'No one focuses on the pain here': Inside Oakland's abandoned car epidemic

[Demovictory9]

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According to the community, these cars aren’t just concentrated near encampments. Oftentimes, they pile up in West Oakland and the "flatlands" of East Oakland, clogging up streets and sitting for months at a time.

While city officials agree that they tarnish Oakland’s image and create a hostile environment, residents in these areas, many of whom are spearheading local beautification campaigns, complain that the city is allowing these cars to build up in Black and brown communities — subsequently lowering property values and fueling the cycle of poverty.

Oakland’s ongoing battle with abandoned vehicles

In the city of Oakland, abandoned cars are legally considered public nuisances that “reduce the value of private property, promote blight and deterioration, invite plundering” and compromise “health, safety and general welfare.” In the past year alone, there have been nearly 1,000 reports of abandoned cars on OAK 311, the city’s maintenance request service. In response, the city council allotted $150,000 to Oakland’s Abandoned Auto Detail to tow inoperable vehicles.

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A complex environmental and economic issue
According to Henderson, aside from systemic racism, lack of code enforcement at local auto body shops also contributes to the abandoned car epidemic. “When you pass by them, there's 50, 60 cars inside the lot. You see people come in and get cars for cheap, not even for five grand.” She says that struggling families will sometimes buy cars at auction without registering them or getting insurance, and when they break down, they leave them on the street.

Sean confirms that when he was a homeless youth, he was forced to abandon a total of three cars for this very reason. He couldn’t afford to pay off accrued tickets or take in his cars to get fixed when they broke down, and was forced to leave them behind. “People don't have the money to do all the other steps,” Henderson says.


https://www.sfgate.com/local/article/oakland-abandoned-car-epidemic-16027155.php?IPID=SFGate-HP-CP-Spotlight

[uncle ray]

1. those train cars in the background? hauling new cars.

i think most large items, cars, furniture, etc. should be assessed a "disposal" tax at the time of original purchase, to help cities cover the cost of such cleanup when the item is cast off. i live in the general direction of a rural landfill serving a large city. it's amazing how many people haul their items out of town towards the landfill to dump it on the side of the road.

with old cars there are numerous other reasons they are abandoned. a big one is that in many areas, scrap yards, used parts yards, etc. will not touch a car without legal title in hand. so even is there is scrap value, the average person cannot find anyone who will take it.

[MichMan]

2. If there in no title requirement to scrap cars...

how does anyone prove they own the car that is being scrapped? Otherwise, someone could just tow any random car they see parked somewhere and sell it for scrap.

[uncle ray]

3. it's not all that difficult. the mechanisims are already in place.

scrap yards already record personal info for scrap purchases and watch out for stolen items. you're not gonna have luck selling new copper wire, railroad tracks, etc. to a legit scrap yard. seller can sign an affidavit that they are the legal owner and the car isn't stolen. check the VIN against the stolen car database.

yeah, a stripped out 1 year old Mercedes is gonna raise some red flags. a 30 year old econo shitbox that's worth $30 in scrap? who gives two shits.