Lakeside
It took us a while to connect, but getting to spend an afternoon with Cary was certainly worth the wait. He is a passionate and present person whose commitment to his community/building/Oakland is inspiring and infectious. What I liked the most about Cary, the other tenants in his building, and their message, is the way they choose to make their own community, to define its borders themselves. To me, that’s about as Oakland as it gets. One more thing, their hard work paid off. The owners of Cary’s building have altered their plans, slowed down changes and in general have listened to the will of the people.
Oakland is my building
Last summer, in the face of impending gentrification, a large group of us got together and began to discuss, plan, and organize. We banded together to protect ourselves and each other. We researched our options and rights as tenants. My building is a diverse community with an inherent respect and responsibility for the well being of its community members.
