Can you post photos of this? I get my produce there every Saturday morning from the City Slickers Farm people who put it in to begin with. It always seems well kept up on those days, but I don't know how much cleanup they have to do beforehand. I would bet that in this case, your concerns might be better addressed by directly approaching City Slickers, since they have a community orientation and a vested interest in this structure. http://www.cityslickerfarms.org/contact-us

This gazebo is right by my home and I regularly see vagrants and homeless people camped out in it, all of their shopping carts and belongings strewn about everywhere and into the street. It's just a congregating area for people who don't belong there. Please remedy this area.

Thank you!

I live close by as well. I would be interested to know what you think would be a solution or a positive step forward. (I don't know about the "don't belong there" part though, it is a public park.)

I live around the corner too-- when the people selling produce are around it is relatively calm. other times it is a magnet for all types of people hanging out. since the gazebo went in there are definitely way more people hanging out and seemingly involved in drugs. We find needles all the time in front of our building at Union and Peralta. It seems to be getting worse.

This was an incredibly bad idea (with the best of intensions). Please tear it down.

Ii would echo what Eddie said.

I too live around the corner. I know nothing except that the gazebo is new. I have no idea who built it and for what purpose. My guess is that good folk did it to try and help out hurting folk somehow. But ultimately - in my opinion- the magnet is the recycling outfit. It attracts people and cars are carts and bicyclists--some of whom are cashing in cans for $$ to buy food, others for $$ to buy drugs, beer or bourbon. But the common thread is - many or most of these that were relocated to a less residential area, the foot and shopping cart traffic would be reduced drastically.

Sorry. My comment above was posted without my completing it. I was trying to say that so many of the recycling clientele are not from the area. So without it, the levels of prostitution, drugs, loitering, might not be overwhelming.

This was a horrible idea. While I appreciate the intentions of City Slicker Farms, this idea was not well thought out. Does anyone know if the folks at CSF consulted with the residents of Dogtown before building this structure?? I can honestly say that having lived in this neighborhood for the past year that I saw how this was going to play out the second they started building it and I'm wondering how no one at CSF did not see this coming?? I live on 34th street and pass by this at least 3-4 times a day and nothing good has come of this structure. It serves as a place for sex and drug deals. Furthermore, there are numerous shopping carts that literally line up around the park while they are in the structure conducting their business. I can't imagine what it's going to turn into once the rainy season starts. Please take this down ASAP!!

Hope the city slickers will just convert this to an extension of the community garden and put a fence all around including the Gazebo and just open it on Saturdays when they sell the produce.

This seems to me like something that needs a more considered solution than "tear it down." It took some resources and care to put it in to begin with, and it serves a good function in supporting CSF's food distribution and community building efforts. I think this might be a more complex issue than SeeClickFix is designed/equipped to handle.

I would suggest the Precinct 7x NCPC meeting might be a good venue to discuss and plan possible solutions, and I think it is important to have CSF's voice in any such discussion. Or is there a better neighborhood meeting? If that is a good one, it meets third thursdays every other month (but I have lost track of whether the next one is in October or November!) The info is here: http://www2.oaklandnet.com/Government/o/OPD/DOWD005094 The meetings are at 6pm at 3131 Union St.

I live right across the street. And I also get my produce there. But from Sunday to Saturday before City Slickers show up, it's a complete chaos. I have seen people having sex in the daylight, using and dealing drugs, drinking, sleeping, pooping, peeing, spitting, cutting their hair (s), shaving, taking showers, vomiting, feeding feral cats, shopping carts filled with garbage left behind, garbage all over. Also it's risky to take pictures. Maybe adding doors and windows to keep the gazebo closed could be a good idea. Another solution could be to fence the area to avoid people to get into it and trash the park.

Please come to the next meeting of West Oakland Neighbors on Thursday, October 17. We will be discussing Alliance Metals, and the more people from the neighborhood who attend, the stronger our voice will be. We meet at Willie Keyes Recreation Center, 3131 Union, from 6-8 p.m.

I no longer buy food from City Slickers, because basically, where they sell their food is a bus station restroom. Pretty gross if you think about it.

I won't be able to support them and get produce from the gazebo anymore, especially after witnessing the amount of unsafe activity in it. And that makes me really sad. But, my health comes first.

I live a few blocks from the gazebo and used to walk down to get produce at Fitzgerald park. I no longer walk that way because of the party atmosphere around the gazebo. Drug addicts have taken over the structure and it just feels really unsafe, and is definitely unclean. Clothes, household garbage, refuse of all types in the park. The gazebo seems like a good idea gone bad.

