By Ken A. Epstein
Tosha Alberty, holding back
the tears, stood in front of her
West Oakland house Tuesday,
explaining how she, her chil-
dren and grandchildren had
been evicted that morning
from their home by the Alame-
da County Sheriff’s Depart-
ment.
“I’m here, standing by the
grace of God, doing all I can
to keep this home,” said Alber-
ty, who was born and raised in
West Oakland and had bought
the home at the corner of 10th
and Willow streets in 2005.
“Who are they helping with
all the (bank bailout) money?”
she asked. ”I need the money.
I’m a worker, and I’m trying to
raise my children.”
The sheriffs had forced their
way into the home at 8 a.m.
while Alberty was at work. The
children were moved out onto
the street, with many of their
possessions still inside the
home. The locks were changed
and the windows boarded up.
She has the organized back-
ing of Oakland ACORN, as
well as help from the offi ce
of County Supervisor Keith
Carson and City Councilmem-
bers Rebecca Kaplan, Desley
Brooks and Nancy Nadel.
At the time of this week’s
eviction, with the backing of
ACORN she had headed off
two previous eviction attempts,
and she was under the assump-
tion that negotiations with the
bank were still under way.
When Alberty originally
purchased the home, she paid
$550,000 and had monthly
payments of $3,800. Though
she was unemployed at the
time, a real estate broker ar-
ranged a loan and told her that
she would be able to refi nance
in six months, she said.
The family struggled to
make their payments. Alberty
found a good job – as a union
employee working for the
county – where she continues
to work today. For two years,
despite how high the payments
were, she paid her mortgage on
time and never missed a pay-
ment.
Then her payments went up
about $1,000 a month more,
and she and her family could
no longer pay. The mortgage
Alberty called the bank to ask
for help but was told there was
nothing they could do, she
said.
