In June the Neighborhood Law Corps, one of three units in our Affirmative Litigation, Enforcement and Innovation Division, filed a lawsuit to protect some of Oakland’s most vulnerable residents from abusive housing conditions. Our lawsuit on behalf of the People of the State of California and the City of Oakland is against One Rose of Unity, a network of Independent Living Facilities that caters to people who are among the most vulnerable to homelessness: low-income adults who are experiencing serious mental illnesses or substance use disorders, and/or who are veterans, formerly incarcerated, or elderly. Our lawsuit is based on violations of Oakland’s Tenant Protection and Just Cause for Eviction Ordinances and the State of California’s Tom Bane Civil Rights Act, False Advertising Law and Public Nuisance Law. We assert that One Rose of Unity advertises to attract these individuals, and then places them in overcrowded, poorly monitored group housing environments where they are subjected to unconscionable living conditions, physical and sexual abuse and harassment including illegal evictions. We seek remedies to stop and permanently prevent the inhumane and unlawful practices in these facilities, including injunctive relief, placing the facilities under receivership, civil penalties, punitive damages, attorney’s fees, costs, restitution and other equitable relief. We have filed a motion to prevent the defendants from retaliating against current tenants and to permanently prevent the owners and managers of these facilities from engaging in the illegal activities alleged in the lawsuit. This law suit is an example of the work our Affirmative Litigation Division does to improve the quality of life and protect the rights of Oakland residents throughout our city. My office also recently won a favorable decision in the City’s long-running administrative enforcement action against Suprema Meat Co, located at 955 57th Street. This meat distribution company has been the subject of neighbors’ ongoing complaints regarding excessive noise and unpermitted obstruction of the public right of way for more than 15 years. Neighbors have complained of excessive noise from 4 a.m. to 5 p.m., six days a week, and obstruction of the streets caused by trucks loading, unloading and waiting to do so throughout the day. The City has been embroiled in an ongoing administrative action, negotiations, and litigation including multiple appeals for more than a decade. The administrative decision issued by an independent hearing officer finds that the business has failed to abate the nuisance conditions and orders that the company’s owners pay more than $200,000 in civil penalties to the City of Oakland for failing to address these longstanding complaints.