Corrupt Oakland City Council rewards slumlord Keith Kim after four died in fire

Corrupt Oakland City Council rewards slumlord Keith Kim after four died in fire

Oakland City Council votes on land deal to further enrich slumlord Keith Kim

By Lynda Carson — March 30, 2017

Oakland - While nearly three dozen people are still in a shelter today, seeking a new place to live after being burned out of their housing, on Tuesday March 28, one day after 4 people died and around 100 others were displaced by a massive fire in a building owned by Keith Kim at 2551 San Pablo, Oakland’s corrupt City Council voted on some legislation that rewarded slumlord Keith Kim in a land deal, according to a story reported on by the East Bay Express.

Three nonprofit organizations managed the building where four people died last Monday, and around 100 people resided there in dangerous slum like conditions until the building caught fire. Urojas Community Services, House of Change, and Dignity Housing West were involved. Urojas Community Services and Dignity Housing West provided housing for the low-income renters residing in slum like conditions, including the disabled and mentally ill. The City of Oakland knew there were many code violations at the building, and that people were living in slum-like conditions because the slumlord Keith Kim failed to maintain the building properly.

The building (deathtrap) where four people died is owned by slumlord Keith Kim, who resides in a spacious Piedmont home valued at more than $3,800,000. Meanwhile, reportedly over three dozen fire victims are still reportedly in a shelter looking for a place to live.

Oakland City Council Votes On Shady Land Deal To Further Enrich Slumlord Keith Kim

According to the East Bay Express, in what appears to be a shady deal, the city went out of it’s way to spend $4.2 million in the effort to acquire 2.8 acres of state-owned land in Oakland, owned by the California Department of Transportation, that would be sold for the same price to West Oakland Development Group LLC, a company invested in by slumlord Keith Kim.

Public records reveal that Keith Kim made a $700 campaign contribution to Noel Gallo, who voted on the shady land deal last Tuesday to further enrich slumlord Keith Kim.

Reportedly, “Since 2015, the West Oakland Development Group has brought other developers, including Tim Lewis Partners and, later, Panoramic Interests, to negotiate a final deal with the city. According to records, West Oakland Development Group lacked the experience to actually develop the site, and all along had been working as a middleman.”

Additionally, according to the East Bay Express, “Keith Kim is an investor in the West Oakland Development Group through another company, called DCSI, according to city records, court documents, and interviews. The percent or dollar amount Kim owns in West Oakland Development Group is unclear, however, as DCSI is incorporated in Delaware and its records are private. But in public hearings, city staff called Kim a “partner” in the West Oakland Development Group, and records describe DCSI as a key source of funding. County records show that both Keith and Hahn Kim have represented themselves as the president of DCSI in real estate deals in the past.”


Additional records reveal that Hahn Kim is associated with DCSI Holdings Inc, Orinda Development & Investments, LLC, and West Oakland Development Group, LLC.

According to public records, the brother of Keith Kim known as Hahn Kim, is listed as the manager of West Oakland Development Group LLC, in a recent February 21, 2017 filing (PDF), recorded with the Secretary of State. Additional public records revealing that Keith Kim and Hahn Kim are brothers, revealed that brothers Keith Kim and Hahn Kim were defendants involved in a lawsuit filed by “plaintiff” Michael Chung, regarding a business deal gone bad involving Brainwash Inc. Keith Kim was sued by Michael Chung after Kim was reportedly convicted of lying to the Securities and Exchange Commission regarding a wealthy stock investment. Another public record has a Hahn Kim listed as residing on La Salle St., in Oakland.

Urojas Community Services, House of Change, and Dignity Housing West Managed The Building Owned By Slumlord

The latest 2015, 990 tax filing, by Dignity Housing West reveals that they have been operating legally, but records reveal that they have a fund balance of being $565,755 in the hole. The status of their corporate license is active, and they are partners with the Community Housing Development Corporation of Richmond, and have recently been involved in a $2,000,000 deal involving the City of Oakland.

However, records reveal that House of Change a drug and alcohol rehab program, has allowed the status of their license with the Secretary of State to become suspended, and that there is no record for House of Change being listed as a nonprofit organization.

As for Urojas Community Services, according to public records, the last time Urojas Community Services, employee identification number 26-2211142, filed a 990 tax filing it was for 2010. Public records reveal that by the end of 2010, Urojas Community Services, a 501 c3 nonprofit charity organization, run by Jasper Lowery, had a fund balance of only $100. Records also reveal that by the end of 2009, Urojas Community Services had a fund balance of $100, and they had no assets or a zero fund balance for the organization by the end of 2008. Reportedly, nonprofit organizations that fail to file their 990 tax filings in a timely manner may be charged steep fines or penalties for violating the law.

According to Urojas Community Services, Dr. Jasper Lowery, Founder and Executive Director of the organization, is a certified administrator for the State of California to operate Licensed Care Facilities, and public records reveal that his license is active till 11/23/2018.

Records also reveal that Urojas Ministries run by Pastor Jasper Lowery, has a suspended license.

Reportedly, Urojas Community Services and Jasper Lowery have also been in the news recently in Stocktonfor allegedly running a transitional project poorly.

Lynda Carson may be reached at tenantsrule [at] yahoo.com