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Housing key concern for Oakland mayor by Matthew S. Bajko
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an Franciscans priced out of the city’s housing market have increasingly turned to Oakland in search of cheaper abodes. Yet the influx of house hunters and Rick Gerharter apartment seekers has resulted in push- Oakland Mayor ing up rents and Libby Schaaf home prices in the East Bay city. That in turn has raised concern amid longtime Oakland residents, who worry they may need to move in search of cheaper housing. The debate over building affordable versus market-rate housing that is roiling San Francisco City Hall is also rocking Oakland’s corridors of power. Housing activists in recent months have voiced opposition to several projects planned near Oakland’s Lake Merritt for their lack of below-market-rate units. “The issue I see that is really huge is so many LGBT people are getting driven out of San Francisco because of the housing costs. A lot of them are trying to move to Oakland,” said Michael Colbruno, a gay political consultant and former Oakland planning commissioner who now serves on the city’s Port Commission. “I have talked to a number of people who are going to Vallejo and Martinez because Oakland is even getting too pricey. I think dealing with the cost of housing, particularly for people with limited means, is really, really critical.” The issue is a major concern for Oakland Mayor Libby Schaaf, 49, a former city councilwoman who ousted the city’s previous mayor, Jean Quan, in the November election. Her solution, which she is unapologetic about, is to pursue more market-rate housing development for her city. “I am more focused on market-rate housing because I want San Franciscans to have places to move in to,” Schaaf told the Bay Area Reporter in July during a wide-ranging interview about her first seven months in office. “The affordability crisis in this city is real,” added Schaaf. “We have got to act quickly or we will destabilize the fantastic neighborhoods that have made Oakland Oakland.” One challenge in convincing developers to build in Oakland, said Schaaf, is that construction costs are similar to San Francisco but the housing is priced less. “While our rents are rising faster than any city in America, they are still not as high as in San Francisco, so projects remain more profitable in San Francisco,” said Schaaf. See page 7 >>
Vol. 45 • No. 32 • August 6-12, 2015
Teen dies after Jerusalem Pride attack by Heather Cassell
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an Francisco’s LGBT Jewish community is mourning following a brutal stabbing attack at Jerusalem Pride that left a teenage girl dead and several others injured. On July 30, an ultra-Orthodox Jewish man, Yishai Schlissel, allegedly attacked Jerusalem Pride marchers with a butcher knife, stabbing six people. He critically injured three people while the others sustained non-life threatening injuries. Schlissel had recently been released from prison following a 10-year prison stint for a 2005 knife attack at Jerusalem Pride that injured three people. Leading up to the assault he had publicly threatened to attack Jerusalem Pride again. Authorities detained Schlissel and are still investigating the crime, reported Ha’aretz. Three days after she was stabbed multiple times during the attack, Shira Banki, a straight 16-year-old high school student from Jerusalem, died from her wounds. The community joined her family August 3 at Shiva, a memorial service. Ha’aretz reported that Banki was an innocent victim who was marching in Jerusalem Pride supporting her LGBT friends. “Our magical Shira was murdered because she was a happy 16-year-old – full of life and love – who came to express her support for her friends’ rights to live as they choose,” said a statement from her family, who requested
AFP/Gali Tibbon
People sat around candles during a gathering of hundreds of friends, classmates, teachers, members of the LGBT community and supporters in downtown Jerusalem on August 2 to mourn the death of Jerusalem Pride stabbing victim Shira Banki.
the public to respect their privacy while they grieve for their loss. “For no good reason and because of evil, stupidity and negligence, the life of our beautiful flower was cut short. Bad things happen to good people, and a very bad thing happened to our amazing girl.” The Banki family ended their public statement expressing hope for “less hatred and more tolerance.”
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu expressed his condolences to the Banki family August 2, following his condemnation of the attack three days prior. “We won’t permit the terrible murderer to challenge the basic values on which Israeli society is built,” he said in a statement. “We reject See page 14 >>
Nathan chosen to head AEF, BCEF by Cynthia Laird
amazing board and staff to ensure AEF and BCEF deliver on their misollowing a six-month search, sions, especially in this rapidly changthe boards of directors of AIDS ing and complex environment.” Emergency Fund and Breast Nathan also noted that her execuCancer Emergency Fund have hired tive leadership experience in all three Sandra Y. Nathan, an African Amerisectors – government, nonprofit, and can lesbian, as their next executive philanthropic – will be an asset to the director. agencies. Nathan replaces longtime former “I am a collaborative leader and executive director Mike Smith, a gay understand how to engage funders, man who retired in June after more donors, public officials, clients, and than 12 years at the helm. She is the key stakeholders,” she said. “I also first lesbian and first person of color have a background in advocacy, but to be full-time executive director of most importantly, a deep passion to the two agencies. make a difference.” The nonprofit AEF and BCEF Nathan, who declined to provide organizations provide emergency her age, most recently served as vice financial assistance to clients living president of grants and loans at the with HIV/AIDS and breast cancer, Marin Community Foundation in Courtesy AEF/BCEF respectively. Novato. In that role, she oversaw AEF board Chair Scott Williams Incoming AEF/BCEF Executive Director Sandra Y. Nathan grant making for the Buck Trust, and BCEF board Chair Heather whose mission is to ensure equity of “In addition, lesbians rose to the occasion in Vucetin told the Bay Area Reporter opportunity for all Marin residents. that they are “grateful” to have someone of Na- the 1980s and 1990s when gay men were in dire Nathan also has a previous philanthropic posineed of help,” Miller and Vucetin continued. tion as president and chief executive officer of than’s caliber taking over. She begins her duties “In fact, this was one of the main factors behind the Richmond Children’s Foundation, now the September 14. the founding of Breast Cancer Emergency Fund “We’re grateful to have a woman who hapRichmond Community Foundation. – to honor the historic role that lesbians played pens to be a lesbian and a person of color at the In terms of government work, Nathan was diin the earlier days of the AIDS epidemic. Given helm of both agencies,” Miller, an HIV-positive rector of the Department of Health and Human gay man, and Vucetin, a straight ally, said in an this, having a lesbian of color as our new execuServices for the city of Oakland, director of tive director makes sense.” email. “Here’s why: AIDS disproportionately Aging and Adult Services in San Francisco, and In an email, Nathan said she’s “especially affects people of color and breast cancer obviSee page 13 >> honored to work in collaboration with an ously mostly affects women.
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