Bryan CulbertsonSep 6, 2025

Criminalizing poverty is cruel and inhumane 😡

1. OPD should never ever cite or arrest someone just for being homeless

2. Before evicting someone from their shelter of last resort, the city should provide an option of a safe place to go, and enough time to move there with their belongings

https://oaklandside.org/2025/09/05/encampment-policy-oakland-houston-homeless-shelter-arrests/

Oakland could arrest people for being homeless under councilmember’s proposal 

An Oakland councilmember has proposed new encampment rules that would fundamentally alter how the city interacts with people living on the street.

The Oaklandside
Show threadBryan Culbertson

Major changes are:

1. Strikes current rule that OPD shouldn’t arrest someone just for camping

2. Strikes current obligation to offer shelter before closing an encampment

3. Strikes currently permitted mobile showers as a health intervention

4. Adds definition of encampment as just 2+ tents for 48 hours

5. Strikes current flexibility for council to temporarily allow a small encampment operated by an approved managing agency

6. Adds ban on encampments in ALL parks (not just playgrounds)

Sep 6, 2025 at 1:46amElk
Show threadBryan CulbertsonSep 6, 2025

Rowena Brown, Carroll Fife, Charlene Wang, and Ken Houston will be voting at the Public Safety Committee on Wednesday, September 10th at 11am

Just two yes votes will advance these policies criminalizing poverty to the full council on September 15th at 9:30am

https://oakland.legistar.com/MeetingDetail.aspx?ID=1330825&GUID=823562C3-8FF2-4C84-A6D6-D0A8B5BF78FE&Options=info|&Search=

City of Oakland - Meeting of *Special Public Safety Committee on 9/10/2025 at 11:00 AM

Show threadBryan CulbertsonSep 6, 2025

Oppose criminalizing poverty!

1. Email your CM now:
https://www.oaklandca.gov/Government/City-Council-Leadership/Council-Members

2. Add an eComment: https://oakland.granicusideas.com/meetings/8661-star-special-public-safety-committee-on-2025-09-10-11-00-am/agenda_items/68ba271af2b67036ce002c0f-3-25-0922-subject-repeal-2020-encampment-mana

3. Register to speak remotely by Tue at 11am, or in person on Wed at 11am: https://oakland.granicusideas.com/meetings/8661-star-special-public-safety-committee-on-2025-09-10-11-00-am/agenda_items/68ba271af2b67036ce002c0f-3-25-0922-subject-repeal-2020-encampment-mana

4. Sign this petition by Housing & Dignity Project: http://chng.it/f2yW4R8KT7

Show threadZack SternSep 11, 2025
@bryanculbertson hi, thanks for this thread. I learned about the committee legislation and attended because of your notes.
Show threadBryan CulbertsonSep 13, 2025
@zackstern Thank you for attending! I am glad that the legislation was rejected. Do you have any notes from being there in person?
Show threadZack SternSep 13, 2025

@bryanculbertson [weird typo edited.] I gathered a few semi-random notes in a thread.

I guess overall I was put off by the entitlement Houston carried. I don’t have any understanding of how someone who has experienced being without housing can not have empathy for those who are.

https://hachyderm.io/@zackstern/115183388524073039

Zack Stern (@[email protected])

Spent most of the day at Oakland City Council, listening to people talk about proposed legislation that would further criminalize homelessness. For more information and links on the subject, look to this solid thread: https://mastodon.social/@bryanculbertson/115154824632092511 I’ll add a few possibly non-sequitur thoughts on the day here. Oh in general they decided it was too half-baked to get through committee to the full council today.

Hachyderm.io