I don't fault City Slickers. I rather have that space used and maintained than not, even if there are some growing pains. There's probably something they can do to improve the situation, but this area could use more police presence in general. What is a better alternative way to use this land? Or what can City Slickers do to improve it on their end?

It's pretty questionable that CSF took it upon themselves to erect this kind of structure in an obviously problematic location, with no local feedback, then leave it unsupervised when they aren't using it, which is most of the time. I sincerely appreciate what they've done for the area, but this seems incredibly naive, at best. Did they think only the 'nice' homeless people would shelter in it, and that would magically repel the crackheads? Or is it extremely judgmental to not want drug users and dealers, and prostitution, and the ensuing litter and violence associated with all that, right on the sidewalk in front of your home? What was the thinking process here? I really don't get it.

I live nearby and this is a train wreck. I don't blame the homeless people at all -- of course they want to be off the ground and dry. But there have been numerous reports by neighbors repeating the few posts above: sex, drug use, needles, defecation, vomiting and overall filth. I can't imagine ever ever wanting to buy or consume produce from anywhere near the structure or the mini-farm. Sorry, CSF. Bad bad bad idea. Those of us who live here (unlike CSF) should get a voice.

This idea is one of the worst ideas. I know that the intention is to bring the community together, but the only ones who are getting together in the gazebo are drug dealers and users, drunks, etc, etc. I live half a block from this park and I'm able to witness the undesirable. If the gazebo was being supervised 24/7 then perhaps things would be different. But that is not the case. The gazebo only gets used on Saturdays. I support the idea of turning abandoned areas into green ones and that we can grow our own food, but also SCF needs to understand the negative impact that this gazebo has originated in the neighborhood. Tearing it apart sounds drastic, but if they don't close it, or fence the park, then maybe it should go away. I also understand the effort and love that it was put on building it, but all that effort and love wasn't used to a project that it was well thought. I just walked by and the park is trashed, around 8 shopping carts with garbage, clothing and more garbage. Please, let's do something about this.

This idea is one of the worst ideas. I know that the intention is to bring the community together, but the only ones who are getting together in the gazebo are drug dealers and users, drunks, etc, etc. I live half a block from this park and I'm able to witness the undesirable. If the gazebo was being supervised 24/7 then perhaps things would be different. But that is not the case. The gazebo only gets used on Saturdays. I support the idea of turning abandoned areas into green ones and that we can grow our own food, but also SCF needs to understand the negative impact that this gazebo has originated in the neighborhood. Tearing it apart sounds drastic, but if they don't close it, or fence the park, then maybe it should go away. I also understand the effort and love that it was put on building it, but all that effort and love wasn't used to a project that it was well thought. I just walked by and the park is trashed, around 8 shopping carts with garbage, clothing and more garbage. Please, let's do something about this.

Shopping carts

I love the gazebo. It's a symbol of hope for our @#$% up neighborhood. That park has ALWAYS been full of bummies and their trash. I for one am happy to see a public shelter in a public park being used as such by the people who need it. It's not going to be magically transformed overnight, but it's got so much potential! We can take it back. Please don't tear it down.

Just noting that somebody started a related thread called "park maintenance" here: http://seeclickfix.com/issues/771364-park-maintenance

Building the gazebo across the street from the recycle center was a bad idea from the start. I drove by today and what I saw was crazy! The recycle center and the gazebo both need to go!

I love the gazebo as well. But the park was already cleaner and more calm before this was built. The garden made and still makes a huge difference and everyone was a little more respectfu to itl. If people are going to use it as a campground, then public bathrooms need to be installed. There's produce growing in one park and produce being sold in the other one.

Reminder -- neighborhood meeting tonight! 6pm at 3131 Union St.
http://www2.oaklandnet.com/Government/o/OPD/DOWD005094

Yesterday's meeting was interesting. Although Alliance Metals was supposed to be the focus of the discussion, and even though the new owner and general manager were there, they did not seem to be open to suggestions on how to clean it up.

There was one idea from the moderator to delay payment by 24 hours of any goods dropped off, so if there are stolen items they can be recovered.

The community liason had an even better idea, and that was the use of debit cards, not cash. Resposible recyclers would bring in their goods, and money would be added to their debit cards. This could make a great impact by undercutting the vicious cycle of the cash business which works like this: drag in a shopping cart of cans, get $20 cash, go across the street into Fitzgerald Park and buy drugs, hang out, go to the bathroom, loiter, etc. The crowd erupted in applause at the suggestion. We need to try and pressure Alliance to at least TRY IT...

