City Government

Oakland’s $3.8 Billion Budget for 2021-2023 Funds Roads, Parks, Youth and Boosts Money for OPD

District 6 City Councilmember Loren Taylor says while the budget includes many items that he supports, he ultimately voted against it because he believes leaves much to be desired.

Published

4 years ago

July 17, 2021

Isabelle Price

Oakland City Council Members Debating Issues courtesy oaklandca.gov

The Oakland City Council approved the city’s FY21-23 budget on June 24 by a 7-2 vote. The $3.8 billion budget will include funding for police and fire departments, roads, parks, homeless services, affordable housing, cultural grants, youth programs, and much more.

Although the council all but promised that it would ‘defund the police’ last summer in the wake of local and national unrest following the murder of George Floyd, about a week after the current budget was approved it was revealed that, in fact, the Oakland Police Department would get $674 million. That is an increase of $38 million over the previous budget cycle from 2019-2021, which was $635 million.

District 6 City Councilmember Loren Taylor says while the budget includes many items that he supports, he ultimately voted against it because he believes leaves much to be desired.

“I ultimately voted ‘no’ on the budget because at the end of the day it did the same as other budgets before it—perpetuating many inherent inequities that have plagued Central & Deep East Oakland for decades,” Taylor said in a recent newsletter to his constituents.

“Many things I advocated for are crucial to equitably addressing the needs of Oakland residents,” he said.

Let’s look at what items made the cut. Below are a few highlights which include:

$17 million investment into violence prevention programs
Doubled funding for MACRO Pilot (alternatives to armed police response)
Significant investments into homelessness services and affordable housing
A 3% cost-of-living adjustment for city workers;
A new fire station and regional fire-training/education center on 66th Avenue
Restoration and reactivation of Tomas Melero-Smith and 85th Avenue Mini Park
Investments into community partners providing workforce development services.

Taylor pointed out several items he and council members Sheng Thao and Treva Reid proposed that didn’t make the cut.

Millions of dollars in traffic calming infrastructure and sideshow deterrence including the MacArthur Blvd/Millsmont Traffic Corridor
Surveillance cameras to improve public safety in commercial districts and to address illegal dumping
Cost neutral shift of funds for the Police Academy to the first year of the budget to reduce 911 response times
Establishment of “City Hall East” to provide East Oaklanders with greater access to city departments and services
Increased staffing for illegal dumping/litter enforcement and abatement
Startup costs for a District 6 Business Improvement District (BID)
Arroyo Viejo Park upgrades (including parking lot resurfacing, commercial kitchen upgrade, and funding for pathway lighting)
Dedicated resources to eliminate race & gender disparities in City contracting
Removal of dangerous trees from Skyline Blvd. median

Taylor says he, Reid and Thao plan to introduce amendments that will address traffic safety, economic development, and community parks. He is calling on constituents to support these amendments which call for deeper investments in East Oakland.

Isabelle Price

Posts by Isabelle Price

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Alameda County

After Years of Working Remotely, Oakland Requires All City Employees to Return to Office by April 7

City Administrator Jestin Johnson recently told city unions that he is ending Oakland’s telecommuting program. The new policy will require employees to come to work at least four days a week. These new regulations go into effect on Feb. 18 for non-union department heads, assistant and deputy directors, managers, and supervisors. All other employees must be back at work by April 7.

Published

2 days ago

February 19, 2025

Oakland Post

Oakland City Hall. File photo.

By Post Staff

The City Oakland is requiring all employees to return to the office, thereby ending the telecommuting policy established during the pandemic that has left some City Hall departments understaffed.

City Administrator Jestin Johnson recently told city unions that he is ending Oakland’s telecommuting program. The new policy will require employees to come to work at least four days a week.

These new regulations go into effect on Feb. 18 for non-union department heads, assistant and deputy directors, managers, and supervisors. All other employees must be back at work by April 7.

The administration may still grant the right to work remotely on a case-by-case basis.

In his memo to city unions, Johnson said former President Joe Biden had declared an end to the pandemic in September 2022, and that since then, “We have collectively moved into newer, safer health conditions.”

Johnson said “multiple departments” already have all their staff back in the office or workplace.

The City’s COVID-era policy, enacted in September 2021, was designed to reduce the spread of the debilitating and potentially fatal virus.

