Thank you for entering the arena - it has not been easy to get where we are (definitely like swimming upstream w/o a paddle against the mafia-like labor unions SEIU & Oakland City Employees unions). While it is challenging to feel like we are making progress - we are grateful to Charlene Wang, for being an incredibly diligent and hard working candidate which won over so many people despite the unions candidate. Moving forward - lets support Charlene with her vision and help her be successful!! Thank you again Empower Oakland!!
This is the letter that we, the North Hills Community Association, sent to both Lee and Taylor (via snail mail for lack of proper online address) yesterday. It echoes your message about post-election Oakland, Let's get Taylor into the mix! David
**************************
Mayor-elect Lee, congratulations on your victory. Mr. Taylor, our condolences on your close defeat. But now, the election is over and it’s time to move past its strife and work together to take care of our city. All the bright ideas from the campaign should be on the table as we get to work.
We know that for Oakland to thrive, we must fix some deep-seated and intractable problems. We must reduce the budget deficit. While the dreadful assault upon American social democracy being conducted by Elon Musk and the “Department of Government Efficiency” risks giving efficiency a bad name, government efficiency is what Oakland desperately needs. Downsizing bureaucracy, forgoing inessential functions, and eliminating redundancies are painful. But if we don’t make substantial changes, we will continue to bleed precious dollars. Our bond rating will tumble even further and spiral us even further into debt.
Both of you made good points during your campaigns; can’t we work as a team to produce a plan and make change happen? Do we need charter reform? Departmental consolidation? What will it take to allow Oakland government to win back the confidence of city residents that has ebbed away over recent years?
If the residents of Oakland themselves don’t feel safe, how can we expect businesses to invest in Oakland or Bay Area shoppers to flock to Oakland’s fabulous small business community? If crime is perceived to be endemic, why would young entrepreneurs ready to launch start-ups choose to locate in Oakland? Yes, we need an adequately staffed police force, and yes, we must finally free ourselves from burdensome Federal oversight. But this must be accompanied by efforts to offer paths to jobs and success for Oakland youth throughout the city. The Oakland School District, Oakland businesses, and city government must create alternatives to drugs, sex, and crime as ways for young people to make money. We must provide paths to careers offering lifetime success ahead. No city can police itself to safety. We must give our young people hope. We must make Oakland shine if we want to climb out of the financial and psychic hole in which we are sinking. If we don’t solve the crime problem we will remain sunk.
Oakland is filled with talented people and engaged civic organizations like our own North Hills Community Association. We stand ready to contribute. Our new mayor must inspire Oaklanders and bring hope to every Oakland neighborhood. A new day must dawn in Oakland. We have so many advantages: a great climate, a solid infrastructure of major highways and railroads, a port on the Pacific, a diverse and creative population, and much more. But we can succeed only if people grow confident of reasonable safety from robbery and theft and if we reduce our vulnerability to wildfire. We can then make the rest of the world understand that Oakland has changed dramatically for the better. It’s our challenge. We must listen to each other and work together. We’ll need strong leadership from our new Mayor. Finally, Mayor Lee, please let us know how we can help!
>> But this must be accompanied by efforts to offer paths to jobs and success for Oakland youth throughout the city. <<
Lets get real about what jobs our youth can get and then pay rent let alone buy a home in Oakland?
We must stop this notion it's all about jobs for our youth. The reality of Oakland's student is many are failing and clearly not graduating. Who is going to hire them? Many are criminals that have & will prey on other students.
As a native Oaklander who's Black family has been in Oakland for more than 110 yr's I know Oakland. I left Oakland as a teen to avoid the draft by joining the Naval Reserves in 1966. I at the time graduated from Oakland in 1965. Worked for Pac Bell for a hot minute then IBM.
My military service allowed my the opportunity to buy an Oakland home in 1973 for $32,500. VA loan. That can't be done today with homes in deep EO at $500,000+. So lets get real about what can be done and can't be done. Military service in the Navy, Air Force & Coast Guard is still an excellent choice for our youth. They'll get training, VA benefits and the opportunity maybe to see the world and change their lives. Just maybe they'll become very successful and be able to afford an Oakland home or inherit one as will my children.
