Dear International Blvd. Merchants,
We did it!
At the November 18th Oakland City Council meeting, the Council approved a resolution that included $2 million for direct assistance to businesses!
This is a giant step toward making sure that International Blvd merchants are able to survive and thrive in the new environment created by the BRT. It goes hand in hand with commitments we won from AC-Transit and City staff to make design changes based on consultations with each business along the route and to create parking solutions based on neighborhood input.
This victory comes after three years of work and resulted from an unprecedented collaborative effort, launched by the East Bay Asian Youth Center, between merchants in three neighborhoods—Eastlake, San Antonio and Fruitvale. Congratulations to all the merchants who worked so hard for this for so long.
Thanks also to the support we received from Allen Temple, who consistently advocated on behalf of all merchants on International Blvd.
There is still work to be done, of course. The details of who can access the fund and how it can be used have to be worked out. Also, at the last minute Mayor-elect Libby Schaaf inserted some language into the resolution which we still need to sort out. Stay tuned for how you can help on this.
And of course, we will need to work with City staff to make sure that they follow through on their commitments to design parking solutions based on neighborhood input sessions, between now and April.
In the meantime, let’s celebrate the fact that we won $2 million—which is $2 million more than the City or AC Transit planned to provide—to directly assist businesses. Let’s thank the elected officials who stood up for us, including Council President Pat Kernighan, Councilmember at Large Rebecca Kaplan, Councilmember Larry Reid, Councilmember Desley Brooks and Councilmember Lynette McElhaney.
At the end, four of the five Councilmembers whose districts include the BRT voted to support the existing community of businesses. These four Councilmembers have very diverse views, and very diverse constituencies, but they all united behind us on this issue, and we deeply appreciate their support.
Most of all, though, let’s celebrate the power that was created by sticking together and building relationships that emphasized our common interests as merchants and community members. This is the real victory, and it is a great foundation that we can build on.
Again, congratulations and now let’s finish the job!
Andy Nelsen Xavier Sibaja
EBAYC EBAYC
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Monday, November 17, 2014
On a Final City Council Vote Merchants Address New Transit Impacts Merchants from Eastlake, San Antonio, Frutivale, and East Oakland demand mitigations support
Oakland, CA – On Tuesday, November 18, 2014 at 5:30 pm, at a City Council hearing which it will likely be lengthy, merchants all along the 9.5 mile stretch of International Blvd. will pressure City Council members for them to commit to sound business mitigation plans in response to impacts caused by the new, AC-Transit’s Bus Rapid Transit (BRT.)
A point of contention has been expressed by Councilmember Noel Gallo, who objects to direct financial assistance to those business severely impacted by a new street configuration brought by the BRT. Case in point is: the loss of over 500 parking spaces; virtually no left turns to vehicular traffic; reduction of two traffic lanes; compromised loading and access to businesses; and stations placed in new created medians.
This Tuesday, merchants will also pressure the Council for clarity of what it is offered as support. At a recent Public Works Committee Meeting, AC Transit and City staff presented a report which included “bid packages” which are the project phases and the support programs to help merchants survive construction, and the new created physical environment. Council committee members Rebecca Kaplan, and Larry Reid shared their concerns that of the almost 9 million dollars in merchant aid, “potentially” only 1 million could be used in direct financial assistance whether it be loans or grants. The rest of the funds will be used for technical assistance which was often referenced by these committee members as “advise.” Therefore, this International Blvd, merchant coalition is mobilizing to demand project conditions of approval that effectively and fairly address BRT related impacts to their businesses.
With slogans such as “A BRT for Everyone,” and “Justice for Merchants” small business owners are advocating for workable solutions, given that the project will be approved. These proposed solutions aim to help them mitigate disruption to regular business operations during, and after construction. As well, these demands include relocation assistance in case some businesses become unviable in this new street configuration.
According to AC Transit, project cost will be approximately 200 million dollars. The merchant proposals to mitigate these impacts, beyond project design changes, represent less than 5%.
BRT is planned to run 9.7 miles from Downtown Oakland to Downtown San Leandro. All along this stretch a little over 500 parking spaces will be lost; almost all left turns will be prohibited; and from 14thAvenue to 107th Ave. (7.1 miles) on International Blvd the new vehicular traffic will be on two lanes, rather than the actual 4 lanes.
1/18/14
Monday, November 17, 2014
On a Final City Council Vote Merchants Address New Transit Impacts Merchants from Eastlake, San Antonio, Frutivale, and East Oakland demand mitigations support
Oakland, CA – On Tuesday, November 18, 2014 at 5:30 pm, at a City Council hearing which it will likely be lengthy, merchants all along the 9.5 mile stretch of International Blvd. will pressure City Council members for them to commit to sound business mitigation plans in response to impacts caused by the new, AC-Transit’s Bus Rapid Transit (BRT.)
A point of contention has been expressed by Councilmember Noel Gallo, who objects to direct financial assistance to those business severely impacted by a new street configuration brought by the BRT. Case in point is: the loss of over 500 parking spaces; virtually no left turns to vehicular traffic; reduction of two traffic lanes; compromised loading and access to businesses; and stations placed in new created medians.
This Tuesday, merchants will also pressure the Council for clarity of what it is offered as support. At a recent Public Works Committee Meeting, AC Transit and City staff presented a report which included “bid packages” which are the project phases and the support programs to help merchants survive construction, and the new created physical environment. Council committee members Rebecca Kaplan, and Larry Reid shared their concerns that of the almost 9 million dollars in merchant aid, “potentially” only 1 million could be used in direct financial assistance whether it be loans or grants. The rest of the funds will be used for technical assistance which was often referenced by these committee members as “advise.” Therefore, this International Blvd, merchant coalition is mobilizing to demand project conditions of approval that effectively and fairly address BRT related impacts to their businesses.
With slogans such as “A BRT for Everyone,” and “Justice for Merchants” small business owners are advocating for workable solutions, given that the project will be approved. These proposed solutions aim to help them mitigate disruption to regular business operations during, and after construction. As well, these demands include relocation assistance in case some businesses become unviable in this new street configuration.
According to AC Transit, project cost will be approximately 200 million dollars. The merchant proposals to mitigate these impacts, beyond project design changes, represent less than 5%.
BRT is planned to run 9.7 miles from Downtown Oakland to Downtown San Leandro. All along this stretch a little over 500 parking spaces will be lost; almost all left turns will be prohibited; and from 14thAvenue to 107th Ave. (7.1 miles) on International Blvd the new vehicular traffic will be on two lanes, rather than the actual 4 lanes.
1/18/14
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