Five of the eight seats on the Oakland City Council were up for election on November 8, 2016. Voters elected members to the city council’s At-Large seat and in Districts 1, 3, 5, and 7.[1]
Oakland residents also weighed in on five ballot measures in November, including a proposal to increase civilian oversight of the city’s police department and a bid to expand renter protections.[2] Issues in the Oakland Police Department and escalating housing costs prompted the city council to send the two measures to the November ballot. Learn more about public safety, housing affordability, and other issues that faced Oakland by clicking here.
Incumbents ran for re-election in all five of Oakland's city council races. The members in Districts 1, 3, and 5 each faced one challenger in November. Two candidates ran against Councilman Larry Reid in District 7, and Councilwoman Rebecca Kaplan had four opponents in her bid for re-election to the At-Large seat.[1] All five incumbents were re-elected.
A yes vote was a vote in favor of extending just-cause eviction requirements from units approved for occupancy before October 14, 1980, to units approved before December 31, 1995, and require landlords to request approval for non-standard rent increases.
A no vote was a vote against extending just-cause eviction requirements from units approved for occupancy before October 14, 1980, to units approved before December 31, 1995, and require landlords to request approval for non-standard rent increases.
A yes vote was a vote in favor of creating a Police Commission run by civilian commissioners to oversee the Oakland Police Department as well as a Community Police Review Agency To investigate complaints of police misconduct.
A no vote was a vote against creating a Police Commission run by civilian commissioners to oversee the Oakland Police Department as well as a Community Police Review Agency To investigate complaints of police misconduct.
June 7, 2016
Ballotpedia did not cover any measures in this jurisdiction on June 7, 2016.
Campaign finance
Oakland City Council campaign finance summaries, 2016 calendar year through October 22, 2016[3]
District
Candidate
Contributions
Expenditures
Cash
Debt
At-Large
Matt Hummel*
$1,750.00
$0.00
$1,750.00
$0.00
At-Large
Rebecca Kaplan (i)
$119,046.00
$87,440.38
$45,049.50
$7,296.13
At-Large
Peggy Moore
$83,406.00
$115,881.29
$15,654.61
$48,129.90
At-Large
Bruce Quan
$82,932.00
$67,382.20
$15,549.80
$50,000.00
At-Large
Nancy Sidebotham
$396.00
$310.03
$85.97
$0.00
1
Kevin Corbett
$41,842.00
$51,744.15
$12,583.11
$0.00
1
Dan Kalb (i)
$109,351.66
$64,245.60
$45,196.06
$6,975.00
3
Lynette Gibson McElhaney (i)
$57,181.08
$49,679.19
$69,934.29
$0.00
3
Noni Session*
$7,429.00
$2,588.31
$4,840.69
$0.00
5
Noel Gallo (i)
$44,320.00
$36,888.36
$7,431.78
$10,000.00
5
Viola Gonzales
$58,142.00
$36,864.25
$21,277.75
$10,000.00
7
Marcie Hodge
$6,000.00
$2,467.14
$4,664.26
$7,131.40
7
Nehanda Imara
$19,057.00
$18,307.90
$5,249.10
$6,500.00
7
Larry Reid (i)
$54,676.00
$36,349.16
$27,183.58
$8,856.74
*Summary covers the 2016 calendar year through September 24, 2016.
The finance data shown here comes from the disclosures required of candidates and parties. Depending on the election or state, this may not represent all the funds spent on their behalf. Satellite spending groups may or may not have expended funds related to the candidate or politician on whose page you are reading this disclaimer, and campaign finance data from elections may be incomplete. For elections to federal offices, complete data can be found at the FEC website. Click here for more on federal campaign finance law and here for more on state campaign finance law.
