally require criminal
conviction for civil asset forfeiture.
OAKLAND’S WAR ON DRUGS: IMPACT ON EAST AND WEST
EMERALD NEW DEAL
Re-purpose Oakland’s Cannabis Tax Revenues to deal with the harm caused by the War on Drugs on individuals, families and neighborhoods by supporting:(1) Community and Economic Development, (2) Mental Health, (3) Housing Access, (4) Re-Entry Support Services, and(5)Economic Self-Sufficiency Creates a Planning & Oversight Commission appointed by City Council. Majority of Committee members will have to be directly impacted by the War on Drugs. Borrowing from the precedent set by the Children's Fund established by Oakland's Kids First! (ordinance passed in 1996). The Committee will be supported by City staff to vet proposals and present a complete package of recommendations for the City Council to adopt.
Key functions of the Commission:
○ Atone for the War On Drugs by responsibly reinvesting back into the community. ○ Produce a report on the impact of the War on Drugs in Oakland and use this report as the initial basis for developing its Strategic Investment Plan. ○ Use the Strategic Investment Plan to guide its recommendations for investments to the City Council.
INTENDED
BENEFICIARIES
OF THE
EMERALD NEW
DEAL
THOSE LIVING WITHIN A
GEOGRAPHIC BOUNDARY
► Individual and/or family members have resided in
these areas for at least 10 years between 1970 -
2010:
►(a) any combination of Oakland police beats:
2x, 2y, 6X, 7X, 19X, 21X, 21Y, 23X, 26Y, 27Y,
29X, 30X, 30Y, 31Y, 32X, 33X, 34X, 35X; and/or
►(b) the following 2010 census tracts: 4014,
4015, 4016, 4017, 4018, 4022, 4024, 4025, 4028,
4030, 4031, 4054.01, 4054.02, 4058, 4059.01,
4059.02, 4060, 4062.01, 4062.02, 4063, 4066.02,
4071.01, 4071.02 4072, 4074, 4075, 4085, 4086,
4087, 4088, 4089, 4091, 4092, 4093, 4094, 4095,
4096, 4097, 4101, 4102, 4104, 4104, and 4105.
INTENDED
BENEFICIARIES
OF THE EMERALD
NEW DEAL
THOSE DIRECTLY IMPACTED BY THE
POLICIES OF THE WAR ON DRUGS
● Was arrested in Oakland and convicted of a cannabis crime after November 5, 1996; OR
● Received a fine or citation under Oakland’s Anti-Loitering Ordinance which was in effect between 1983 and 2018 when the Oakland City Council ended the program; OR
● Whose assets and property were seized under the Civil Asset Forfeiture Program without a conviction before September 29, 2016 when SB 443 took effect in California which finally put an end to this practice; OR
● Directly affected by other policies and practices pursued by the City of Oakland under the guise of the War on Drugs that disproportionately affected residents in the targeted geographic neighborhoods as borne out of the research conducted by the END Commission.
INTENDED
BENEFICIARIES
OF THE EMERALD
NEW DEAL:
EAST OAKLAND,
WEST OAKLAND,
AND THE
FLATLANDS
THE RIPPLE EFFECT CONTINUES TO
THIS DAY WITH FATHERLESS
HOUSEHOLDS
THE COMMUNITY IS LOOKING TO WORK
HAND-IN-HAND WITH THE CITY COUNCIL TO DEVELOP
EQUITABLE SOLUTIONS TO COMPLEX PROBLEMS.
WE CAN DO THIS THROUGH THE EMERALD NEW DEAL.
THANK YOU.