[Occupymendocino] City's efforts to remove squatters from Oakland foreclosed homes ignored

[Richard Karch]

City's efforts to remove squatters from foreclosed homes ignored

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SPECIAL REPORT: 10 people occupy bank-owned home for nearly 1 year
KTVU.com

OAKLAND, Calif. —

As many as 10 people have been living in a bank-owned building in Oakland for nearly a year and they haven't paid any rent. Neither the city, nor the bank can get them to leave.

KTVU found out that it's not the only house the squatters have targeted.

Real estate broker Tony Maqdoor said he had just kicked squatters out of a house in Oakland, when he discovered they had returned and changed the locks.

KTVU was able to enter the home and found a painting, beer and pills, and even one of the squatters was home.

A man who was living at the home said he wanted to check out the house for a friend, but KTVU recognized him as one of the same squatters who'd taken over another four-unit building on Vallecito Place near Highland Hospital.

The squatter said he didn't want to comment, but some neighbors had plenty to say about the squatters.

"They're squatting," said neighbor Hannah James. "They're freeloading. They're not paying any rent."

But Joshua Nichols, one of the squatters, feels differently.

He said he's among 10 people who've been living in a bank-owned building rent-free since November.

Nichols said he and the others have cleaned up the place. He also showed KTVU utility bills to prove they're paying for water and electricity.

Outside the home hangs an "Occupy" sign and Nichols said he makes no apology for taking over the foreclosed building without paying rent or getting the bank's permission.

"They've completely withdrawn their right to get rent from us," Nichols said. "They've taken away everything. We bailed them out and they kicked everybody out of their homes. They've ruined the lives of so many people."

Nichols said Bank of America has filed a civil suit to try to evict him and the others living there and they've hired their own lawyer to fight it.

A city inspector who visited the property told KTVU his hands are tied.

"You should consult with the city attorney's office on that issue," said James Anders, Oakland city inspector. "I'm really just doing an inspection to assess the condition of the property."

Another city official confirmed it's a civil matter and police can't kick the residents out.

Neighbors David and Sandy Berger said they worry that the number of people going in and out of a building is growing and that there's no record of who they are.

However, they said their new neighbors aren't the real problem.

"The real issue here is not the Occupy, the issue is why the property was ever allowed to get into derelict (condition) and people thought they could move in and squat there," David Berger said. "Where is the responsibility of the banks?"

Bank of America issued a statement regarding the situation:

"We are aware that there are some unauthorized tenants in the building and we are working with authorities to take appropriate legal procedures to have them removed from the property. Once this situation is resolved, our goal is to market the property for sale as quickly as possible."

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