Despite new taxes and strong revenues, homicides, homelessness and police shortages continue to plague the city.
Oakland politics are not divided between Democrats and Republicans, or liberals and conservatives. Rather the battles are between progressives — those on the left, led by Mayor Libby Schaaf, and those on the far-left who now make up the City Council majority and are politically underwritten by key city labor unions.
It’s against that backdrop that, with Schaaf leaving office because of term limits, 10 candidates are vying to be the next mayor. And three council posts are up for grabs, two of which are open seats because the incumbents are running for the top job.
Taylor, who was first elected to the council in 2018, recognizes that the Police Department is substantially understaffed, and he rejects the notion that violence prevention programs should be pitted against funding for cops on the streets. Simply put, he says, we need both. Reid, a former senior aide to Nancy Skinner when the state senator was in the Assembly, is direct and hard-working. She calls for more police officers and more help under a new city program in which firefighters respond to mental health calls. She’s rightly critical of city leaders’ failure to spend money efficiently and transparently on city services and homeless programs.
Canada Latest News, Canada Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Editorial: In Milpitas, elect Montano mayor, Lien and Aswasthi to councilVoters should seek candidates who can end the political infighting that has plagued the city for years.
Read more »
Oakland Mayor Libby Schaaf tests positive for COVID-19Mayor Libby Schaaf has tested positive for COVID-19 and will be self-quarantining until she is negative and no longer experiencing symptoms from the virus.
Read more »
Borenstein: Why Sheng Thao is not prepared to be Oakland’s mayorCluelessness about tax measure she voted to put on the ballot shows she lacks knowledge to lead a city of 450,000 people.
Read more »
Oakland City Council Calling for WNBA Team in Approved ResolutionThe city hopes to become the destination for one of two teams that could be added to the WNBA in the 2024 season.
Read more »