Protesters tear down fences at Oakland plazas slated for renovation

OAKLAND -- Protesters tore down fencing Saturday at two plazas that had been scheduled for renovation, calling the action a "liberation" of public space.

The group used bolt cutters to remove the chain-link fences around St. Andrews Plaza on San Pablo Avenue at 32nd Street, and Bishop Floyd L. Begin Plaza at 22nd Street and San Pablo, where someone spray-painted "no fences, no walls, no borders."

The plazas, located in West Oakland, have been longtime haunts for local residents and the homeless, and the subject of complaints by residents upset over drug use and public drunkenness.

Fence torn down at plaza at 22nd at MLK and San Pablo Ave. (David DeBolt)

Fences were put up as recently as Thursday at St. Andrews Plaza to prepare for grant-funded renovation projects, city leaders said. By noon Saturday, locals were back at the San Pablo Avenue plaza, where a man who identified himself as David cut hair with clippers for $5 a cut, using a toothbrush as a comb, while members of New Hope Baptist Church handed out spaghetti and salad meals as they do every Saturday.

"I never seen anyone (from the city) come out here and talk to the community," said David, who refused to give his last name. "To me, this is my park. 'Bout time someone stood up."

Oakland Public Works Agency spokeswoman Kristine Shaff said the fences will be replaced.

"We are constantly trying to balance all these needs and wishes and wants and styles and it's really tricky," said Shaff, referencing Oakland's diverse community. "We have our fair share of conflict or where we come up against one another, differences of opinion.

"We don't always get it right the first time. We keep trying."

David DeBolt covers breaking news. Follow him at Twitter.com/daviddebolt.

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Protesters tear down fences at Oakland plazas slated for renovation