Oakland City Identification Card Coalition (OCICC) kicks off campaign

On March 5, 2008, Centro Legal de la Raza convened the first meeting of the Oakland City Identification Card Coalition (OCICC). About twenty-five individuals representing various organizations and constituencies met and discussed how to build unity in Oakland by creating a city identification card for everyone who lives in the ‘Town in a move to implement the human rights aspiration of its new sanctuary ordinance.

Following the model established by New Haven, Connecticut, and the current experience of San Francisco in taking this critical step forward, the OCICC has met bi-monthly to develop a thoughtful proposal for City Council, which has responded favorably to initial inquiries. (OCICC has also begun outreach to the Oakland Police Department and the City Attorney's office.) Potential benefits of an Oakland City Identification Card include:

• Integrating all city residents into Oakland’s civic life;
• Increasing public safety by reducing barriers to the reporting of crime ?Encouraging all city residents to participate in local commerce by using local banks, establishing credit, accessing loans and/or using a local currency; and
• Increasing the use, and providing discounts for using, civic institutions like the museum, library and zoo.

An Oakland City Identification Card could benefit all of Oakland’s residents, providing ID to those who commonly lack it, such as school children, and to vulnerable populations such as survivors of domestic violence, runaway youth, transgender people, migrant workers and homeless people.

The OCICC is asking for organizations to formally join the coalition. For more information, visit http://oaklandcityidcard.org or call Carol Perez at 510-437-1544 x.118, carolperez (at) centrolegal (dot) org.

OCICC’s next meeting will be on Wednesday July 2, 6pm, at the Oakland Workers’ Center, 2501 International Blvd.