Upcoming Albany Bulb Events: Services Fair, Camp-Out, Art Discussion

With deadline approaching for removal of people living on the Albany Bulb, at least three events are being held in Albany this week on Bulb matters.

Oct. 2: Camp-Out Protest

A "Solidarity Camp-Out" is being organized for Wednesday night, Oct. 2, by those who oppose the eviction of the 60-70 people living in tents and makeshift structures on the Bulb.

The camp-out begins at 6 p.m. at the Bulb and is intended "to prevent the eviction of its current residents + explore solutions," according to the event flyer. The event also includes a potluck and documentary screening, the flyer says.

Oct. 3: Bulb art before Waterfront Committee

The first item on the city's Waterfront Committee agenda Wednesday night is "Discussion of Establishment of Policies related to Public Art at the Albany Waterfront."

The item includes a proposal to "establish a subcommittee to research issues and collaborate with the Arts Committee." The meeting starts at 7:30 p.m. at City Hall.

Oct. 3: Services Fair for Bulb residents

The city is co-sponsoring a "Services Fair" for the homeless on Thursday, Oct. 3, next to the Albany Waterfront and entrance to the Bulb. Several local service agencies are scheduled to participate.

It will run from 2-4:30 p.m. and be located at the Golden Gate Fields lower parking lot, next to the Waterfront. It is being co-hosted by the Berkeley Food & Housing Project, which received a $60,000 contract from the City of Albany as part of the city's "Project Hope" to assist the Bulb residents with alternative housing and services.

Background

The Bulb is a city-owned piece of land extending into San Francisco Bay from the foot of Buchanan Street in Albany. It was made from construction debris and dirt dumped into the Bay.

The City Council – whose longstanding goal is to hand over responsibility for the Bulb to the East Bay Regional Park District to manage as part of McLaughlin Eastshore State Park – voted in May to ask the police department to begin enforcing the city's no-camping ordinance at the Bulb in October.

No date has been announced for when the enforcement will begin.

Police have increased patrols in the area, and city staff members have encouraged people at the Bulb to take advantage of the services of Berkeley Food and Housing Project, said City Clerk Nicole Almaguer.

In addition, she said, the city has established a "Homelessness in Albany" website "intended to provide ongoing facts and status updates" about the issue.

Albany Patch has published a variety of news articles as well as blog and board posts from members of the community. Some recent ones are listed below:

News articles

• Dozens Gather at Albany Bulb to Oppose Eviction of Encampment
• Short Film Profiles Albany Bulb Residents on Eve of Eviction
• Council Reaffirms Plan to Remove Albany Bulb Homeless Next Month
• VIDEO: Homeless March from Albany Bulb
• Petition, March Seek to Block Eviction of Albany Bulb Homeless
• Fate of the Albany Bulb Artworks?
• Condition Placed on Housing Aid to Albany Bulb Homeless
• Council Moves Ahead on Transferring Albany Bulb to State, Park District Control
• City Council Asks Police to Enforce 'No Camping' Rule at Albany Bulb

• The Bulb: Enter the Anarchists
• Question (again):
• Save the Albany Bulb
• Get to Know the Facts About the Citizens of the Albany Waterfront Park
• A Phased Transition for the Bulb ?
• Albany Community Foundation Seeks Funds to Help Albany Project Hope
• There's No Place Like Home: Part 1
• After many rhetorical questions, directed at Bulb residents, beginning with the words, "Who are you people...", I thought I'd clarify: Who "We" are...
• How the Albany City Council Broke the Law to Keep a "Promise"
• Houseless in Albany
• Time to Pull Together for People and for Parks
• The Care and Feeding of an Urban Waterfront Park
• The Albany City Council Pulls a Fast One on the Homeless

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