The September 2015 suicide of Oakland police officer Brendan O'Brien launched a wide-ranging investigation into misconduct by local law enforcement.[10]
O’Brien left a note describing an affair with Celeste Guap, a teenage girl who was identified as a sexually exploited minor under California law. Guap was underage when she and O'Brien met and began a sexual relationship. Investigators discovered that O'Brien also introduced Guap to other officers, who allegedly exchanged sex with her for cash or confidential information about undercover police operations. Fourteen officers from the Oakland Police Department and another 14 from other local law enforcement units reportedly had sexual contact with Guap.[10]
At least four officers were fired and seven were suspended as a result of the investigation.[11] Oakland Police Chief Sean Whent, who was reportedly aware of the relationship between O’Brien and Guap, also resigned in the wake of the investigation.[12] Two interim chiefs were appointed following Whent's resignation, but each was replaced or resigned within a matter of days. On June 17, 2016, Oakland Mayor Libby Schaaf placed the department under civilian control.[13]
Oakland's police department had been under federal supervision for 13 years in 2016. It was placed under federal watch in 2003 as part of a settlement for charges of police brutality and racial profiling that also involved a more than $10 million payout to more than 100 plaintiffs.[11][14] Despite that federal oversight, the sexual misconduct case was one of a series of internal investigations in the Oakland Police Department in the lead-up to the 2016 election. Oakland officers were also under investigation for sending racially insensitive text messages that Schaaf described as, "wholly inappropriate and not acceptable for anyone who wears the badge of the Oakland Police Department."[15] In December 2015, two off-duty officers allegedly attempted to break into an Oakland family’s home while inebriated, assaulted the residents when confronted, and tried to cover up the incident.[16]
In an effort to curb misconduct and restore public trust in the department, members of the city council offered two police oversight plans in 2016.[17] One plan, proposed by Councilmen Noel Gallo and Dan Kalb, called for a strong independent civilian oversight commission with the authority to investigate misconduct, discipline officers, fire police chiefs, and influence police policy.[18] The other, from council members Annie Campbell Washington, Abel Guillén, and Larry Reid, proposed appointing an Independent Police Monitor and establishing a civilian commission to review the most serious misconduct cases and offer disciplinary recommendations.[19]
Campbell Washington, Guillén, and Reid withdrew their measure before it came up for a council vote.[20] Gallo and Kalb's measure was approved unanimously by the city council on July 26, 2016, although Councilwoman Kaplan and Councilwoman Desley Brooks objected to allowing the mayor to appoint some of the members of the commission directly. The measure went to Oakland voters for final approval in November.[2][21]
Gallo, Kalb, Kaplan, Reid, and Councilwoman Lynette Gibson McElhaney were running for re-election in 2016. Click "show" on the box below to view comments from them and other Oakland City Council candidates about this issue.
Comments by 2016 city council candidates about public safety and police accountability
District 1 candidate Kevin Corbett opposed the civilian police oversight measure on the November ballot. He explained his position on his campaign website, saying, "I am against this measure for the reason that a police commission is unnecessary and too costly. Several years ago the voters of Oakland approved a strong-mayor form of government. This means we have elected a mayor whose job it is to make important decisions such as the hiring and firing of the police chief. This measure would take away the mayor’s authority to make this important decision and put it instead in the hands of a commission of unelected political appointees. If we, the voters, do not approve of the decisions made by our mayor, we can vote the mayor out of office. However, if we do not approve of the decisions made by the proposed police commission, we do not have the ability to vote them out of office because they would not be elected by us. Therefore, this measure is undemocratic. According to the City Auditor, the total estimated annual cost of the proposed police commission is between $2.3 and $2.5 million which is an additional $560,000 to $650,000 more than we are currently paying for the current Police Review Board. I don’t believe, we need to spend city revenues on a police commission. We need to allow the mayor we elected to pick a police chief who will solve the problems we are facing and city revenues should instead be spent on hiring more police officers and maintaining our infrastructure."[22]
Kevin Corbett
Dan Kalb
District 1 Councilman Dan Kalb proposed the civilian police oversight measure that appeared on the November ballot.
