City Government

Community Calls for City to Improve Management of Federal Job Programs

Published

11 years ago

March 27, 2014

More than 150 people attended a public hearing to air long simmering frustrations and disputes over systemic failures of the city’s Workforce Investment Board (WIB) to adequately spend federal money to meet the needs of unemployed youth and adults.

Twenty-five public speakers signed up to speak Tuesday afternoon at the special meeting of the Community and Economic Development (CED) Committee.

The WIB oversees the city’s expenditure of $4.9 million in federal Workforce Investment Act funds, a pot of money that has been decreasing year after year.

A top issue raised by speakers was the 28 percent of the money that the city takes off the top for administrative costs.

Speakers were also concerned that Oakland, unlike other Bay Area cities, does not contribute any money to support WIB programs and administrative costs.

“More money needs to be put on the street for those who need help and for those the (federal) legislation is designed to help,” said Gay Plair Cobb, CEO of the Oakland Private Industry Council, who emphasized her comments, as well as those of others, were meant in

Gay Plair Cobb, CEO of Oakland Private Industry Council

the spirit of constructive criticism.

“Desperately needed funds have been taken of the street and (placed) in the city budget,” at a time when Oakland’s jobless rates are increasing and federal funding is declining, she said.

While the city’s turn around time for paying nonprofit agencies that provide job services to the unemployed has improved – now generally at 20 working days – that is still not good enough, said Cobb.

“It does not work for smaller nonprofits to advance to the city money they do not have,” sh said, adding that PIC had to wait for several months to receive $800,000 to pay for job services it delivered, forcing the agency to use non-federal funds to cover the federal expenses.

“This creates future audit problems,” she said.

Marlon McWilson

Marlon McWilson, a member of the Alameda County Board of Education, complained that the WIB administration and board often are not responsive to community concerns.

“We as a community are not represented enough at that table,” he said. “Our voices are shot down for the most part.”

Presented at the meeting were a list of 10 improvements in the city’s workforce development system during the current fiscal year, endorsed by 18 local organizations, including PIC, Black Women Organized for Political Action (BWOPA), Black Elected Officials and Faith-based Leaders of the East Bay, Turner Group Construction, Lao Family Community Development Services and People United for a Better Life in Oakland (PUEBLO).

Among changes the organizations want to see implemented are “reduction of the city’s fees” taken from federal funding and increasing funding for “underserved Latino youth provided by organizations with knowledge of and sensitivity to, the experiences of Oakland’s Latino community.”

They also want the city to streamline its administrative processes, including contracting and payment of invoices, as well as to adopt an open and transparent budget process.

After listening to the speakers, Council President Pat Kernighan said she believes it is time for the city to step up and contribute to job programs. “We do need to put some skin in the game,” she said.

City Administrator Fred Blackwell said he did not see a problem with adopting the 10 proposed reforms.

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Oakland Post: Week of November 6 – 12, 2024

The printed Weekly Edition of the Oakland Post: Week of November 6 – 12, 2024

Published

1 week ago

November 9, 2024

Oakland Post

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City Government

San Pablo Appoints New Economic Development and Housing Manager

Kieron Slaughter has been appointed as the economic development & housing manager for the City of San Pablo. Since 2017, Slaughter has served as chief strategic officer for economic innovation in the City of Berkeley’s Office of Economic Development. Previously, he served in a 2.5-year appointment in the Pacific West Region as one of 10 Urban Fellows in the United States National Park Service.

Published

2 weeks ago

November 4, 2024

Oakland Post

Kieron Slaughter. Photo courtesy of the City of San Pablo

The Richmond Standard

Kieron Slaughter has been appointed as the economic development & housing manager for the City of San Pablo.

Since 2017, Slaughter has served as chief strategic officer for economic innovation in the City of Berkeley’s Office of Economic Development. Previously, he served in a 2.5-year appointment in the Pacific West Region as one of 10 Urban Fellows in the United States National Park Service.

Before that he was an associate planner in the City of Richmond’s Planning and Building Services Department from 2007-2015.

San Pablo City Manager Matt Rodriguez lauded Slaughter’s extensive experience in economic development, housing and planning, saying he will add a “valuable perspective to the City Manager’s Office.”

Slaughter, a Berkeley resident, will start in his new role on Nov. 12, with a base annual salary of $164,928, according to the City of San Pablo.

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City Government

Aaron Osorio Rises Up Ranks to Become Richmond’s Fire Chief

For Aaron Osorio, it started with a ride along on a firetruck at age 10. “I thought it was the coolest job,” he said, adding, “I knew being in fire service would make a big difference in the community.” Now a 27-year fire service veteran, Osorio appears to approach his work with the same youthful exuberance. And that’s good for the city as Osorio was recently named chief of the historic Richmond Fire Department.

Published

2 weeks ago

November 4, 2024

Oakland Post

Richmond Fire Department Chief Aaron Osorio. Courtesy photo

By Mike Kinney

The Richmond Standard

For Aaron Osorio, it started with a ride along on a firetruck at age 10.

“I thought it was the coolest job,” he said, adding, “I knew being in fire service would make a big difference in the community.”

Now a 27-year fire service veteran, Osorio appears to approach his work with the same youthful exuberance. And that’s good for the city as Osorio was recently named chief of the historic Richmond Fire Department.

Osorio is a San Francisco native who rose up the ranks in the Richmond Fire Department over the last 21 years before being elevated to chief.

He joined the department in 2002 and has served in multiple roles including firefighters, engineer, captain, battalion chief, training director and deputy fire chief. He said he truly loves working in this community.

While it isn’t common for a fire department to hire a chief that came up through its ranks, Osorio was credited by the city for serving Richmond well during uncommon times.

The city lauded him for developing internal policies and vaccination clinics during the initial COVID response, for supporting activation of the emergency operations center in response to a potential mudslide disaster in Seacliff last year, helping to draft mutual aid agreements and working to increase fire response capabilities for industrial incidents.

He’s also led departmental hiring and recruitment since 2018.

Osorio said it is an honor to be hired as chief and has big plans for the department moving forward. He said he wants to continue hiring and promoting for vacant positions, and also completing a strategic plan guiding the direction of the organization.

He also aims to replace and renovate a number of fire department facilities placed on the Capital Improvement Plan and create new ways to recruit that will enhance the diversity of the department.

Osorio said his experience within, and love for, the city of Richmond puts him in a good position to lead the department. He says he knows what is needed and also the challenges that are unique to the city.

“I look forward to utilizing that institutional knowledge to move the fire department forward in a positive direction and enhance the services we provide to the community,” the chief said.

Osorio holds a bachelor of science degree in Fire Administration and is also a California State Fire Marshal-certified chief officer, company officer, and state instructor.

He also holds numerous certifications in fire, rescue, hazardous material, and incident command.

The chief has been married to his wife, Maria, for 26 years and they have two sons, Roman and Mateo.