Thanks for reporting back on this. Sorry i missed the meeting.

Do you think the addition of some sort of bathroom facilities in the neighborhood would be a partial solution? I've noticed many of the micro-parks in the neighborhood have the same problem with homeless people moving in, using them as bathrooms etc, and wonder how much this is because there are no accessible bathroom facilities nearby. It won't really work to say "don't use this as a bathroom" if there aren't any bathrooms they are allowed to use...

What we need is an awesome Braveheart! type fight between local residents and drug dealing bums. Years down the road when a movie is made of this epic encounter... I will be played by a muscle ripped Milo Ventimiglia... In a pinch I'll accept Josh Duhamel or even Josheph Gordon-Levitt. Who will play me doesn't matter... what matters is that I ride in on a white horse with a powerful flame thrower and golden nunchucks.

Let's add bathrooms to accommodate for the bodily functions of local people with marginal housing options. as for the drug use and sex work taking place there, it would be more useful to alert local outreach organizations that this is a place that may be in need of service. adding fences/doors leaves this open to become a criminalized area, once it becomes a place where the presence of our "undesirable" neighbors (and yes, they are our neighbors, and deserve respect) can be considered trespassing, we create a hostile, heavily policed environment for people whose lives may already be hostile on a daily basis. this easily leads to more arrests, and more stress on an already overcrowded prison system. so tearing down a shelter, or making it a site that can be trespassed are inhumane options that don't respect the basic humanity of the people using the space. as a west oakland neighbor, it seems to me like a dangerous band-aid to apply to the situation. let's help the people who need help, not cast them out.

The gazebo itself is a wonder of modern woodworking! It was built by Master Craftsman - men and women who brought a piece of style and artistic beauty to that small part of Oakland. The big issue is not whether this is a public access concern, but rather an issue of the park being overrun by people who have no appreciation for the kindness of the neighborhood or gratitude for a place to be - it will be the homeless population who cause their own demise and ultimately causes the park to be closed and deny them a place of refuge. The park is a wreck and just because you are homeless, does not give you an excuse to destroy the area. Cleaning up after yourself, placing trash in a designated area for disposal, keeping drugs and prostitution out of the area, and not storing bedding, carts, and materials on-site is well within the realm of those who wish to enjoy the space provided. Trash Cans are always a good idea. As a place without restroom facilities, I would have to say that the area would have to be closed at night as there are no other alternatives to use - fenced and closed as the area is across the street. If the churches nearby would be willing to offer their facilities, then this could allow for other options.

People who are less fortunate than you, who are homeless and recycling for a living are not problems to be swept under the carpet. There is an influx of people moving in who are disturbed by the presence of poverty within this neighborhood. That is their problem. This is an old neighborhood with history, and some of it is hard. I am glad there is a place for shelter for everyone in the community. These 'thugs" and "bums" live here and actually deserve the same amount of space as everyone else. Period. I hope that it remains available for those who need it.

This gazebo is not the place to solve the issue of homelessness. The problem runs deeper than can be dealt with by a SeeClickFix issue. A bigger discussion about how the city deals with homelessness would be appropriate somewhere else.

At the last West Oakland Neighbor's meeting, our Councilwoman's representative gave us a glimpse into how the homeless situation is being dealt with- The police do not automatically come and swoop in and arrest anyone. They make a first pass to assist those who are willing to get help at a shelter get that help. The city has a system in place to help those who want to be helped.

On the other hand, we all deserve to feel safe and secure in our neighborhoods. I have lived in many cities with a homeless population, but I have not seen the sort of issues first hand that I have seen here in Clawson- endless trash on the streets- both from dumping, and from people coming in to the neighborhood for the recycling center across the street. More worrisome is the drugs- I've never seen so many dirty needles left behind, not to mention the drug dealers who come to the area to service their clients. Safety is an issue in our building as well, as people try to sneak in our gates and doors.

Not all of this has to do with the homeless folk hanging out at the gazebo, but some of it is. I don't think any of us want to treat anyone inhumanely. It's a complex issue, but the gazebo isn't as much. I do like it and I don't think it should be torn down. Still, the city needs to do something to keep it better maintained and safe for us all.

One simple thought: Perhaps adding a light to that strip of land would be helpful. At least it would help assure that any bad activity is out in the open. I'd feel safer at night knowing that, at least.

We agree that this gazebo has become a magnet for homeless and illegal activity and something needs to be done about the situation. We passed by one night and someone had a mattress. At the West Oakland Neighbors meeting it did not seem like it was an issue to the representative of the farm. The last thing we need is more homeless and illegal activity in our neighborhood. We deserve a safe and clean neighborhood like anyone else in the city of Oakland.

