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December 2002
By Greg Jan

Oaklandıs Measure EE, Just Cause Eviction Protection, was narrowly approved by voters on November 5 -- 51% to 49%. Measure EE had been the top local electoral priority for Oakland Greens, who turned out scores of volunteers to work on the campaign. It's good that we (and many other organizations) worked so hard on the campaign -- given the closeness of the election, it's clear that every contribution which was made to the effort was critical!

Greens worked in coalition with the many other local activist groups in the Just Cause campaign, including PUEBLO, BOSS, ACORN, the Central Labor Council, Californians for Justice, and SEIU. This joint effort prevailed over the $600,000 spent by landlords to defeat the proposition. Tenants in Oakland now have basic just cause eviction protection, similar to that already existing in other Bay Area cities, such as San Francisco and Berkeley.

The most important direct Green contribution to the Just Cause campaign was the 50 Green volunteers who worked specifically to help Just Cause. Through them, we were able to distribute literature to 20 precincts, and to make phone calls to voters in 8 precincts.

Other local Greens staffed tables at various locations in Oakland, passing out literature and talking with voters. And still others helped distribute or produce our Green Party Voter Guide, which featured Measure EE on the front page. Twelve thousand voter guides were mailed to every household in Alameda County with a Green Party voter, and another 8,000 voter guides were distributed to local bookstores, cafes, libraries, and other businesses, and also to BART and bus riders.

Another vital contribution to the Just Cause effort was our key role in getting excellent media coverage for the campaign. The Montclarion, a relatively influential local newspaper, reported on our local Green Party endorsements extensively this year, and gave extra space to our position on Just Cause. Peter Camejo, our candidate for Governor, made two appearances in Oakland with the Just Cause campaign, and both were covered on Spanish language TV, giving the campaign exceptionally valuable coverage. In addition Green Party member Chris Kavanagh featured Just Cause on his KALX radio show.

We also helped raise money for Just Cause, arranged for Just Cause speakers to address some 1500 people at the October 8 Berkeley Ralph Nader rally, and several Green Party members served on the Just Cause campaign steering committee. Green Party members and organizations probably donated over $2,000 to the campaign, including a $500 donation from the county Green Party.

Clearly, the Green Party is growing as an important and productive progressive electoral force in Oakland -- let's plan to do even more for the next election!

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