East Oakland

For over 100 years, the toxic AB&I Metal Foundry operated at 7825 San Leandro Street, emitting pollution into the air, soil, and water of East Oakland. Thanks to long-term community advocacy AB&I finally shut down in 2022. Now we fight to ensure the toxic site is cleaned up.

Despite clear harm to Oakland residents, airport workers, and the planet, the Port of Oakland voted in November 2024 in favor of pursuing a massive expansion of the Oakland International Airport (OAK). We have an ongoing lawsuit against the Port of Oakland for violating the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA).

Due to years of strong community advocacy, the California Air Resources Board voted to develop a Community Emissions Reduction Plan (CERP) process in East Oakland. CBE has co-lead this process with the Air District since 2022. The plan will serve as a blueprint for improving air quality in East Oakland and implementation should begin in 2026.

We’ve partnered with the Bay Area Air District and the University of California, Berkeley to implement a multi-year community air monitoring project in East Oakland. We’re building a network of air quality monitors and air filters at homes, schools, and community centers. Frontline community members and organizations have long advocated for cleaner air, and investments to promote a green and regenerative economy, and we hope this project will aid in those efforts.

Diesel trucks from the port have serious environmental justice impacts in East Oakland. Diesel trucks emit cancer-causing air pollution, including emissions such as benzene, particulate matter, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, heavy metals, and soot. In 2010, we published a Diesel Truck Study with the help of community residents who helped collect data to be analyzed by the Bay Area Air District. We are working on a revival of this study to be released in Fall 2025.

Our East Oakland CARE brigade is working to build a healthier, safer, more resilient community for everyone by preparing for climate challenges like extreme heat, flooding and poor air quality. From creating and distributing resource kits, to planning workshops, our CARE Brigade team members take meaningful action to build a more sustainable and resilient East Oakland.

Sterling removes asbestos, lead paint, and other hazardous materials from old buildings, then brings them to East Oakland, right next door to Stonehurst Elementary, before finally disposing. We work with frontline community members to watchdog and document this facility’s operations to keep each other safe.

Argent Materials is a recycler and seller of concrete, asphalt, gravel, and other aggregates operating in Deep East Oakland. Since 2020, CBE has organized around Argent’s visible dust (“particulate matter”) and vehicle dust track-out that lingers in the streets nears its San Leandro Street and Baldwin Avenue locations.

Crematoriums are an often-overlooked source of pollution that emit a number of pollutants, including mercury and dioxin. In addition to all the other industries that overburden this community, East Oakland is home to the East Bay Crematory, formally the Neptune Society Crematorium, which burns up to 3,000 bodies per year.