City Government

Oakland Voters Hit with Fake Polls and Negative Campaigning

Published

8 years ago

September 2, 2016

In the past week Oakland residents have been receiving an anonymous voter survey attacking Councilmember Rebecca Kaplan and falsely claiming that one of her opponents for the at-large city council seat—Peggy Moore— has the endorsements of two prominent local lawmakers.

The email, which was sent out to hundreds of Oakland voters last week and commissioned by Moore’s campaign, contained a list of questions asking how compelling each statement was as a reason to vote for Moore, who until Aug. 12 was Mayor Libby Schaaf’s senior special advisor.

The survey stated that two popular East Bay political leaders, Congresswoman Barbara Lee and Assemblyman Tony Thurmond, had endorsed Moore.

Both Lee and Thurmond have confirmed to the Post that they are not supporting Moore.

Some of the statements presented negative remarks against Kaplan, such as one that says “she has few real accomplishments to show from her 15 years as a politician.”

“This campaign move against me is full of lies, including using wrongfully the names of two of the most prominent elected officials,” said Kaplan in an interview with the Post. “How dare they send this out and not put their names on it.”

A number of political observers characterized the survey a “push” poll, criticized as a dishonest form of political campaigning, which is frequently anonymous. Posing as a political poll, this kind of survey asks questions skewed in favor of one candidate or side of an issue and maligns the opposing candidate or side.

In an interview with the Post, Moore said her campaign paid for the survey and that it was intended to help her campaign find messaging that would best help promote her candidacy for City Council.

“We commissioned to have the poll sent out but it was written incorrectly,” said Moore.

“(The endorsements) were a misprint and totally the wrong question, (which) was intended as a hypothetical,” she said.

Explaining why the email poll did not inform the public that it was sponsored by her campaign, Moore said, “We didn’t do anything unconditional or out of character” for these kinds of polls.

Moore’s campaign has since sent out clarifying emails to those who responded to the survey.

Meanwhile, in at least two other local election campaigns, Oakland voters have been contacted via phone by anonymous voter surveys that pose as research polls and oppose the renter protection measure and District 5 School Board incumbent Roseann Torres.

According to several participants, one phone poll appeared to seek voter opinions on Measure JJ—the renter protection ballot measure—but presented opposing arguments to passing rent control in Oakland and asked if they were compelling enough reasons to vote against the measure.

Jahmese Myres, campaign director for East Bay Alliance for a Sustainable Economy (EBASE), told the Post she received the call and assumes that whoever commissioned the survey is doing research about what negative messages will most resonate with voters.

“It’s certainly not a surprise but we live in a city with 60 percent renters that values folks being able to stay in their communities and values diversity,” Myres said.

“I’m sure that the voters will support Measure JJ, despite this heavily paid-for opposition campaign,” she said.

Sources also told the Post that another anonymous phone survey attacking School Boardmember Torres and supporting her opponent, Huber Trenado, who is backed by Great Oakland (GO) Public Schools, was making the rounds in Oakland.

The poll distorted Torres’ history as an attorney and dishonestly said she showed up late to school board meetings, according to Torres’ campaign.

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Activism

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

2 days 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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Activism

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

Oakland Post

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Activism

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.