Source: San Francisco Business Times
By: Roland Li
Date: July 7, 2015
Related Staff: Samuel P. Tepperman-Gelfant
If Oakland sells public land near Lake Merritt to a private developer to build a market-rate residential tower, the transaction would violate state law, Oakland’s city attorney wrote in a confidential legal opinion in February.
The opinion provides more ammunition to opponents of the sale, who have threatened legal action, and the Oakland City Council delayed the final vote on the sale, which was originally scheduled tonight….
Parker’s opinion echoes the argument of community groups and the non-profit law firm Public Advocates, who have claimed that the sale is illegal. No lawsuits have been filed and the groups are waiting to see what action the City Council takes tonight. “We are still awaiting final action by the Council before determining what course of action to pursue, and we are exploring all options,” said Sam Tepperman-Gelfant, a senior staff attorney at Public Advocates.
