City Government

New City Leadership Team Takes the Helm

Published

11 years ago

January 9, 2015

Tuesday was a day to celebrate the changing of the guard in Oakland, as Mayor Libby Schaaf, three councilmembers, three school boardmembers and the new city auditor were sworn in.

Mayor Schaaf was sworn in during a quiet ceremony early in the morning, and the other new officials were sworn in during an organizational meeting at 11 a.m., where new officers were also selected.

All the newly elected and re-elected officials were ceremoniously sworn in again later in the afternoon at a festive event at the Paramount Theater at 2025 Broadway.

James Harris, District 7, was elected president of the Board of Education, and Jody London, District 1, was named vice president.

Lynette McElhaney, District 3, was elected president of the City Council. Larry Reid, District 7, was elected president pro tem, and Councilmember-at-large Rebecca Kaplan was elected vice mayor.

In a speech at the Paramount, Mayor Schaaf, emphasized her love for the city and her roots –

Mayor-elect Libby Schaaf.

“Oakland made,” born and bred.

Saying that she, like so many others, is upset by the lack of equality in the public schools and the lack of public safety.

“Transformative change is possible” she said. “If other cities can do it, so can we.”

It’s time for Oakland to get off the list of the 10 most dangerous cities in the country, Mayor Schaaf said, also pledging that the police department would complete federally required reforms “that we promised to finish 10 years ago.”

“It’s time to address quality preschool for all children, so all of our children show up to kindergarten ready to learn,” she said, calling the continuing racial disparities in education “morally outrageous.”

Mayor Schaaf said she would mobilize the city to stop illegal dumping, fix the “raggedy roads” in the neighborhoods and clean up parks and other public spaces.

She also said she would bring new businesses to Oakland and support the city’s existing small businesses, “particularly the ones in our neighborhoods,” providing zero interest loans and encouraging residents to “put your money where your heart is.”

Abel Guillen

In remarks after he was sworn in, District 2 Councilmember Abel Guillen said, “We must provide housing for Oakland’s workforce – this is something we can do.”

Annie Campbell Washington, District 4 representative, spoke about her years working as a staffer for the city, where she learned that it was necessary to go to the grassroots to find out about programs and people.

“I learned it’s not about the numbers – it’s about the people,” she said.

“Here is where the rubber meets the road,” she continued. “The decisions we make are incredibly important to the lives of people here (in Oakland).”

Desley Brooks

District 6 Councilmember Desley Brooks, who has been on the council for 12 years, was sworn in for new term.

“Too many of our residents are left out,” she said. “Too many are hungry, homeless or are feeling hopeless. Too many cannot afford to live here.”

Brooks, who was wearing a “Black Lives Matter” t-short, had participated in a silent vigil held by protesters in front of the Paramount at the beginning of the swearing in.

She urged elected officials to pay attention to the protest, which also took place in the theater at the beginning of the swearing in ceremony, when some people unfurled a “End Police Terror” banner from the balcony and for a few minutes sang “Which side are you on?”

“I wore this t shirt for a reason,” said Brooks “ We’ve got to listen to ideas others than our own. We have to hear voices other than our own. We have to include everybody. We have to come out of our comfort zone.”

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Oakland Post: Week of December 24 – 30, 2025

The printed Weekly Edition of the Oakland Post: Week of – December 24 – 30, 2025

Published

5 days ago

December 25, 2025

Oakland Post

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Alameda County

Oakland Council Expands Citywide Security Cameras Despite Major Opposition

In a 7-1 vote in favor of the contract, with only District 3 Councilmember Carroll Fife voting no, the Council agreed to maintain its existing network of 291 cameras and add 40 new “pan-tilt-zoom cameras.”

Published

1 week ago

December 21, 2025

Oakland Post

At the International Association of Chiefs of Police Conference, Flock Safety introduces new public safety technology – Amplified Intelligence, a suite of AI-powered tools designed to improve law enforcement investigations. Courtesy photo.

By Post Staff

The Oakland City Council this week approved a $2.25 million contract with Flock Safety for a mass surveillance network of hundreds of security cameras to track vehicles in the city.

In recent weeks hundreds of local residents have spoken against the camera system, raising concerns that data will be shared with immigration authorities and other federal agencies at a time when mass surveillance is growing across the country with little regard for individual rights.

The Flock network, supported by the Oakland Police Department, has the backing of residents and councilmembers who see it as an important tool to protect public safety.