On his campaign website, he said, "Preventing crime and keeping our neighborhoods safe are top priorities for Councilmember Kalb. He is working to ensure that all neighborhoods are served well by the Oakland Police Department (OPD), and understands that the best deterrents to crime are a quality education and access to a decent job. He has secured funding for additional crime investigators at OPD, and authored the current ballot measure to create an independent civilian Police Commission."[23]
District 3 Councilwoman Lynette Gibson McElhaney voted for the civilian police oversight measure on the November ballot.
On her campaign website, she says, "We significantly improved the staffing, performance, trust and oversight of the Oakland Police Department. We have added 150 officers to the force, increased funding for career services for the unemployed and those who were formerly incarcerated and fulfilled our mandate to civilianize the complaint system with increased funding for the Citizens Police Review Board. I also led the effort to pass Measure Z parcel tax (with 70%+ approval) that secures $30 Million annually to pay for additional community policing officers and community-based intervention and prevention services to reduce violent crime."[24]
Noni Session
District 3 candidate Noni Session called for community- and citizen-oriented policing on her campaign website. She listed "Create Peaceful, Empowered Communities" as a policy priority and proposed that the city:[25]
Prioritize funding for holistic programs that decrease the need for policing.
Implement a community policing model and change recruitment, training, and residency requirements for new officers.
District 5 Councilman Noel Gallo proposed the civilian police oversight measure that appeared on the November ballot.
On his campaign website, he listed public safety as a policy priority, calling for the city to, "Increase police officers and firefighters; establish an Independent Citizens’ Police Commission; improve Pedestrian/Transportation safety by repaving our roads, installing new stops lights, [sic] crosswalks, bike lanes, and enforcing traffic laws."[26]
Noel Gallo
Viola Gonzales
District 5 candidate Viola Gonzales told the San Leandro Talk, "Regarding the Police Commission, I am dissatisfied with both sides. I believe we could do more.
However, I want to respect the many hours that community members spent in crafting language to move our community forward. At this point in time, instead of spending time reworking what might have been, we need to leave it to the voters. If voters support the new police commission, then I will do everything in my power to execute the will of the people. We as a city often fall short of implementation. If the measure doesn’t pass, then I will work hard to institute changes to the existing citizen’s review board that have long been recommended, but have fallen on deaf ears."[27]
On her campaign website, District 7 candidate Marcie Hodge proposed that the city, "Encourage community-policing, police officers and community partners jointly prioritize and tackle public safety issues that are most important to the community."[28]
Marcie Hodge
Nehanda Imara
On her campaign website, District 7 candidate Nehanda Imara said, "I like many of you want to walk my neighborhood, visit Oakland’s great local businesses, and enjoy our city without the increased worry of public safety. I know that Oakland can do better and I know that our police force can be better prepared to tackle the challenges facing our city.
We need a different approach to public safety, one that takes into consideration the specific and varied needs of the different communities that are represented in our city. I will work to clean-up the corruption within the Oakland Police Department and make sure that the hard questions are asked when it comes to public safety. I will also push for better training of our officers so that they have the tools needed to de-escalate situations and take a better approach to policing.
