City Government

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

Published

8 years ago

May 5, 2017

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.”

Oakland Post

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Related Topics:city council government Libby Schaaf Measure HH Oakland Politics Soda Tax

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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

15 hours 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

16 hours 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.

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Bay Area

Oakland Awarded $28 Million Grant from Governor Newsom to Sustain Long-Term Solutions Addressing Homelessness

Governor Gavin Newsom announced the City of Oakland has won a$28,446,565.83 grant as part of the Homeless Housing, Assistance and Prevention (HHAP) grant program. This program provides flexible grant funding to help communities support people experiencing homelessness by creating permanent housing, rental and move-in assistance, case management services, and rental subsidies, among other eligible uses.

Published

16 hours ago

November 4, 2024

Oakland Post

Oakland Mayor Sheng Thao

Governor Gavin Newsom announced the City of Oakland has won a$28,446,565.83 grant as part of the Homeless Housing, Assistance and Prevention (HHAP) grant program.

This program provides flexible grant funding to help communities support people experiencing homelessness by creating permanent housing, rental and move-in assistance, case management services, and rental subsidies, among other eligible uses.

Oakland Mayor Sheng Thao and the Oakland City Administrator’s Office staff held a press conference today to discuss the grant and the City’s successful implementing of the Mayor’s Executive Order on the Encampment Management Policy.