🗳️ Is this the most consequential election in Oakland history?

Newsom orders encampment closures and changes to police chase policy, deep dive on Oakland crime data, Harbin-Forte enters City Attorney race

Happy Sunday, Oakland. This is the first issue of the revamped Empower Oakland newsletter. For those who missed it, check out our “re-launch” post or catch us on KTVU!

⏰ Reminder: 100 days to election day! (check your voter registration below)

What’s at stake this November

Photo from Amir Aziz

The recalls are historical firsts: neither an Oakland Mayor nor an Alameda County DA has ever been recalled. And in total, 14 key positions are on the ballot. They will wield enormous power.

• Alameda County District Attorney Recall

• 2 Alameda County Supervisors (D4, D5)

• Oakland Mayoral Recall

• Oakland City Attorney 

• 5 of 8 Oakland City Council seats (1, 3, 5, 7, At-Large)

• 4 of 7 school board seats (1, 3, 5, 7)

It would typically take 3-4 election cycles to reshape the political landscape at this level. For anyone unhappy with Oakland’s current direction, this is an unprecedented opportunity for change.

Unlike national elections, Oakland's politics aren't Democrat vs. Republican. In a city where just 5% of registered voters are Republican, the policy and ideological differences can be much more nuanced.

In any case, we know the top priorities for every candidate will focus on the current crises: public safety, housing, homelessness, and the local economy. Here are just a few examples of the signals to watch:

• Public safety: filling sworn police officer vacancies vs. investing solely in violence prevention programs

• Housing: making it easier to build all types of housing vs. prioritizing only affordable rental housing

• Public services: maximizing impact and efficiency of public services vs. being unwilling to negotiate for concessions from labor union partners

Some choices may seem more obvious than others, but they are all underscored by our tenuous budget situation. If the Mayor’s plan to sell the Coliseum doesn’t happen (no deal is currently guaranteed), Oakland will be forced to cut $63M in spending, including 78 police officers and five fire companies – and our $100M+ deficit will inevitably worsen.

What’s really at stake?

What’s really at stake is the speed and certainty of Oakland’s rebound. The sheer number of elected positions on the ballot could deliver unprecedented change in leadership.

But left on its current path, these things are certain: Oakland’s budget deficit gets wider. Families continue to leave. School enrollment declines. Even more businesses shut or leave. Crime continues unabated. More innocent lives will be senselessly lost. And the cycle goes on.

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Story of the week

Photo from Michael Short/SF Chronicle

Governor Newsom issued an executive order to remove homeless encampments in California, saying there are “no more excuses” for local inaction. This comes after the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision in Grants Pass v. Johnson, which gave the “definitive authority” to state and local officials to clear unsafe encampments.

Now the pressure’s on local leaders to take action. Oakland officials have been reluctant to take such measures, so all eyes should be on those leaders (and candidates!). Oakland’s homeless population is ~5,500 (double since 2015), despite spending more money.

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In other news…

“My Oakland City Council colleagues think they can pay recurring bills with a one-time sports deal – but we can’t afford the overdraft fees.” – Janani Ramachandran, District 4

• Oakland council member Janani Ramachandran penned a scathing op-ed in response to the Mayor fast-tracking a budget that’s contingent on a sale of the Coliseum. She says that even with a Coliseum sale – which is a no-bid contract and far from a done deal –  we’re just pushing Oakland’s financial problems down the road (East Bay Times)

• Gavin Newsom sent a letter urging Oakland leaders to revise the city’s police pursuit policy to let officers chase suspects more frequently. He called Oakland an “outlier” in its inability to chase suspects (SF Chronicle)

• Former Alameda County judge Brenda Harbin-Forte filed papers to run for City Attorney. She is currently leading the recall effort against Sheng Thao. After retiring as a judge, Harbin-Forte served on the Oakland Police Commission, until Thao removed her from the job last year (Mercury News)

• The Oakland Report broke down Oakland’s crime data, and how politicians are playing games with public safety (Oakland Report)

• A new neighborhood group thinks private investment can fix the area north of Lake Merritt (SF Chronicle)

• Fremont Police arrested a man suspected of killing his girlfriend, while out on bail for separate charges for attempted murder and assault. DA Pam Price did not seek enhancements for the prior charges, which is why he was allowed bail (KRON4)

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✅ Are you ready to vote?

Election Day (Nov 5) is just 100 days away, and vote-by-mail (VBM) ballots arrive in only 70 days. Here are easy links to confirm the following:

• Voter registration (update your mailing address!)

• Oakland council district number

• County supervisor district number

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