The reality is that we need a better equipped, better trained, and more effective police force that serves the needs of our city. When emergency services are needed they need to respond to all needs and all neighborhoods."[29]
At-Large candidate Matt Hummel told the San Leandro Talk, "I do support the ballot measure [to establish a civilian police oversight commission]. We need to fix the arbitration problem, and I will fight to change the next police contract to drop arbitration when prosecuting civil rights violations. The city must insure recommendations of the Stanford study (SPARQ) on OPD be followed to the letter. We need to reform the whole way we are policed and punished. Restorative justice is the filter we need to look through. Our drug policies must be in the mold of harm reduction, not police action. We must stop all broken window strategies, except when it means helping a kid to fix a window they broke."[30]
Matt Hummel
Rebecca Kaplan
At-Large Councilwoman Rebecca Kaplan voted for the civilian police oversight measure that appeared on the November ballot, although she disagreed with allowing mayoral appointments to the proposed police commission. She said, "I've received many calls and emails from people asking that the commission be independent and have no appointments."[31]
On her campaign website, At-Large candidate Peggy Moore said she would, "lead a push to implement restorative justice practices across Oakland to improve our city's capacity to mediate and mitigate conflict outside of the criminal justice system."[32]
Peggy Moore
Bruce Quan
At-Large candidate Bruce Quan told the San Leandro Talk, "I support civilian oversight of the police force. The city council needs to be more proactive in holding the administration accountable. It can put pressure on the administration to take the issue more seriously through its’ media access. The council also needs to make repairing the police/community relationship a priority and 'hands on' program."[33]
On her 2014 mayoral campaign website, At-Large candidate Nancy Sidebotham said, "I am a very strong advocate of hiring qualified individuals to become Oakland Police officers and fully staff the department to a level that represents the population of this wonderful city. The police department needs to operate on its own without interference from individuals not trained in law enforcement. The laws are very clear, the police department’s function is to uphold the laws and to serve and protect the citizens of Oakland. Once the police department is allowed to function as a full department vs. one of maintenance, Oakland will start to see positive change; this in turn will bring down crime; through great programs such as Neighborhood Watch (NW), Neighborhood Crime Prevention Council's (NCPC) and the Community Policing philosophy. Until recently these programs have been the driving force that brought partnership to a new level between the community and the police. This partnership along with the Community Policing philosophy needs to be integrated throughout all City departments. There has to be interdepartmental communication that starts with a strong City Administrator and 'hands off' approach by the City Council who blatantly break the laws, which in Oakland is governed by the City Charter."[34]
Nancy Sidebotham
Housing affordability
Oakland’s housing market was ranked the fourth-most expensive in the country in April 2016, behind just San Francisco, New York, and Boston.[35] According to a June 2016 report from City Auditor Brenda Roberts, rent in the city had increased by about 34 percent since 2011, and the number of tenants filing claims for excessive rent increases had gone up by more than 50 percent. "Over the past four years, Oakland has seen tremendous growth in jobs and opportunities for its citizens. And yet, housing has not kept up with this pace and home prices and residential rental rates have increased to the point that many Oaklanders can no longer afford to live in this city—a city in which the majority of its residents are renters," said Roberts.[36]
Local officials characterized the shortage of affordable housing as a health issue as well as an accommodation issue, citing negative health effects of overcrowding, long commutes, and other features of unstable and expensive housing. At a public presentation on August 30, 2016, Alameda County Public Health Department head Muntu Davis said, "While the causes and solutions to address the housing crisis are complex, inaction is a prescription for shorter, sicker lives for many of our Alameda County residents."[37]
In 2015, the Oakland City Council adopted a report by Oakland-based research and advocacy group PolicyLink and the Oakland Department of Housing and Community Development as its general framework for addressing the city’s housing affordability problem. Mayor Schaaf convened the Oakland Housing Cabinet—a coalition of elected officials, city staff, developers, housing experts, and community advocates that included council members Campbell Washington, Gibson McElhaney, Guillén, and Kalb—to develop a plan to implement the framework.[38]
The Housing Cabinet identified 10 strategies to meet housing demand and prevent displacement of existing residents, with short-, medium-, and long-term plans to implement them:[39]
“
Improve renter’s services
Strengthen renter’s protections
Strengthen enforcement of renter’s protections
Acquire naturally occurring affordable housing
Secure single family homes in financial distress
Build & expand pipeline of affordable homes
Build & expand pipeline of market rate homes
Set up internal working group to ensure steady progress
Ensure Oaklanders have preference in new affordable housing
Raise funds from philanthropy & others to support the work[40]
”
A proposal by Councilwoman Kaplan to increase the number of units that are subject to Oakland’s just-cause eviction regulation and to require landlords to get city approval for rent increases that exceed the cost of living adjustment also went before voters in November.[2] At its meeting on July 19, 2016, the city council voted unanimously to send the measure to the ballot.[41]
The city council also gave preliminary approval to a renter protection ordinance from Gibson McElhaney, Guillén, and Kalb at the July 19 meeting.[42][43] The ordinance, which included limits on rent control exemptions and rent increases, won final approval from the city council in a unanimous vote on September 20, 2016, and went into effect immediately.[44][45]
Click "show" on the box below to view comments from Oakland City Council candidates about this issue.
