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Councilmember Rebecca Kaplan Could Be Removed in March from Bay Area Air Quality Board

Published

7 years ago

February 2, 2018

Sources are concerned Mayor Schaaf advocated for rules change to remove Kaplan.

The Alameda County Mayors’ Conference will decide on March 14 whether it will reappoint Oakland City Councilmember Rebecca Kaplan as the county’s representative on the powerful board of the Bay Area Air Quality Management District (BAAQMD).

Sources have told the Oakland Post that Mayor Libby Schaaf was instrumental in advocating for the rule change that would remove Kaplan.
Kaplan has served on the board for the past one-and-a-half years, appointed by the county Mayor’s Conference. Her position is one of two that are reserved for representatives of cities in Alameda County on the 24-member board, whose members come from cities and counties from Napa to Palo Alto.

Kaplan’s supporters say she has helped secure money for major projects to improve air quality for Oakland and other East Bay cities, including for the Broadway Shuttle, replacing a diesel locomotive engine to clean the air around the Port/Army base and setting up a fund to replace old, high polluting diesel trucks.

According to Steven Bocian, executive director of the Mayors’ Conference, the organization “has always had a priority of mayors being the first priority for appointments.”

The amendment that was passed by the mayors in October “clarifies a number of issues,” he said.

One of the changes stipulates, “If a council member applies for a position, the councilmember (must) receive the approval of the mayor,” he said. “That’s the one that is a concern.”

However, he said, Kaplan “is not precluded” from reapplying.

A number of statements have been submitted to the Mayors’ Conference supporting Kaplan for doing important work on the board promoting and winning significant air quality projects for Oakland, something that had been lacking for a number of years before she was appointed.

“Rebecca is doing a very good job representing Oakland and Alameda County on the board,” said Esther Goolsby of Communities for a Better Environment (CBE).

Goolsby said she went to the meeting of the Alameda County Mayors Conference in December and plans to attend again with others in February.

“We’ve tried to get some answers” from the Mayors’ Conference, she said. “We have to keep them accountable for our health. Losing our representation would be devastating to Oakland.”

“We saw a map of air quality in the Bay Area. It has improved everywhere except in certain areas, such as Oakland,” she said.

“Rebecca has stood up and made a difference on the board. Who is it that doesn’t want her on the board? Is it oil or gas (interests)?”
County Supervisor Nate Miley sent a letter to the Conference of Mayors expressing “strong support” for Kaplan’s reappointment to the board.

“Together, Rebecca and I serve as a voice for underserved communities such as Oakland, which suffer from extremely disproportionately high air pollution, and need strong representation in our region’s air quality decision-making,” said Miley.

Miley pointed out that Kaplan worked successfully to win “Spare the Air” funds for the Oakland Broadway Shuttle, which connect “last mile” locations to transit, and key destinations.

She also obtained over $600,000 to replace an old, polluting diesel locomotive engine operating near hard-hit West Oakland communities, with a new, cleaner engine, he said.

According to Michael Hunt from the mayor’s office, “The rule that may cause Councilmember Kaplan to lose her seat existed long before Mayor Schaaf took office.”

He said the mayor wants to add additional seats to the board for Oakland and other heavily impacted cities.

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Barbara Lee Launches Campaign for Mayor of Oakland

“At this critical moment, we must not be a city divided, but a community united,” she Lee. “If elected I will bring my hands-on leadership, new ideas and decades of experience in identifying billions in resources for our great city, so all residents and businesses are stronger and safer and our community has optimism and confidence in Oakland’s future.”

Published

1 day ago

January 8, 2025

Oakland Post

By Post Staff

Barbara Lee on Wednesday morning formally announced her candidacy for Mayor in Oakland’s April 15 special election.

“Time and time again, Oaklanders have faced our toughest obstacles by uniting to meet our challenges,” said Lee.

“At this critical moment, we must not be a city divided but a community united,” she said. “If elected, I will bring my hands-on leadership, new ideas, and decades of experience in identifying billions in resources for our great city so all residents and businesses are stronger and safer and our community has optimism and confidence in Oakland’s future.”

“As Mayor, I’ll address our homelessness crisis, prioritize comprehensive public safety and mental health services, and lead with fiscal responsibility to deliver the core City services residents and business owners deserve. Let’s do this – together.”