It is a true travesty. I know it was meant to make things nicer. In reality it has made the area much much worse. I live a block from it and am hugely disappointed in the amount of disarray it has brought to the front yard of my friend's homes. I would never walk by there in daylight now, let alone night time. I used to feel safe walking by there before it was put in.

I recommend that anyone who thinks they can help this situation - do so. Seriously get on down there and fix it - take your ideas and put them into action. Don't bother posting to blogs - get on down there get your hands dirty and help everyone you think needs help. Invite them to your home - give them shelter and food. Put your words into action. Contact the city - go through the channels get them all the help that you can. I'm convinced that with you at the helm this situation will be solved once and for all in less time than you can imagine. I believe in you and I know you can do this!

Did you read what SteveG posted?

Fyi, the local feminist enclave is trying to rescue the sources of many of these ongoing problems. Descroogification they are calling it. Some of the intent is good, but I don't like where they are placing the blame or these problems. Perhaps some locals in the area should enage and educate them.https://www.facebook.com/events/410532365717214/?ref_newsfeed_story_type=regular

I noticed the other day that the gazebo is boarded up, which I took as a good sign. At least the dozen or so people sleeping in it every night will have to find other accommodations now.

I'm not sure if is just for the season or what...maybe someone can call City Slicker farms and get an update on what they are doing.

I think the city should place a locked fence around the whole park area like the plot of land in front of the Clawson school a couple doors down. At least until it breaks the cycle of drug dealing and loitering and parking of carts as is happening now. Then maybe we can figure out a more permanent solution...

Barbara Finnin at City Slicker Farms seems to genuinely care about the community. barbara@cityslickerfarms.org

I live directly on the park and even though I am in the park many nights after dark with my dog I haven't had any problems with anyone who sleeps in the gazebo.

read the note: The gazebo is a site of illegal prostitution and drug use with the dumping of needles, alcohol bottles and condoms. The garbage is also attracting

I have walked during the day and night (unfortunately with no dog) to go to work and I got harassed 2 times walking by the park in the last 3 months; one by a very drunk woman and the second by a very high tall man.

@Sarah

I live right across from the park too. If you aren't bothered by the homeless in the park why not open your front porch or home to them?

Tthey bring garbage, drugs, needles, and worse into our neighborhood. I have walked by while they were having sex in the bushes without a care in the world.

We are new owners in the area and are allowed to want a clean and pleasant place to live. If these people were good citizens and took care of the park and kept it clean, that's one thing. But instead they have taken a cute park and turned it into a blight on the entire neighborhood.

Enough is enough.

One thing to consider is that the people who stay there do so partially because of access to the recycling center- where they can collect trash and turn it in for money on the same day. The money often goes directly into the hands of the drug dealers and prostitutes who have also taken up residence in the neighborhood- I have seen both happen in front of me, and I've seen the needles left behind on the sidewalk and in our bushes. They present a hazard. Because they are attracting this behavior, Alliance Recycling has some responsibility to us in the community to improve the situation by any method they can.

One such possibility is if Alliance were to no longer offer same-day payment for recycling drop-offs. Debit cards and other forms of delayed payment have effectively helped reduce the drug and prostitution problem in other areas, but the owners of Alliance don't seem to be open to such a solution because it would impact their business. Alliance is concerned they'll lose a portion of their profits if they can no longer offer money to clients looking for a same-day fix.

But as far as I'm concerned, tough for Alliance. They only have a right to make as much money as being a good neighbor allows them. In the end, Alliance's refusal to consider such an option makes them complicit in promoting drug and prostitution in the area. We should be putting the pressure on them to help their neighborhood.

Problems associated with the gazebo notwithstanding, the structure looks a bit like a manger on this Christmas Eve....

This seems a good solution if we cannot make Alliance go away.

FYI. The temporary boarded gazebo is now an official drug and whore house. They were able to open one and get it.

FK, are you saying that the boards have been broken down and they are back to sleeping and drug dealing inside?

That didn't last long...I think someone needs to call the police and get law enforcement involved.

Mike-- it looks like the boards are fine again as someone painted it with Christmas Tree and Greetings.

But will not be surprised to see it being used as a crackhouse as they can easily get inside it.

City Slickers should just fence the entire park and convert into an extension community garden.