Military service isn't the only option of course. It's a start.
Barbara Lee was a tough opponent due to name recognition. She was also hard to attack because her experience is all symbolic at the national level, rather than practical at the local level. But it doesn't really matter going forward - at 78 years old she is probably not going to be a part of Oakland politics for that much longer.
So keep it up. Keep focused on crime and homelessness, those are going to be winning issues until Oakland gets turned around.
It’s clear many of you have read Jennifer Polkha’s book on the inefficiencies in our bureaucratic system—but what’s the point of echoing her arguments if they’re not being turned into real, actionable change? How are you actually contributing to strengthening our city government?
Polkha emphasizes retaining talent and updating systems to reflect the metrics citizens actually care about. So why not spend your time building a concrete, locally focused platform that does exactly that?
Instead, we’re watching money pour into political campaigns riddled with misinformation, weak arguments, and black-and-white thinking. How can anyone in these organizations claim to be driving real change when they’re just feeding the same cycle of empty rhetoric and division?
Take Mayor Mahan’s approach to homelessness—incarcerating people who refuse to leave encampments. There’s decades of research showing that punitive approaches like this might offer a short-term fix, but they ultimately deepen the crisis over time. We need better than this.
I understand that takes time and a lot of effort, but if you’re convinced you know how to tackle our larger crises, why not focus your energy (and capital $$$) on tangible and clear solutions that might actually move us forward? All representatives in Oakland want to drive change—if you work together, you have a higher chance at actually getting there.
Loren Taylor’s campaign outraised Lee’s thanks to contributions from the Silicon Valley bloc of investors, hedge fund managers, developers, and real estate interests. The focus on unions is useless because even unionized workers are losing their city jobs. We got to reign in on OPD overtime, have a thorough forensic audit to identify waste and inefficiency (even in private and non-profit partnerships), and work on temporarily lowering high paying city jobs to prevent further understaffing and the reduction of city services. Focusing on organized labor is a tired point that’s been used in every political race against progressive candidates in Oakland since the early 2000’s. Let’s shift toward productive dialogues that give everyone in Oakland a chance to help make this city better—including those who are unionized city workers that can easily work in neighboring municipalities that will appreciate their efforts, pay them better, and staff their departments more adequately.
Mayor Lee, Madam, you are my Mayor, and I am here to help any way I can. Oakland needs efficiency in every effort public facing, e.g., Public Works, Law Enforcement, contracting etc. to name a few. The mantra needs to be efficiency, risk evaluation in every effort, action against bloated organization, low production rate, red tape etc. Hard choices will go against some single-issue proponents, but you can make them. You have the stature and nothing to lose.
Lee's plan doesn't mention homelessness. Oakland waste far too much money on the problem by not facing the long term reality Oakland will never be affordable again! The recent purchase of a 150 unit hotel will NOT solve nor help many people. We would do far better to find out who is willing to relocate out of Oakland to affordable housing in the state or country. Provide them with the resources to purchase & stabilize their lives for say 2 yr's in their new location.
Oakland could work with banks, Hud Voucher programs to make owning a home a reality. Hud has a buyer program to move people from voucher to ownership. Couple that with Oakland's support it's a win, win, win for applicants, Hud and the city of Oakland.
We must focus not only on the homeless but Oaklands residents that are not homeless. We are tired of the filthy streets, Bad roads and above all CRIME! Finding those people that are willing to relocate out and helping them with cash is a win for everyone. With $50,000,000, 2,000 people could receive over time $25,000 to help them start a new. Or 2,500 with $20,000. Coupled with HUD program bank money & Oakland support $10,000 could help 5,000 people!!! Oakland's homeless, crime & infrastructure problems on the way to being solved in one yr!
With that, will come lower crime and eventually reducing OPD size saving us money! There is no reason Oakland can't be as safe as all the cities surrounding Oakland. All it takes is thinking and taking action we haven't taken before!