Comments by 2016 city council candidates about housing affordability
District 1 candidate Kevin Corbett opposed the housing affordability measure on the November ballot. He explained his position on his campaign website, saying, "Oakland’s diversity has always been its strength and it is vital that we preserve our cultural and economic diversity. I am against this measure because it does not address the very serious cost of living problem we have that is forcing many residents to leave town. The City’s emphasis needs to be on building homes and assisting low and middle income residents to become homeowners, not permanent renters. It is only by becoming homeowners that residents can have financial stability. This proposed measure only makes relatively minor changes to the already existing Just Cause and Rent ordinances. It does not address the high cost of living we have and it does not address home ownership for low and middle income residents.
Furthermore, due to California state law, which supersedes Oakland rent control laws, there is no rent control for Oakland rental units constructed after 1982. This means that many rental units in Oakland are not subject to rent control. This creates a very unfair situation for tenants and landlords alike because only some, but not all, rental units are subject to rent control. What is needed instead is a comprehensive proposal that preserves Oakland’s diversity, while spreading the cost of this very important goal across the entire city not just imposing it on those properties that were constructed in 1982 and prior. What is needed instead is the promotion of home ownership for all, especially for low and middle income residents so that they can stay in Oakland. This proposed measure does not do this."[22]
Kevin Corbett
Dan Kalb
District 1 Councilman Dan Kalb was a member of the mayor's Housing Cabinet and voted for the housing affordability measure that appeared on the November ballot.
On his campaign website, he said, "Soaring housing prices are contributing to the displacement of longtime residents and making it harder for people who work here to live here. Councilmember Kalb has been a leader in putting forth policy solutions that expand affordable housing opportunities and protect tenants. He authored the 2014 Tenant Protection Ordinance, and co-authored recent reforms to protect renters from unfair rent increases. He also wrote the law to ensure a portion of our former redevelopment funds go toward affordable housing."[23]
District 3 Councilwoman Lynette Gibson McElhaney was a member of the mayor's Housing Cabinet and voted for the housing affordability measure that appeared on the November ballot.
On her campaign website, she said, "I led efforts that established dedicated funding for the affordable housing trust fund, secured funding for the West Oakland Job Resource Center, established an Impact Fee on new developments to provide certainty for developers and generate funds for affordable housing, parks and libraries, led efforts to complete three Specific Area plans, helped more than a dozen first generation Oakland college students obtain paid internships in the development and construction field, attracted four new hotel developments, secured the first full service grocer and pharmacy to District 3 in over a decade, created the Black Arts Movement and Business District, saved 100s of West Oakland jobs by supporting our locally-controlled recycling company CWS and backed a plan that promises to bring over 100,000 square feet of retail – restoring Oakland’s downtown as a major retail shopping corridor as it once was back in the day."[24]
Lynette Gibson McElhaney
Noni Session
District 3 candidate Noni Session listed "End Oakland's housing crisis" as a policy priority on her campaign website and proposed that the city:[25]
Level the rental playing field through adjusting the current definition of "affordable"
Staunch the outflow of Oakland residents through vigorous implementation and enforcement of real renter protections
Prioritize models for funding that permanently re-house Oakland's rising homeless population
Use current public land and existing housing inventory for inclusionary and permanently affordable housing; Public land should be used for public good.
District 5 Councilman Noel Gallo voted for the housing affordability measure that appeared on the November ballot.
On his campaign website, he listed housing as a policy priority, calling for the city to, "Increase affordable, workforce, live-work units; support programs for the Homeless."[26]
Noel Gallo
Viola Gonzales
District 5 candidate Viola Gonzales told the San Leandro Talk, "On the issue of the local renters rights measure, I am dissatisfied with both sides.
