Councilmember Houston Breaks Seven-Month Logjam on Encampment Policy

Oakland's Rules and Legislation Committee agreed to schedule a special full-council meeting dedicated to the Encampment Abatement Policy after Councilmember Ken Houston made an impassioned appeal describing urgent pleas from seniors and residents across the city. The committee also fast-tracked nearly $6 million in state and federal housing grants facing hard deadlines — and teed up a proposed $40 million parcel tax for spring debate.

• Council commits to special meeting for stalled Encampment Abatement Policy after Houston describes months of constituent desperation

• Committee rejects early OPD consent decree briefing, defers to comprehensive April written report

• $1.6M state housing grant and $4.4M federal lead hazard reduction funding fast-tracked to meet deadlines

• Three Budget Advisory Commission reports — including a proposed $40M parcel tax — consolidated for April hearing

• Urgency findings approved for Head Start baseline grant facing April 1 federal deadline

Councilmember Ken Houston, who is not a member of the Rules and Legislation Committee, convened into a special session to press his colleagues on a policy he says has languished since he drafted it with the help of his scriber, Patricia Brooks.