City Government
Council Members, Community Angry at Mayor Schaaf’s Plan to Divert Soda Tax Money

Caption: Authors of the Soda Tax Measure HH were Oakland City Councilmembers Rebecca Kaplan, Desley Brooks and Annie Campbell Washington.
In a presentation at this week’s City Council meeting, Mayor Libby Schaaf’ attempted to put a positive slant on her proposals to close a $32.5 million deficit in the new two-year budget that will be adopted in June. But the mayor faced a backlash from council members and community speakers who were furious that she wanted to divert Measure HH soda tax revenues to help close the city’s deficit.
In face of the pressure, she backed away from the plan after a number of speakers, who said they had supported her in the last election, threated to campaign against her reelection.
Mayor Schaaf faced harsh criticism from Annie Campbell Washington, Rebecca Kaplan and Desley Brooks, the co-authors of Measure HH, which was on the November ballot and passed with 61 percent of the vote.

Mayor Libby Schaaf
The authors of the measure, along with community members, including, health professionals and advocates, urged the mayor to keep the faith with the voters and spend soda tax revenue according to community input to improve health and nutrition.
“This sets a bad precedent. We should honor our word (to the community),” said Councilmember Brooks.
“This sets a bad precedent on the national level (and could impact) soda tax measures across this country” she said. “We are talking about a serious health issue, and that´s what we went out to the community in good faith and said.”
“The issue is not whether the diversion of Measure HH money to the general fund is legal, said Campbell Washington. “What is completely unacceptable is to destroy the public trust that we built when we went door to door talking about the (measure), when we talked about health impacts in Black and Brown communities, caused by sodas.”
Kaplan said, “I will continue to fight to ensure that soda tax dollars are used properly, with community input, for programs and education to improve health and nutrition, particularly for our most vulnerable communities that have been disproportionately affected by diseases resulting from sugary drink consumption.”
Thirty-six speakers signed up to talk to the council about the issue.
A doctor who works for La Clinica in the Fruitvale said, “This money grab may be legal. But it´s not right. You know it´s not right. We all know it’s not right. I will work next time to unseat you.”
A public health professional said she worked alongside Mayor Schaaf to support Measure HH, serving as a precinct captain. “I put my credibility on the line. I´m not sure we were exactly campaigning for the same thing,” she said.
“It may well be political suicide. (People) will not forget what happens with this budget.”
Activism
Oakland Post: Week of May 21 – 27, 2025
The printed Weekly Edition of the Oakland Post: Week of May 21 – 27, 2025

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Activism
IN MEMORIAM: Nate Holden, State Senator and Longtime Los Angeles Councilmember, Dies at 95
Los Angeles County Supervisor Janice Hahn described Holden as “a lion” in the State Senate and a force to be reckoned with on the Los Angeles City Council.” Hahn added that she learned a lot working with Holden when she was a new councilmember.

By Bo Tefu, California Black Media
Former Los Angeles City Councilmember Nathaniel “Nate” Holden, a prominent figure in the city’s politics, passed away at the age of 95, his family confirmed on May 7.
Holden, who represented South Los Angeles for 16 years on the City Council and served one term in the California State Senate, was widely regarded as a forceful advocate for his community.
Los Angeles County Supervisor Janice Hahn described Holden as “a lion” in the State Senate and a force to be reckoned with on the Los Angeles City Council.”
Hahn added that she learned a lot working with Holden when she was a new councilmember.
Holden’s journey to political prominence began in the segregated South, where he was born in Macon, Georgia, in 1929. He often recalled the childhood moment when he first heard the governor of Georgia vowing to continue suppressing Black people.
“Doing the best you can for the people. Law and order. Make sure that people’s communities are safe. I did it all,” said Holden, reflecting on his legacy.
Holden is survived by his sons, including former California Assemblymember Chris Holden, who represented a district in Southern California that includes Pasadena and Altadena in Los Angeles County and cities in San Bernardino County.
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Oakland Hosts Town Hall Addressing Lead Hazards in City Housing
According to the city, there are 22,000 households in need of services for lead issues, most in predominantly low-income or Black and Latino neighborhoods, but only 550 to 600 homes are addressed every year. The city is hoping to use part of the multimillion-dollar settlement to increase the number of households served each year.

By Magaly Muñoz
The City of Oakland’s Housing and Community Development Department hosted a town hall in the Fruitvale to discuss the efforts being undertaken to remove lead primarily found in housing in East and West Oakland.
In 2021, the city was awarded $14 million out of a $24 million legal settlement from a lawsuit against paint distributors for selling lead-based paint that has affected hundreds of families in Oakland and Alameda County. The funding is intended to be used for lead poisoning reduction and prevention services in paint only, not water or other sources as has been found recently in schools across the city.
The settlement can be used for developing or enhancing programs that abate lead-based paint, providing services to individuals, particularly exposed children, educating the public about hazards caused by lead paint, and covering attorney’s fees incurred in pursuing litigation.
According to the city, there are 22,000 households in need of services for lead issues, most in predominantly low-income or Black and Latino neighborhoods, but only 550 to 600 homes are addressed every year. The city is hoping to use part of the multimillion-dollar settlement to increase the number of households served each year.
Most of the homes affected were built prior to 1978, and 12,000 of these homes are considered to be at high risk for lead poisoning.
City councilmember Noel Gallo, who represents a few of the lead-affected Census tracts, said the majority of the poisoned kids and families are coming directly from neighborhoods like the Fruitvale.
“When you look at the [kids being admitted] at the children’s hospital, they’re coming from this community,” Gallo said at the town hall.
In order to eventually rid the highest impacted homes of lead poisoning, the city intends to create programs and activities such as lead-based paint inspections and assessments, full abatement designed to permanently eliminate lead-based paint, or partial abatement for repairs, painting, and specialized cleaning meant for temporary reduction of hazards.
In feedback for what the city could implement in their programming, residents in attendance of the event said they want more accessibility to resources, like blood testing, and information from officials about lead poisoning symptoms, hotlines for assistance, and updates on the reduction of lead in their communities.
Attendees also asked how they’d know where they are on the prioritization list and what would be done to address lead in the water found at several school sites in Oakland last year.
City staff said there will be a follow-up event to gather more community input for programming in August, with finalizations happening in the fall and a pilot launch in early 2026.
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