SteveG has a valid point, however delaying payment would just delay receipt of funds and then a one time delay of drug purchases - since they are daily users of the recycling system. I would like to suggest an earlier idea...close the park at dusk or close it during non-CitySlicker Farm Hours (at least for a few months)...with about $300 in materials we can install in under a day a temporary see-thru fence using materials from Home Depot which would look nice...I will chip in some money and help build the fence....

No matter what side you sit on in terms of the solution, we have to do something. There are 2 more homes going on the market soon. Taxes derived from these provide long term funding for all the programs in Oakland. Blight will reduce funding to the very programs designed to fund solutions to many of Oakland's issues.

I like Tyler's idea of fencing in the park completely, and only opening it on Sunday mornings or whenever City Slicker does their farmers market for a couple hours.

It works across the street where the garden is...no reason not to fence in the gazebo side as well.

I am going to get in touch with City Slicker and see if they will do this. Has anyone already asked them about it? We need to do close this thing down for a while and break the cycle...

I'm sympathetic to the cause, just do everything you can before you bring police into the matter. And if you do choose to do that, go through the area problem solving officer rather than a nuisance call to 911...

Where is our council person in all of this. Does anyone know if he/she has been made aware of the problem? If not, then we absolutely need to deluge this person with emails.

@Mike:
"We are new owners in the area and are allowed to want a clean and pleasant place to live."

Why did you move somewhere that you did not fit your needs? Fitzgerald street may not be up to your standards but many of us have a functioning community here that includes people in homes and in the street. I love living on Fitzgerald street where my neighbors (including those who sleep in the park) look out for one another. Recently one friend of mine, who works at the recycling center, stopped someone from stealing another neighbor's car. Once when a really drunk person was bothering me a friend of mine who is homeless called the person off by name and they have mover bothered me again. I give my recycling to people who need it, I am respectful and polite to the people I see, and in turn I have friends who look out for me and my property when I'm away.

I feel really terrible about the people who are experiencing harassment and theft around our park. It is awful to live in fear and believe you are surrounded by enemies. The strange thing is that I live on the same street and I am not experiencing this nightmare. The only reason I can come up with is that I have approached the people who were living in this neighborhood before me humbly and with respect. If you also live on Fitzgerald St. or within sight of it and would like to meet with me and talk about how you can be more connected in the community that existed before you moved here or brainstorm about why we are having such different experiences I would be happy to do that.

@Sarah

I don't think asking @Mike why did he moved here if he did not fit here is the solution.

Since you said you have had no problems that is your opinion and lucky you but I live nearby and just like the majority we are bothered, scared and worried. The gazebo did not help the already bad situation.

I agree with most of the suggestions here both short term and long term solutions.

I am for helping the homeless and the needy but NO to DRUGs, Prostitution in my neighborhood especially I am paying one of the highest property tax in the area if not the country.

We all deserve a safe, clean and violence free parks and neighborhood.

Happy Holidays. Peace everyone!!

ah, yes the Property tax issue .... we certainly get a lot of dumping and blighted property for our $.
Poor gazebo, it is such a nice idea. I so would love to go to a park. I like the idea of extending the Farmers Market and fencing it in. Who built it? I'm sorry I didn't see that answer. That might be a start.
And FK, we DO fit here! We are the ones who are paying the taxes, we are part of the solution, not the problem.

Is

WHAT a friggen mess. This park brings people together in the worst way possible. Instead of encouraging community unity, the create discord between those who want a better drug free community and criminal element apologists.

There is no doubt that homeless people belong in this world, but it is callouss to suggest that the status quo "works". there is also no bought that not all homeless people are engaging in criminal activity, but the HIGH statistic probability suggests otherwise.

The CITY OF OAKLAND NEEDS TO DO SOOOOOOOMMETHING!!! People ishting on the street and drugs at the park is just not acceptable and EVERYONE should object to the criminal element in this area.

Urg, hate that you can't edit or correct after making a comment

Why is this not considered a Public Health emergency? The bodily fluids referenced as well as possible shared needles is a set up for the spread of dangerous pathogens: between homeless folks as well as to those we see daily in the area (urban farmers, school children, those from the elderly Asian food crowd ) who might step on a dirty needle or inadvertently touch human decal matter.

Complaining about blight or drug use or scrap metal vendors will get a yawn from downtown. In contrast, public Health nightmares are red flags. I would think that one could go over the head(s) of city leaders and simply complain to a federal or state health agency- CDC? State Dept of Health and Human Scs? Diane Feinstein or Barbara Boxers offices? God bless Babs Lee but when was the last time she had her boots on the ground on this part of her district?

