Developer Files Federal Suit Seeking to Overturn Coal Ban; Community Vows to Fight Back

On Wednesday, December 7, developer Phil Tagami filed a federal lawsuit seeking to overturn Oakland's ordinance banning storage, handling, and transhipment of coal through a new terminal to be built on the Oakland waterfront near the Bay Bridge toll plaza. The lawsuit against the City of Oakland was filed on behalf of Tagami's shell company Oakland Bulk and Oversized Terminal LLC (OBOT LLC). Tagami's complaint is online here. A letter sent to the City is here. And a press release issued by Tagami's local lawyer is here. No Coal in Oakland will be updating this post with further information and analysis as well as our plans to fight back ...

West Side Missionary Baptist Church Honored for Role in No Coal Campaign

West Side Missionary Baptist Church and its pastor, Rev. Ken Chambers, were honored for their outstanding contributions to the No Coal in Oakland campaign at California Interfaith Power & Light’s 10th annual awards ceremony on November 15. CIPL is an interfaith group responding to climate change, with members from Islamic, Catholic, Protestant, Jewish, Buddhist, Unitarian, and many other spiritual traditions. At this year’s annual awards ceremony, attendees shared food, offered prayers, and celebrated climate care and advocacy work being done by congregations all over California from Humboldt County to El Cajon. Speakers at ...

No Coal Coalition Receives Eco-Warrior of the Year Award

At a party that drew many to downtown Oakland last night, Oakland Rising presented Townie Award for Eco-Warrior of the Year to the No Coal in Oakland coalition. On hand to accept the award were Katy Polony of Sunflower Alliance and Brittany King of the Sierra Club. Oakland Rising is a five-year old organization that aims to build and wield mass-based progressive political power, align and coordinate social justice forces, and develop new leaders in Oakland. Oakland Rising also named the Committee to Protect Oakland Renters as Townie of the Year, Nicole Lee as Youth Advocate of the Year, Black Youth Project 100 as Townie Volunteers of the Year, ...

National and Local Press Reports Oakland’s No Coal Vote

Numerous articles have appeared in the local and national press concerning the Oakland City Council's historic vote on coal: Oakland City Council votes to ban coal — from Utah or elsewhere — at its new port (Salt Lake Tribune, June 27, 2016) Utah counties determined to find port for coal (Deseret News, June 27, 2016) Oakland Votes to Block Large Shipments of Coal (New York Times, June 28, 2016) Oakland bans coal shipments in a blow to planned export facility (Los Angeles Times, June 28, 2016) Oakland Council Bans Coal Shipments, Citing Health Risks (ABC News, June 28, 2016) Oakland City Council Votes to Ban Coal Exports in Big ...