Oakland Lot Owner Tells Police To Evict Occupy Protesters
OAKLAND (CBS SF) -- About 25 tents have been set up at a new Occupy Oakland encampment on a vacant lot in West Oakland even though police said Tuesday the property owner has told them that she wants the protesters to leave.
Oakland police spokeswoman Johnna Watson said the owner of the property near 18th and Linden Streets "has asked folks to leave" but "has not fully committed" to signing a consent form to allow police to enter her property and remove anyone who's on the site and refuses to leave.
Watson didn't disclose the name of the property owner but according to Alameda County records it's Gloria Cobb, who is the sister of Oakland Post publisher Paul Cobb. Gloria Cobb couldn't be reached for comment.
However, protester Thaddeus Guidry, 24, without mentioning Cobb's name, said he doesn't think the property owner will sign a consent form to ask police to remove the encampment.
PHOTOS: Occupy Oakland At Foreclosed Lot
Guidry said the owner doesn't necessarily support the encampment but also doesn't necessarily disagree with it.
He said he thinks the owner called police because "they don't want to put themselves at risk" if there are problems at the site.
The vacant lot is now in foreclosure proceedings, Guidry said.
Protester Kat Brooks, who lives on Linden Street, said the property owner signed a letter giving permission for protesters to set up tents on the site.
KCBS' Chris Filippi Reports:
Guidry said some people who live in the neighborhood where the new encampment is located initially expressed opposition to it but he thinks protesters have been successful in convincing them to support it.
"It's working out pretty good now and people are more comfortable with it," he said.
Guidry and other protesters are handing out fliers entitled, "A friendly message from the new occupation on 18th and Linden."
The flier said, "After occupying parks and plazas, the people of Oakland are now organizing to reclaim neighborhood spaces that have been stolen from us by the 1 percent."
Guidry said Occupy Oakland protesters also plan to set up encampments at other vacant lots and foreclosed properties in Oakland.
Watson said if the property owner doesn't sign a consent form to ask the protesters to leave, police could pursue other options to force the protesters, such as possibly citing them for violating city ordinances.
"We can't have people setting up camps," she said.
Guidry said the new encampment is "low profile" and won't be anywhere near as large as the month-long encampment at Frank Ogawa Plaza in front of City Hall, which grew to about 200 tents at its peak.
Police shut down a smaller encampment at a vacant lot near 19th Street and Telegraph Avenue Sunday morning and as well as another small encampment at Snow Park adjacent to 19th and Harrison streets early Monday morning.
In a separate but related action, a small group of sign-carrying Occupy Oakland protesters demonstrated at 14th and Harrison streets at 5:30 p.m. Tuesday night, disrupting traffic.
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