“I’ve never shied away from a challenge,” said Lee. “I’m always ready to fight for Oakland.”

Watch her campaign video here, which is online at BarbaraLee4Oakland.com

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Who Wants to Be the Next Elected Mayor of Oakland?

The Oakland Post is issuing a CALL to all candidates to present their answers, plans, or solutions in response to our list of questions.

Published

3 days ago

January 7, 2025

Oakland Post

An aerial view of the downtown Oakland skyline on a clear sunny day. The federal building and other iconic buildings fill the skyline. Photo: iStock.

By Paul Cobb

Many of you probably recall the oft-repeated expression when describing leadership that “many are called but few are chosen.” We will be inundated during January with many claims of qualifications by those who want to lead Oakland.

As of Jan. 1, 2025, we have heard the names of 14 potential candidates who might become Oakland’s next Mayor.

The Oakland Post is issuing a CALL to all candidates to present their answers, plans, or solutions in response to our list of questions.

Any candidate who wishes to receive a free announcement, publicity or space in the paper must submit solutions.

The first questions we propose are 1) What is your budget balancing plan?
What is your position on requiring all city employees to work full-time in their designated offices rather than remotely from their homes?
What is your plan to provide open-access opportunities to all police officers for overtime pay?
Since many businesses, especially downtown, have closed, what is your plan to attract and increase revenues?

Please send your submissions of 300 words or less to each question to Social@postnewsgroup.com or visit www.postnewsgroup.com

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Oakland NAACP President Stands on the Frontlines for Equity

With education as a cornerstone, Adams emphasized the importance of youth having access to quality kindergarten through 12th-grade education along with college or vocational programming beyond high school. “I feel that it’s so important for our children to get a good education in K-12th grade, along with the colleges of their choice, especially with the HBCU’s (Historically Black Colleges and Universities).”

Published

3 days ago

January 7, 2025

Oakland Post

NAACP Oakland President Cynthia Adams. Photo Courtesy of Cynthia Adams.

By Carla Thomas

For Cynthia Adams, president of the Oakland chapter of the NAACP, fighting for the rights of Black people comes naturally. With southern roots in Arkansas, Adams experienced firsthand the injustice and unfairness of racism.

“Growing up in the Jim Crow South, I experienced the unfair treatment of people of color and how faith can inspire communities to bring about positive and long-lasting change,” said Adams. Adams says a combination of her family and faith has kept her strong in the face of adversity and inspired her life’s work of advocacy.

Adams chose education as a career path — and a means to achieve equity and overcome racism. She earned her bachelor’s degree at the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff and later received an advanced degree from California State East Bay.

Adams’ experience as an Oakland Unified School District (OUSD) recorder, a counselor, a researcher, and a college recruiter has allowed her to be laser-focused on youth. She also served as the chairperson for the Oakland NAACP youth.

“The mission of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People is to ensure the political, educational, social, and economic equality of rights of all persons and to eliminate race-based discrimination. We want to ensure our citizens have equal rights and opportunities without discrimination based on race.”

As a partner with the State of California’s Stop the Hate campaign, Adams says the initiative is a step in the right direction. “It’s great that our governor and state created the Stop the Hate campaign and provides resources for victims of racism and other hate crimes,” said Adams. “The racism toward Black people has increased and our children are being targeted,” she continued.

“We, at the Oakland branch, created a declaration on racism that will amplify the needs of our community to combat racism,” continued Adams. “That declaration was adopted nationally.”

Bridging communities and collaborating is also a strategy for moving society toward justice, according to Adams.

“Through the NAACP, we build connections between communities and advocate for the rights of historically marginalized and oppressed individuals,” said Adams. “Collective action is the only way to advance civil rights and promote social equity.”

By taking stands on supporting former Oakland Police Chief LeRonne Armstrong to supporting the recall of a mayor faced with a scandal that brought negative national press to the city of Oakland, Adams has always demanded more for her people, and better for Oakland, the city she calls home.

She expressed pride in the national organization’s announcement of a $200 million fund designed to empower Black funders nationwide. “We all know the health of a community begins with economics,” said Adams.

Adams says that strengthening Black businesses automatically sustains a community. “We’ve also got to educate our community on opportunities and teach our children critical thinking so that they can provide the next generation of solutions for society,” said Adams.