Stop Predatory Displacement through Receivership

Stop Predatory Displacement through Receivership

Started
June 26, 2019
Petition to
Berkeley City Council
Signatures: 140Next Goal: 200
Support now

Why this petition matters

Started by Friends of Adeline

We demand that the City of Berkeley have an INDEPENDENT, FULL, AND IMPARTIAL INVESTIGATION into what happened in the case of Mr. Leonard Powell and his home at 1911 Harmon St and that the City take steps to make Mr. Powell whole financially.

BACKGROUND:

Leonard Powell, an African American senior, veteran, and retired postal worker, who lives in South Berkeley recently almost lost the home he has owned outright for 45 years in a nebulous web of bureaucracy called receivership. In 2016, the City mandated renovations to bring Mr. Powell's home up to code. They were initially estimated at $180,000 but by the time the City's process ended, they had been run up to $780,000 due to extensive, expensive and extravagant renovations.

Mr. Powell’s family was forced to move out during renovations, including his brother suffering from COPD, now hospitalized, his daughter who has been on home dialysis for years, his granddaughter who administers her mother's treatment, and one of his sons, James, who is now deceased. Mr. Powell slept on a relative’s basement floor. 

Meanwhile, the house's “new” exterior paint started peeling off after 6 months, the downstairs kitchen cabinetry is unfinished, and the “new” space heaters are inefficient, dangerous for children, and space-sucking. And the bill for the work was increasing with every day Mr. Powell couldn't come up with the money. Mr. Powell’s neighbors stood with him. The Oakland Post publicized his case. FOA members went with him to court hearings. He worked hard to procure City and Veteran’s Administration loans. And over 1,800 people donated money necessary for him to return to his home. Now Mr. Powell and all of us need to make sure no one else faces this situation.

Two City Commissions called on the City to investigate Mr. Powell's case and prevent future displacement of vulnerable populations by having equitable standards for code enforcement and due process.  The City Manager said there was no need, because the City did everything right. On June 11, the City Council voted to refer the recommendations from the 2 commissions to a City policy committee, to put strict controls on the use of receivership, and to send City representatives to any future court hearings.

We are yet to receive support for an impartial and independent investigation, which is what the situation requires if we are going to prevent more cases like this one. So we must pressure the City Council to ensure an independent investigation and to make Mr. Powell whole financially.  Please sign our petition!

For more information, see this media coverage:

Oakland Post, April 2019: Join Leonard Powell as He Goes to Court To Fight To Stay In His Home

Oakland Post, May 2019: Opinion: Neighbors Care About the Fate of Homeowner Leonard Powell

Oakland Post, June 2019: Veteran Leonard Powell Wins Victory, Moves Back into His Home

Oakland Post, Dec 2018: City Agency Set to Seize Black Veteran's Home

Oakland Post, Dec 2018: Black Veteran Wins Temporary Reprieve in Fight to Save His Home

KPIX, March 2019: Retiree, Forced from Berkeley Home, Hit with Huge Bill for Renovations he didn't Approve

The Berkeley Daily Planet, March 2018: Berkeley: City with a Heart...of Stone

Support now
Signatures: 140Next Goal: 200
Support now
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Decision Makers

  • Berkeley City Council