The Waterfront Swindle and the Long Revolt - Oakland Oppressed from the Outset
Our beautiful Oakland waterfront. The long stretch of marsh filled with wildlife, that haven for birds, and that wondrous place for the people of Oakland to view the majesty of the Great Bay.
But I suppose you may be more familiar with the great white cranes of The Port of Oakland.
But in 1852, there was no port, and during low tide, there was a huge impassable mud flat between the bay and dry land. All water transport was scheduled by the tides. If someone was able to own all of the waterfront, they could control water transportation into and out of the city.
How Horace Stole Oakland's Waterfront
Horace W. Carpentier, our founding father, was well aware of the potential of the waterfront. What did he do? He stole it ALL! Yup. He wrote the official document which on May 4 1852, incorporated the town of Oakland.
An Act to incorporate the Town of Oakland, and to provide for the construction of wharves thereat. The People of the State of California, represented in Senate and Assembly do...
So why bring up the construction of wharves in the title of an act intended to incorporate a town?
...with the style of the 'Town of Oakland,' ...boundaries of said Town shall be as... ...Board of Trustees shall have power...
And here is the kicker.
...to facilitate the construction of wharves and other improvements, the lands lying within the limits aforesaid, between high tide and ship channel, are hereby granted and released to said Town, provided that said lands shall be retained by said Town as common property, or disposed of for the purposes aforesaid...
Disposed of? What the hell is that?
Mr. Carpentier's buddies Adams, and Moon, were elected to the board, along with Alfred Burrell, A. Marier, A. Staples, and F.K. Shattuck was the clerk. Mr. Carpentier didn't make the cut. Board of Trustees... pff. That November, Carpentier won the Contra Costa seat in the California state assembly.
The Board of Trustees, in their very first meeting, wrote up an ordinance to dispose of the waterfront, and by the third meeting the waterfront was disposed of, 10,000 acres right into Mr. Carpentier's hands. The few restrictions on the deal were removed in 'An ordinance concerning wharves and the waterfront', August 27, 1853 in which the Board gave the waterfront to Mr. Carpentier - “in fee simple, forever”.
PIRATES!!
Well the people aren't stupid. They just don't have a law degree in cunning from Columbia.
Our beautiful Oakland waterfront. The long stretch of marsh filled with wildlife, that haven for birds, and that wondrous place for the people of Oakland to view the majesty of the Great Bay.
But I suppose you may be more familiar with the great white cranes of The Port of Oakland.
But in 1852, there was no port, and during low tide, there was a huge impassable mud flat between the bay and dry land. All water transport was scheduled by the tides. If someone was able to own all of the waterfront, they could control water transportation into and out of the city.
How Horace Stole Oakland's Waterfront
Horace W. Carpentier, our founding father, was well aware of the potential of the waterfront. What did he do? He stole it ALL! Yup. He wrote the official document which on May 4 1852, incorporated the town of Oakland.
An Act to incorporate the Town of Oakland, and to provide for the construction of wharves thereat. The People of the State of California, represented in Senate and Assembly do...
So why bring up the construction of wharves in the title of an act intended to incorporate a town?
...with the style of the 'Town of Oakland,' ...boundaries of said Town shall be as... ...Board of Trustees shall have power...
And here is the kicker.
...to facilitate the construction of wharves and other improvements, the lands lying within the limits aforesaid, between high tide and ship channel, are hereby granted and released to said Town, provided that said lands shall be retained by said Town as common property, or disposed of for the purposes aforesaid...
Disposed of? What the hell is that?
Mr. Carpentier's buddies Adams, and Moon, were elected to the board, along with Alfred Burrell, A. Marier, A. Staples, and F.K. Shattuck was the clerk. Mr. Carpentier didn't make the cut. Board of Trustees... pff. That November, Carpentier won the Contra Costa seat in the California state assembly.
The Board of Trustees, in their very first meeting, wrote up an ordinance to dispose of the waterfront, and by the third meeting the waterfront was disposed of, 10,000 acres right into Mr. Carpentier's hands. The few restrictions on the deal were removed in 'An ordinance concerning wharves and the waterfront', August 27, 1853 in which the Board gave the waterfront to Mr. Carpentier - “in fee simple, forever”.
PIRATES!!
Well the people aren't stupid. They just don't have a law degree in cunning from Columbia.