We need housing for all income levels; we need policy to address homeless, low income, affordable and market rate. In my own extended family, we have every experience from homelessness to being renters and never hoping to ever secure their own home. While on one hand we attempt to stabilize the situation for renters as we did for homeowners in Prop 13 there are unintended consequences to all our decisions.
The proposed changes also sweep up mom and pops that live on their properties; they are small business owners, a group that I hope to keep in Oakland. Will we be better served if we force them to sell with the result that their property becomes market rate?
The city has done a poor job of educating small apartment owners as to what is expected of them to meet and maintain code and be good landlords. We could do a much better job, and help them to stay in Oakland.
However, if the voters support the ballot measure, then I will do all in my power to have it implemented to meet expectations of our voters. If it doesn’t pass, then we must work doubly hard to fix the situation, in a way that protects both renters and small owners.
What we are doing now is not working and it isn’t good enough."[27]
On her campaign website, District 7 candidate Marcie Hodge proposed that the city "Maintain a range of quality housing options, from executive homes to studio apartments to live/work options. Encourage a range of affordable housing options serving different lifestyle needs, income levels, and household composition, with increased opportunities for all income levels to achieve homeownership."[28]
Marcie Hodge
Nehanda Imara
On her campaign website, District 7 candidate Nehanda Imara said, "Oakland is at a crossroads, we need a Council that will work to balance development and the growth of our City with the needs of our most at need residents. I am committed to creating that balance and ensuring that Oakland grows in the ways that preserve the soul of our city.
I will work to make robust Community Benefits Agreements (CBA’s) a standard for all construction projects in the city of Oakland. CBA’s are designed to provide residents necessary improvements while mitigating issues to be caused by the development. Working with community groups to ensure that the voices of residents are heard is critical to this process.
The Oakland Army Base project is a perfect example of this policy at its best. The policy, brokered by a coalition led by EBASE, includes the nation’s first standard in the warehousing industry limiting the use of temp agencies and created the West Oakland Job Resource Center, which has become a national model for creating a pipeline into construction careers."[29]
At-Large candidate Matt Hummel told the San Leandro Talk, "We need a 10k plan of truly affordable housing. The city must leverage its land and holdings to make this happen. Rent increase moratoriums are necessary but miss the point a bit. Our rents as they stand are too high to be sustainable, and suck all of the wealth out of the city. I think it is important to recognize the issue isn’t where the money comes from, but that money is coming from outside our local economy and overwhelms it. The people of Oakland deserve better than big money (wherever it come from) playing Monopoly with our whole city.
I propose a municipal bank where our city deposits can finance local initiatives, instead of whatever Wells Fargo invests in. We could refinance our citizens home and business loans and liberate the working poor from check cashing scams."[30]
Matt Hummel
Rebecca Kaplan
At-Large Councilwoman Rebecca Kaplan proposed the housing affordability measure that appeared on the November ballot.
In response to a questionnaire from the Asian Pacific American Democratic Caucus of Alameda County, she said, "The city of Oakland is facing a housing displacement crisis, in which rents are rising and many residents are being pushed out. This is harmful not only to the people and families who are displaced, but also can undermine the fabric of our neighborhoods and weaken community ties. In terms of rent increases, the
law has been that a landlord can issue a large rent increase, and the tenant has to file a challenge, within 60 days, if the tenant thinks the increase might be illegally too high. This puts the burden on the tenant both to figure out if the rent increase was above the allowed formula, and to do a bunch of paperwork to challenge it. This system hurts many renters, and also disproportionately harms those whose first
language is not English and those who do not have the time, money or access to file a petition to challenge a rent increase. It is not fair to renters to make them be the law enforcement on our rent laws, and this type of system has disparate negative impacts on the Asian community, while also harming many throughout Oakland. Therefore, I worked together with a broad community coalition to write and pass the Renter Protection Act which is now on the November ballot, and which got a unanimous 8-0 vote of Council and is endorsed by the Alameda Labor Council and the Democratic Party. This Measure would flip the petitioning rule, so that a landlord who wants to raise rents by more than the rate of inflation would have to file a petition before raising the rent, and have Oakland’s Rent program determine if the increase is within the allowed formula."[46]
In response to a questionnaire from the Asian Pacific American Democratic Caucus of Alameda County At-Large candidate Peggy Moore said, "as a longtime renter who has been able to stay in Oakland only thanks to rent control, I know firsthand that our city faces an affordability crisis. We must build more housing inventory, including a mix of market rate and affordable housing. I will promote sensible, sustainable growth that alleviates our housing crisis without displacing longtime Oaklanders."[47]
Peggy Moore
Bruce Quan
At-Large candidate Bruce Quan told the San Leandro Talk, "I would entertain additional, temporary rent control measures as long as they do not adversely impact low-income and senior landlords. However, rent control is not the long term solution to Oakland housing issues.