Stool from people infected with Heptitis A and E, campylobacter, giardia, rotavirus, salmonella and enteroviruses like polio, as well as parasites can be spread through fecal-oral contact. Since the the homeless are not able to wash their hands before eating and have no toilets, the dept of health should be concerned about outbreaks in encampments. All types of Hepatitis and HIV can be spread through sharing needles and intimate contact. Syringes and sharps lying around are a public health issue. I think needle exchanges still exist in parts of Oakland, but I don't know for sure.
Perhaps ask what the Alameda County Public Health Dept has to say. Here's a contact form:

http://www.acphd.org/contact-acphd/contact-form.aspx

Alameda County Public Health Department
1000 Broadway Suite 500
Oakland, CA 94607
Phone: 510 267-8000
Fax: 510 267-3212

All I can share is that I have lived here for over 23 years and in that time with the best of intentions not one person or group of people or City agency has been able to improve this situation. I don't say this to discourage anyone only to point out that because of the wide range of opinions on the correct course of action nothing gets done. No politician regardless of their personal feelings will be seen as the person responsible for displacing the homeless. Without the City governments help this problem will not be resolved. The only course of action, in my opinion is to encourage the City to keep it as clean as possible. Keep it simple. As long as Alliance Metals is there you will have high crime, drugs and filth.

I think that with the new Hollis Works redevelopment in the old Romak plant across from the Clawson School and the big plans for Peralta as the entrance to Oakland from Emeryville, the area is going to dramatically improve already. This will build even more city and community pressure to clean up the area around Fitzgerald Park and Alliance Metals. The area already is better since City Slickers boarded up the gazebo, and that will hopefully continue to stay boarded up unless it's a farmers market day. We need to continue to exert pressure on Alliance to make modifications in the way their business is run and that will hopefully deal the deal if and when they decide to pick up and move to a more hospitable neighborhood.

Eileen thank you.....I made an inquiry through your link. I referenced your epidemiological info.

I don't mind that people want to hang out and sleep in the "outdoor classroom." I do mind that they use the structure to smoke crack in broad daylight. I'm also upset that they shamelessly dump trash, needles, condoms, etc all over the area.

FYI - City Slicker Farms will be having a meeting Sat Feb 1st from 1-2:30 PM at Fitzgerald Park and Feb 5th 6:30-8:00PM at Willie Keyes Recreation Center 3131 Union St to discuss the gazebo.

My wife had a great idea (and I will present it at one of the meetings) and I wanted to put this out to everyone for consideration. The gazebo is a wonderful piece of artwork and should be enjoyed by the community. The solution - move it off property (maybe across the street) into a secured area until the park at the end of Helen street is under construction - this dog/community park is the perfect place to house the gazebo and turn it into a classroom - it can accompany the new community center there and be part of an outdoor learning place.

There will be no dog park at the property at the end of Helen st. City Slickers cannot be insured if there is a dog park.

In fact, I don't think that City Slickers has proven that they can handle a project of that magnitude since they can't even handle what's going on at Fitzgerald Park.

They're nice people with the best intentions, but they've done nothing to mitigate the havoc that's increased at Fitzgerald Park since the gazebo has been erected. How can anybody expect that park at the end of Helen will be any less inviting for camping out and getting up to no good?

Yes, it will be interesting to see what City Slickers can do at Peralta and Helen. Hopefully, the mess across from Alliance will be a learning experience. I just hope it doesn't turn out like Saint Andrews park. Another spot that has been taken over by the Alliance crowd. Loitering. Drugs. Prostitution. Litter. Public urination/defecation...

In addition to messing up Fitzgerald Park... Alliance is a constant eyesore. This trash in front of their building has been there for weeks. The graffiti has been there even longer. There's even more graffiti on the Magnolia Street side. Thanks Alliance for keep you business looking sparkley.

It might surprise some to know that Alliance was not always here in West Oakland. There was a Church on their grounds. The City allowed them to move there despite the effect on those of us who were here then. Now the City makes money off of them every year based on the volume of materials they take in so there is no way they are going to ask them to move. We tried many times. The owner is full of promises but never follows through. He just throws his money around and makes his problems go away.

ClickFix looks like a gteat documenting tool. Why not start

Ops technical glitch...ClickFix seems to be a great tool to correct issues...perhapse an Alliance thread will push for change

Could a ballot initiative be an option for getting rid of this horrible business?