Thank you for entering the arena - it has not been easy to get where we are (definitely like swimming upstream w/o a paddle against the mafia-like labor unions SEIU & Oakland City Employees unions). While it is challenging to feel like we are making progress - we are grateful to Charlene Wang, for being an incredibly diligent and hard working candidate which won over so many people despite the unions candidate. Moving forward - lets support Charlene with her vision and help her be successful!! Thank you again Empower Oakland!!
Loren, please keep running. Third time's the charm!
This is the letter that we, the North Hills Community Association, sent to both Lee and Taylor (via snail mail for lack of proper online address) yesterday. It echoes your message about post-election Oakland, Let's get Taylor into the mix! David
**************************
Mayor-elect Lee, congratulations on your victory. Mr. Taylor, our condolences on your close defeat. But now, the election is over and it’s time to move past its strife and work together to take care of our city. All the bright ideas from the campaign should be on the table as we get to work.
We know that for Oakland to thrive, we must fix some deep-seated and intractable problems. We must reduce the budget deficit. While the dreadful assault upon American social democracy being conducted by Elon Musk and the “Department of Government Efficiency” risks giving efficiency a bad name, government efficiency is what Oakland desperately needs. Downsizing bureaucracy, forgoing inessential functions, and eliminating redundancies are painful. But if we don’t make substantial changes, we will continue to bleed precious dollars. Our bond rating will tumble even further and spiral us even further into debt.
Both of you made good points during your campaigns; can’t we work as a team to produce a plan and make change happen? Do we need charter reform? Departmental consolidation? What will it take to allow Oakland government to win back the confidence of city residents that has ebbed away over recent years?
If the residents of Oakland themselves don’t feel safe, how can we expect businesses to invest in Oakland or Bay Area shoppers to flock to Oakland’s fabulous small business community? If crime is perceived to be endemic, why would young entrepreneurs ready to launch start-ups choose to locate in Oakland? Yes, we need an adequately staffed police force, and yes, we must finally free ourselves from burdensome Federal oversight. But this must be accompanied by efforts to offer paths to jobs and success for Oakland youth throughout the city. The Oakland School District, Oakland businesses, and city government must create alternatives to drugs, sex, and crime as ways for young people to make money. We must provide paths to careers offering lifetime success ahead. No city can police itself to safety. We must give our young people hope. We must make Oakland shine if we want to climb out of the financial and psychic hole in which we are sinking. If we don’t solve the crime problem we will remain sunk.
Oakland is filled with talented people and engaged civic organizations like our own North Hills Community Association. We stand ready to contribute. Our new mayor must inspire Oaklanders and bring hope to every Oakland neighborhood. A new day must dawn in Oakland. We have so many advantages: a great climate, a solid infrastructure of major highways and railroads, a port on the Pacific, a diverse and creative population, and much more. But we can succeed only if people grow confident of reasonable safety from robbery and theft and if we reduce our vulnerability to wildfire. We can then make the rest of the world understand that Oakland has changed dramatically for the better. It’s our challenge. We must listen to each other and work together. We’ll need strong leadership from our new Mayor. Finally, Mayor Lee, please let us know how we can help!
Sincerely,
David Kessler
Board Chair
North Hills Community Association
>> But this must be accompanied by efforts to offer paths to jobs and success for Oakland youth throughout the city. <<
Lets get real about what jobs our youth can get and then pay rent let alone buy a home in Oakland?
We must stop this notion it's all about jobs for our youth. The reality of Oakland's student is many are failing and clearly not graduating. Who is going to hire them? Many are criminals that have & will prey on other students.
As a native Oaklander who's Black family has been in Oakland for more than 110 yr's I know Oakland. I left Oakland as a teen to avoid the draft by joining the Naval Reserves in 1966. I at the time graduated from Oakland in 1965. Worked for Pac Bell for a hot minute then IBM.
My military service allowed my the opportunity to buy an Oakland home in 1973 for $32,500. VA loan. That can't be done today with homes in deep EO at $500,000+. So lets get real about what can be done and can't be done. Military service in the Navy, Air Force & Coast Guard is still an excellent choice for our youth. They'll get training, VA benefits and the opportunity maybe to see the world and change their lives. Just maybe they'll become very successful and be able to afford an Oakland home or inherit one as will my children.
