Oakland Councilmember Ken Houston at Tuesday’s City Council meeting.Vol. VI, No. 1,188
—Oakland Councilmember Ken Houston is moving to revive his proposed Encampment Abatement Policy, aiming for a full City Council vote later this month after a brief but tense derailment tied to state funding concerns.
Houston said he will ask the Rules Committee on Thursday to place the item on the agenda for the council’s Feb. 17 meeting.
The policy, which he introduced in September, stalled after the city received a warning letter from the California Interagency Council on Homelessness questioning whether it complied with state requirements — raising fears Oakland could lose $41 million in funding.
“They sent a letter to the mayor the day before, and everybody panicked,” Houston said. “I was told we had to pull it or lose the money. I called the governor’s office, and I was hot.”
After the city clarified that it would make every reasonable effort to offer housing to displaced residents and account for personal belongings, the state signed off. Houston said the policy was compliant all along. “That was calculated interference,” he said. “I was always in compliance.”
—Houston’s hands-on approach has earned him strong support in his district, even as critics accuse him of political meddling. He dismisses that criticism, pointing to ongoing quality-of-life issues.
“My community has been suffering for months. Businesses are suffering too,” he said. “Some people want to keep Oakland exactly like this so the funding keeps flowing.”
As a freshman councilmember, Houston is unapologetic. “They’re not used to someone coming in with one of the strongest homeless policies in the country,” he said.
Oakland council delays encampment policy overhaul after marathon hearing
Oakland’s encampment abatement policy delayed again after state raises new concerns
—More inside:
CITY NEWS: Houston disobeyed orders and didn’t get medical treatment for a badly cut finger.
Hoping to reduce demand, Oakland approves large fines for buyers of sex trafficked individuals.
San Leandro locks in sweeping rent stabilization ordinance against mayor’s wishes.
COUNTY NEWS: Supervisor rejects his own advisory council’s recommendation as Castro Valley’s bicycle wars continue.
ELECTION 2026: Tuesday’s gubernatorial debate revealed how some of the candidates view the current state of the field.