We must develop more local investment in Oakland and seek additional outside investors that are willing to embrace 'Oakland'. We should streamline the planning and approval process with the goal of bringing projects that address the issues of low-income and affordable housing to completion more quickly."[33]
In response to a questionnaire from the Asian Pacific American Democratic Caucus of Alameda County, he said, "Finding affordable housing is a major issue for many API communities. Many renters must spend more than a third of their income on rent. If elected, creating more mixed-income housing will be one of my top priorities. I spearheaded the Brooklyn Basin financing deal that will bring 10,000 union jobs and 3,100 housing units to Oakland, of which 460 units are specifically affordable housing. As a member of the leadership counsel for the 200 Project, I currently collaborate with other community leaders to develop a statewide housing policy that would remove barriers to homeownership for minorities and families of color."[48]
On her 2014 mayoral campaign website, At-Large candidate Nancy Sidebotham said, "There are over 400,000 residents in this city and one of the constant mantras at City Hall is more housing is needed. What is needed is a fix to our infrastructure, filled pot-holes, repaired sidewalks and taking care of the needs of individuals who have kept the faith, continued to fight for diminished services and who love and believe in Oakland."[34]
Nancy Sidebotham
Trust in government
In 2014, Oakland voters approved a measure to increase the powers of the city’s Public Ethics Commission.[49]Measure CC, which Councilman Kalb introduced in response to reports of ethics violations by city officials and a grand jury finding that the commission didn’t have the resources to do its job, expanded the commission’s authority, staffing, and funding.[50]
Between 2014 and the 2016 election, the commission conducted several investigations, including high-profile inquiries into Councilwoman Lynette Gibson McElhaney and Councilman Abel Guillén. In February 2015, it opened an investigation into Councilwoman McElhaney’s handling of a townhouse development project on the lot next to her home. In November 2016, a court ordered Gibson McElhaney to provide records related to the investigation to the commission after she repeatedly failed to comply with the commission's subpoena for the documents.[51] In a separate proceeding, a civil grand jury released a report in June 2016 concluding that Gibson McElhaney had violated government ethics and conflict of interest rules by using her office to impede progress on the development.[52][53]
On June 15, 2016, the commission launched an investigation of Gibson McElhaney's and Councilman Guillén's personal use of free tickets to events at the Oakland Alameda Coliseum.[54] Under an agreement with the Coliseum Authority, the Oakland City Council receives a bundle of tickets to each Coliseum event. According to the Commission, Guillén used $76,000 worth of the tickets between January 2015 and June 2016, and Gibson McElhaney used $125,000 worth.[55]
Council members were limited under state law to accepting $460 in gifts. The free Coliseum tickets were exempted from that limit as long as they are used for a public purpose. The investigation was launched to determine whether the council members’ use of the tickets violated gift limit or disclosure rules and whether the city’s ticket policies conform to state and local law.[54][55] As of October 21, 2016, hearings in the matter were pending.[56]
Click "show" on the box below to view comments from Oakland City Council candidates about this issue.
Comments by 2016 city council candidates about trust in government
District 1 Councilman Dan Kalb introduced the 2014 measure to strengthen Oakland's Public Ethics Commission.