Military service isn't the only option of course. It's a start.
Excellent letter! Thanks David & your team for writing and sending this to both officials.
Barbara Lee was a tough opponent due to name recognition. She was also hard to attack because her experience is all symbolic at the national level, rather than practical at the local level. But it doesn't really matter going forward - at 78 years old she is probably not going to be a part of Oakland politics for that much longer.
So keep it up. Keep focused on crime and homelessness, those are going to be winning issues until Oakland gets turned around.
The city finance director has so much confidence in Barbara Lee that she threw in the towel on Thursday.
It’s clear many of you have read Jennifer Polkha’s book on the inefficiencies in our bureaucratic system—but what’s the point of echoing her arguments if they’re not being turned into real, actionable change? How are you actually contributing to strengthening our city government?
Polkha emphasizes retaining talent and updating systems to reflect the metrics citizens actually care about. So why not spend your time building a concrete, locally focused platform that does exactly that?
Instead, we’re watching money pour into political campaigns riddled with misinformation, weak arguments, and black-and-white thinking. How can anyone in these organizations claim to be driving real change when they’re just feeding the same cycle of empty rhetoric and division?
Take Mayor Mahan’s approach to homelessness—incarcerating people who refuse to leave encampments. There’s decades of research showing that punitive approaches like this might offer a short-term fix, but they ultimately deepen the crisis over time. We need better than this.
I understand that takes time and a lot of effort, but if you’re convinced you know how to tackle our larger crises, why not focus your energy (and capital $$$) on tangible and clear solutions that might actually move us forward? All representatives in Oakland want to drive change—if you work together, you have a higher chance at actually getting there.
Loren Taylor’s campaign outraised Lee’s thanks to contributions from the Silicon Valley bloc of investors, hedge fund managers, developers, and real estate interests. The focus on unions is useless because even unionized workers are losing their city jobs. We got to reign in on OPD overtime, have a thorough forensic audit to identify waste and inefficiency (even in private and non-profit partnerships), and work on temporarily lowering high paying city jobs to prevent further understaffing and the reduction of city services. Focusing on organized labor is a tired point that’s been used in every political race against progressive candidates in Oakland since the early 2000’s. Let’s shift toward productive dialogues that give everyone in Oakland a chance to help make this city better—including those who are unionized city workers that can easily work in neighboring municipalities that will appreciate their efforts, pay them better, and staff their departments more adequately.
Mayor Lee, Madam, you are my Mayor, and I am here to help any way I can. Oakland needs efficiency in every effort public facing, e.g., Public Works, Law Enforcement, contracting etc. to name a few. The mantra needs to be efficiency, risk evaluation in every effort, action against bloated organization, low production rate, red tape etc. Hard choices will go against some single-issue proponents, but you can make them. You have the stature and nothing to lose.
Lee's plan doesn't mention homelessness. Oakland waste far too much money on the problem by not facing the long term reality Oakland will never be affordable again! The recent purchase of a 150 unit hotel will NOT solve nor help many people. We would do far better to find out who is willing to relocate out of Oakland to affordable housing in the state or country. Provide them with the resources to purchase & stabilize their lives for say 2 yr's in their new location.
Oakland could work with banks, Hud Voucher programs to make owning a home a reality. Hud has a buyer program to move people from voucher to ownership. Couple that with Oakland's support it's a win, win, win for applicants, Hud and the city of Oakland.
We must focus not only on the homeless but Oaklands residents that are not homeless. We are tired of the filthy streets, Bad roads and above all CRIME! Finding those people that are willing to relocate out and helping them with cash is a win for everyone. With $50,000,000, 2,000 people could receive over time $25,000 to help them start a new. Or 2,500 with $20,000. Coupled with HUD program bank money & Oakland support $10,000 could help 5,000 people!!! Oakland's homeless, crime & infrastructure problems on the way to being solved in one yr!
With that, will come lower crime and eventually reducing OPD size saving us money! There is no reason Oakland can't be as safe as all the cities surrounding Oakland. All it takes is thinking and taking action we haven't taken before!
Paul Merriwether