“This system makes the Department more efficient as it allows for information related to disruptive/violent criminal activities to be captured … and allows for precise and focused enforcement,” OPD wrote in its proposal to City Council.

According to OPD, police made 232 arrests using data from Flock cameras between July 2024 and November of this year.

Based on the data, police say they recovered 68 guns, and utilizing the countywide system, they have found 1,100 stolen vehicles.

However, Flock’s cameras cast a wide net. The company’s cameras in Oakland last month captured license plate numbers and other information from about 1.4 million vehicles.

Speaking at Tuesday’s Council meeting, Fife was critical of her colleagues for signing a contract with a company that has been in the national spotlight for sharing data with federal agencies.

Flock’s cameras – which are automated license plate readers – have been used in tracking people who have had abortions, monitoring protesters, and aiding in deportation roundups.

“I don’t know how we get up and have several press conferences talking about how we are supportive of a sanctuary city status but then use a vendor that has been shown to have a direct relationship with (the U.S.) Border Control,” she said. “It doesn’t make sense to me.”

Several councilmembers who voted in favor of the contract said they supported the deal as long as some safeguards were written into the Council’s resolution.

“We’re not aiming for perfection,” said District 1 Councilmember Zac Unger. “This is not Orwellian facial recognition technology — that’s prohibited in Oakland. The road forward here is to add as many amendments as we can.”

Amendments passed by the Council prohibit OPD from sharing camera data with any other agencies for the purpose of “criminalizing reproductive or gender affirming healthcare” or for federal immigration enforcement. California state law also prohibits the sharing of license plate reader data with the federal government, and because Oakland’s sanctuary city status, OPD is not allowed to cooperate with immigration authorities.

A former member of Oakland’s Privacy Advisory Commission has sued OPD, alleging that it has violated its own rules around data sharing.

So far, OPD has shared Flock data with 50 other law enforcement agencies.

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Black Arts Movement Business District Named New Cultural District in California

Located in the heart of District 3, the BAMBD is widely regarded as one of the nation’s most important centers of Black cultural production — a space where artists, entrepreneurs, organizers, and cultural workers have shaped generations of local and national identity. The state’s recognition affirms the district’s historic importance and its future promise.

Published

1 week ago

December 20, 2025

Oakland Post

Councilmember Carroll Fife celebrates major milestone for Black arts, culture, and economic power in Oakland. Courtesy photo.

By Post Staff

Oakland’s Black Arts Movement Business District (BAMBD) has been selected as one of California’s 10 new state-designated Cultural Districts, a distinction awarded by the California Arts Council (CAC), according to a media statement released by Councilmember Carroll Fife.

The BAMBD now joins 23 other districts across the state recognized for their deep cultural legacy, artistic excellence, and contributions to California’s creative economy.

“This designation is a testament to what Black Oakland has built — and what we continue to build when we insist on investing in our own cultural and economic power,” said Fife.

“For years, our community has fought for meaningful recognition and resources for the Black Arts Movement Business District,” she said. “This announcement validates that work and ensures that BAMBD receives the support it needs to grow, thrive, and continue shaping the cultural fabric of California.”

Since taking office, Fife has led and supported multiple initiatives that strengthened the groundwork for this achievement, including:

Restoring and protecting arts and cultural staffing within the City of Oakland.
Creating the West Oakland Community Fund to reinvest in historically excluded communities
Advancing a Black New Deal study to expand economic opportunity for Black Oakland
Ensuring racial equity impact analyses for development proposals, improving access for Black businesses and Black contractors
Introduced legislation and budget amendments that formalized, protected, and expanded the BAMBD

“These efforts weren’t abstract,” Fife said. “They were intentional, coordinated, and rooted in a belief that Black arts and Black businesses deserve deep, sustained public investment.”

As part of the Cultural District designation, BAMBD will receive:

$10,000 over two years
Dedicated technical assistance
Statewide marketing and branding support
Official designation from Jan. 1, 2026, through Dec. 31, 2030

This support will elevate the visibility of BAMBD’s artists, cultural organizations, small businesses, and legacy institutions, while helping attract new investment to the district.

“The BAMBD has always been more than a district,” Fife continued. “This recognition by the State of California gives us another tool in the fight to preserve Black culture, build Black economic power, and protect the families and institutions that make Oakland strong.”

For questions, contact Councilmember Carroll Fife at CFife@oaklandca.gov.