Last I heard - many moons ago - this business is on a conditional use permit with the City - they break every rule of this conditional use permit but no one at the City will do anything due to the revenue it generates for them - which was conveniently authored by among other, the owner of Alliance Metals...he knows exactly how to grease the wheels of justice. I would ask everyone to please give a bit of space and consideration to everyone involved in this issue - there are many of us who have been her 20+ years and fought like crazy and spent countless hours trying to resolve this for everyone - we were the first ones to even suggest contacting City Slicker Farms as our last ditch attempt to try to better the use of the park - but time and time again Alliance has won out - and its been heartbreaking to see how awful they run their business and the harm it causes. They even threw some of their money to a group to make a movie about recycling - as if they were heros all along and they get a ton of support. In the 20+ years I have been here and the countless years I tried to help get this problem resolved - as I said for the betterment of everyone - we are still here in this mess. You will get nothing but lip service from the City because as I mentioned before - no politician or City employee will touch this problem with a 10 foot pole because of the back lash they will receive. You can get the City to clean up the mess - but they will not resolve it. Its up to you all.

Alliance has a new owner, Joe Somebody, who seems interested in being a better citizen. He would love to move to the old Army Base property. He has been attending meetings of West Oakland Neighbors. Be hopeful!

With all due respect - all you have to do is look around you to see that Alliance will only do the minimum necessary to stay out of trouble - and as for the Army base - that idea was floating so many times in the past that I came to believe they only suggested it as an avoidance tactic - make people think you are interested in moving and then they might give you a pass. In the past Alliance wanted the taxpayers to pay over 2 millions dollars to relocate them to the Army base. I wish I had an ounce of belief in Alliance Metals - regardless of who the "new" owner is but I've dealt with them personally for too many years to believe anything they say. Just make your plans and don't count on them.

City Slicker Farms will have the second of two meetings regarding Fitzgerald Park at Willie Keyes Recreation Center on Popular Street. 6:30pm, Wednesday, February 5. Their first meeting was Saturday, February 1. CSF announced that they will deconstruct the Outdoor Classroom soon, and store it. They will reconstruct it at their new park at Hannah, Helen and Peralta.

I'd love it if seeclickfix would add a feature so we could message one another to more effectively organize and make change. I have written to them and asked, but they currently have no plans to add such a feature. If you think it wold be a good addition, please email them at "contact" at the bottom of the seeclickfix home page and ask. Thanks!

Earth day is in April. Maybe all these neighbors of Fitzgerald park can organize a beautification weekend. You could all buy flowering plants to plant in the park. Make benches for people to sit and enjoy the floral beauty and put positive energy into that space that is too shady for vegetable production. And you could involve not just property tax payers but all residents and inhabitants without judgement. Build gardens not fences

Joseph -- You have a good idea there. I'll bring it up at our next DNA neighborhood meeting (at the end of this month). That would be a great project for our neighborhood group.

Great idea! We have done many clean ups of the park over the years and it goes without saying that you should be extremely careful as we found used needles and human waste everywhere. Wear protective clothing and eyewear. Its best to be very careful. Perhaps consider asking the park service to do a deep clean beforehand.

So let me put this idea out there for Earth Day as I would oppose the previous idea (we are in a drought so the planting is not recommended and the benches would be Gazebo v2.0) - let's do Cleanup The West Side Day!

This has worked in the South Bay and would dramatically improve the neighborhood...it works like this....we get a very large dumpster and have volunteers on hand...some remain at the dumpster (the loaders) and the rest of the group go door to door and say "Welcome to the neighborhood and we are here for Earth Day to Clean Up our Neighborhood". The volunteers then collect as much trash as they can from that house and bring it to the dumpster. The house just visited then enlists members of their household to help. The larger group then goes to the next house, so on and so on until the dumpster is full, with groups splitting up as the numbers of people increase.

To prevent staging of outside the neighborhood materials the activity is not announced in advance and the early morning is taken up my clearing known trash piles on the streets.

Household can then be made aware of the dumping issue and we can all have some sort of lunch in the park.

I can work on this if there is enough interest and I have the experience with this activity over the years living in the South Bay......what do you think?

Great ideas!!

This is what's so terrible when you have parks, gazebos, are sitting areas in a neighborhood. The drug and homeless people come in and make it a ugly site. The police should make sure these people don't hang around the around and some neighborhood group take care of it.

Unless the city is making money out of all the mess (?), this should be a priority to attract responsible tax paying residents and businesses.

Maybe a good solution would be to organize more weekly happenings there so that the drug users etc. will stop congregating there.