On his campaign website, he said, "Before being elected, Dan spent years working to make government more transparent, responsive, and trustworthy. And he has brought that commitment to City Hall! In 2014, he authored the successful ballot measure to strengthen the Public Ethics Commission. He also led an effort to increase transparency for city commissions and advisory boards, and was named 'Best Good-Government Politician of 2014' by the East Bay Express."[23]
On her campaign website, she said, "We deserve a city government that is accessible and responsive. We must fight for transparency, customer service and accountability.
I support OpenSource and the City Administrator’s efforts to restore confidence in our civil corps. If elected, my office door will be open for all Oakland residents and businesses.
We need a vibrant, open and honest municipality that serves its citizens, not shuns them. My vision of City Hall is a place where government uses its credibility and power to convene diverse groups and create solutions for the common good."[57]
District 3 candidate Noni Session called for community- and citizen-oriented governance on her campaign website. She listed "Build Community-Based Solutions for Community governance" as a policy priority and proposed that the city:[25]
Foster community access to government officials for community access time
Build Neighborhood Assemblies
Support civic education initiatives to create equitable access to governance
Noni Session
Viola Gonzales
On her campaign website, District 5 candidate Viola Gonzales said, "Our public services need to be well managed whether these are public works, libraries, parks, police or fire departments," and "Our city workers should know to what standards they are held accountable, take pride in providing those services and be respected for providing them."[58]
At-Large candidate Matt Hummel told the San Leandro Talk, "Impropriety or the appearance of impropriety is probably is the biggest problem we have as citizens in relation to our city.
The council, like the police, must be held to a higher standard. Otherwise good people get alienated from joining the job of fixing Oakland. They want nothing to do with city hall, they perceive that the game is rigged. Unfortunately often it’s true. Just look at how many candidates accepted laundered campaign contributions from the last Mayoral race. Not one candidate was held accountable."[30]
In response to a questionnaire from the Asian Pacific American Democratic Caucus of Alameda County, he said, "Unfortunately, a base problem Oakland has right now is that corrupt politics and petty squabbles are getting in the way of progress. The job of the at-large position is to make sure there is open communication between the council members and that they each are shown the collegial respect they deserve. For far too long, we have accepted a standard of conduct beneath the dignity the position we are representing. I will hold myself to a high ethical standard and will hold my peers to the same standard. This is a team job, and it demands someone who doesn't need to take credit and will actually forgo it if it means getting the important work done. Government is supposed to be a tool that we use together, to improve all of our lives."[59]
Matt Hummel
Peggy Moore
On her campaign website, At-Large candidate Peggy Moore said she would, "work collaboratively with residents and local businesses to make our government more responsive to constituents' needs," and "build meaningful partnerships with the Mayor and with fellow Councilmembers to bridge longstanding divisions."[32]
At-Large candidate Bruce Quan told the San Leandro Talk, "The city council has a moral obligation to address and discipline any member who violates the trust we put in our elected officials."[33]
Bruce Quan
Nancy Sidebotham
On her 2014 mayoral campaign website, At-Large candidate Nancy Sidebotham said, "I will bring passion, hard work, honesty, integrity, and a demand for open/transparent government run by professional and knowledgeable department heads. Backroom deals need to stop and honest, open discussions with stakeholders have to be at the forefront and the guide for developing the future of Oakland."[34]
The city government of Oakland combines a council-manager system with a strong mayor system. In this form of municipal government, the city council serves as the city's primary legislative body and the mayor serves as the city's chief executive. The mayor, however, appoints a city manager to oversee the city's day-to-day operations and execute city policies.[60]
Source: population provided by U.S. Census Bureau, "Decennial Census" (2010). Other figures provided by U.S. Census Bureau, "American Community Survey" (5-year estimates 2014-2019).
**Note: Percentages for race and ethnicity may add up to more than 100 percent because respondents may report more than one race and the Hispanic/Latino ethnicity may be selected in conjunction with any race. Read more about race and ethnicity in the census here.
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