"Gentrification is Predatory Development"

Shortly after voters passed Measure 1C and rejected Proposition 90 in early November 2007, West Oakland residents and Just Cause Oakland held a rally in an empty lot at the site of their new billboard to offer a new direction for community development in Oakland. The election results were a clear statement from voters that developers must not be allowed to treat neighborhoods as their playground, and that more must be done to build affordable housing.

"My neighborhood needs more affordable housing," said Felisha Lee, a Just Cause Oakland Member. "This election shows that Oakland residents believe we need more money for housing, and less for developers' pocket books. And that's what we're fighting for."

The Just Cause Oakland rally, entitled "West Oakland: Our Way" was held in West Oakland and was attended by School Board Member Greg Hodge, County Supervisor Keith Carson's office, and several other community members and leaders.

Bond Measure 1C provided an influx of money for housing construction, much of it going directly to affordable housing. Proposition 90 was intended to compensate private property owners for future profits and equity lost through government action, including legislation that might force developers to include less-profitable affordable units in developments.