The real issue is the recycling center across the street. This attracts homeless from all over Berkeley, Emeryville and Oakland. Once that place is gone the whole neighborhood can improve.

don't hold your breath on getting the recycling to move. Different neighborhood org's have been trying for more than 15 years - they have beat back attempts with big $ lawyers - you'd have better luck getting the city to police the park or maybe have City Slickers work with the locals to clean up daily

I agree it is the recycling center - but the City of Oakland changed the rules some years ago and now gets great revenues from companies like recycling centers - so good luck getting it moved now. Years ago the "previous" owner wanted millions in cash to move his business - he is such a greedy awful human being - on the outside he made it look like he cared but on the inside he was trying to extort money from our neighborhood group and the City. I had the displeasure of having to "work" with him for YEARS trying to resolve the mess he creates and to no avail. Its worth noting however that Cass Metal is moving to the old Army base so Peralta will hopefully be a much cleaner airspace one day soon....

Well that Cass Metal makes a ton of noise. So I am very happy they are moving.

If you haven't, please join the West Oakland Neighbors - we have made significant progress on a number of issues lately and this is the means to go beyond SeeClickFix. We meet monthly, next meeting June 18, 2015 Willie Keyes Center

How much is his property worth per real estate presently? If West Oak is gentrifying as so many claim then hasn't anyone tried to buy it? How much just the guy make off of the recycling business? Or is he laundering something else?

There are no environmental concerns? Nothing can be done about the fumes floating down on us from the freeway but if somene's commercial activities are adversely impacting the soil or air - is there no penalty or recourse? That's a federal issue no? Is this such an instance? If the city won't go full court press on protecting children and addressing addiction and narcotic sales then maybe they'll have the motivation to address degradation of the environment? the place looks and smells like a hot mess there must be something unhealthy about it?

Of course if this owner is from the Tony Soprano community then the city may not touch it with a ten foot pole.

Myself and so many neighbors have tried ever since it first appeared to get rid of it - we worked on cleaning up the parks and surrounding area - spent hours picking up spent needles, human waste, garbage. We had meetings - more meetings than I could ever have imagined necessary - we confronted the owner - the police and code compliance were great at helping - we photographed the site constantly - one neighbor installed a webcam and started a website to document the horrible effects of this man's business - we met with the then City Council person - who wanted a "hands off" policy on the people using drugs in the parks and using the parks for toilets - no matter what anyone says today - that was what she did and there are too many of us who remember that to lie about it now. We were accused then of gentrifying the neighborhood - which has always seemed weird to me given how completely ignored our neighborhood has been by the City council ever since I arrived in 1987. At some point a neighbor mentioned City Slicker Farms and we went to them and asked them to take over the park - we thought it might help create more worth in our area so we would warrant help - its great that they are there but the blight and crime continues. We contacted the EPA - every agency we could think of all the way to the White House - and nothing. At some point the City recognized the revenue they were losing to the recycling centers with those who empty our recycling bins and worked out a deal where the recycling centers have to give over a portion of their profits back to the City. When that happened we knew the fight was over. The City sold our lives down the river in exchange for money they spend on God knows what. In those days our City Council person got over 500k each year to spend however she wanted - no questions asked - and not one penny was spent to help with this problem. All of this is not to discourage anyone who thinks now is the time to try once again to rid us of this eyesore - but more to give some background and content to the struggle that we have all had dealing with this horrible business. The "former" owner even created a website and convinced some well meaning people that he was actually doing good for our neighborhood and received awards for helping the "poor". Good grief this world we live in is so strange. In the meantime we are - as usual - ignored by the only people who could help - except Code Compliance - which I strongly suggest you get in touch with as they are the only ones who truly helped in our neighborhood all these long years.

The sidewalk is blocked completely making it impossible for people with wheelchairs to use. On Peralta Street under the 580 freeway - MacArthur Fwy.

Everyone should post this as a new issue now.

What is the status of this issue? It's been up for about 5 years now and I'm just wondering where it stands now.

The gazebo in question was removed and Alliance Metals has closed down at its Peralta St location. Problems at this park continue, but this specific issue may be closed.

Sigh. This is why we can't have nice things.

Hi all, I've read all the history above, as we are new to the area. I just want to help, to do what I can to make this a bit nicer area, especially for kids growing up here. So I've done the Adopt-a-Spot thing with the city and have adopted Fitzgerald Park (the northern park, not the one with the planter boxes). I'm going to try to keep it cleaner of trash, clean-up any graffiti, and work with the Parks Department to hopefully take better care of the grass. If anyone sees me out there cleaning up, please stop by and say hi. I'll try to start this weekend. Thanks, Michael

The Parks Department has been working to fix the broken irrigation system and may have it fixed now. They also began to clear out some of the small planting beds, and there's a chance we can add flowering plans (like Lavender and rosemary) if the drip irrigation works