Many cities and companies across the country are now ending their pandemic-related remote work policies. Locally, mayoral candidate Loren Taylor in a press conference made the policy a central issue in his campaign for mayor.

City Hall reopened for in-person meetings two years ago, and the city’s decision to end remote work occurred before Taylor’s press conference.

At an endorsement meeting last Saturday of the John George Democratic Club, mayoral candidate Barbara Lee said she agreed that city workers should return to the job.

At the same time, she said, the city should allow employees time to readjust their lives, which were disrupted by the pandemic, and should recognize individual needs, taking care to maintain staff morale.

The John George club endorsed Lee for Mayor and Charlene Wang for City Council representative for District 2. The club also voted to take no position on the sales tax measure that will be on the April 15 ballot.

Oakland Post

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Activism

Actor, Philanthropist Blair Underwood Visits Bay Area, Kicks Off Literacy Program in ‘New Oakland’ Initiative

These community activations were coordinated with the San Francisco-based non-profit program “Room to Read.” Ray said he is also donating his time to read and take pictures with students to encourage their engagement and to inspire them to read more. The inspirational book “Clifford Ray Saves the Day” highlights Clifford Ray’s true story of saving a dolphin.

Published

2 days ago

February 18, 2025

Oakland Post

Blair Underwood (left) and Barbara Lee (right). Courtesy photo.

By Paul Cobb
New Oakland Series
Opinion Part 3

The Post mentioned three weeks ago that a number of our local luminaries were coming together to support the “New Oakland” movement. As this current national administration continues to eliminate our “legacy” institutional policies and programs left and right, most communities find themselves beyond “frozen” in fear.

Well, esteemed actor, long-time Bay Area supporter, and philanthropist Blair Underwood returned to Oakland this week to speak with city leaders, community trust agents, students, the Oakland Post, and local celebrities alike to continue his “New Oakland” initiative.

This week, he kicked off his “Guess Who’s Coming to Read” literacy program in some of Oakland’s middle schools. Clifford Ray, who played the center position of the 1975 World Champion Golden State Warriors, donated close to 1,000 books. Ray’s fellow teammate Charles “The Hopper” Dudley also gave Converse sneakers to students.

Underwood also spent quality time with the Oakland Ballers ownership group and visited the amazing Raimondi Park West Oakland community revitalization site. In the 1996 TV film Soul of the Game, Underwood played the role of the legendary first Black Major League Baseball player Jackie Robinson and commended the Ballers owners.

“This group of sports enthusiasts/ philanthropists needs to be applauded for their human capital investment and their financial capital investment,” Underwood said. “Truly putting their money and passion to work,” Underwood said.

Underwood was also inspired by mayoral candidate Barbara Lee’s open-minded invitation to bring public-private partnership opportunities to Oakland.

Underwood said he wants to “reinforce the importance of ‘collaborative activism’ among those most marginalized by non-empathic leadership. We must ‘act out’ our discomfort with passionate intentions to create healthy change.”

Oakland Post

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Alameda County

Mayor Jenkins Leads All-Star Community Cleanup

“Oakland is putting its best foot forward in anticipation of the thousands of fans that will be celebrating the NBA All-Star Games,” said Oakland Mayor Kevin Jenkins. “As the City continues to double down on blight and beautification in East Oakland, we also know community partnerships like this are essential for the sustained health of Oakland’s communities. I am incredibly grateful for the community for reaching out to my office to help put together these events and I look forward to continuing this work long after the All-Star games are done.”

Published

2 days ago

February 18, 2025

Oakland Post

Oakland Mayor Kevin Jenkins Community Clean-Up.

By Post Staff

Mayor Kevin Jenkins, in partnership with the City of Oakland, PG&E, Tip Top Shape, Wiseguys Motorcycle Club, The Dragons Motorcycle Club, the African American Sports and Entertainment Group (AASEG), CEO, and Prayerline Ministries, hosted two community cleanup events in preparation for the NBA All-Star festivities.

The cleanups focus on beautifying the Coliseum and Hegenberger neighborhoods.

“I’m excited to partner with the Office of the Mayor and incredible community and corporate partners like PG&E, Tip Top Shape, Wiseguys Motorcycle Club, The Dragons Motorcycle Club, AASEG, CEO, and Prayerline Ministries for this much-needed cleanup ahead of the NBA All-Star Games,” said Samantha Wise, founder and executive director of the Community Enrichment Organization (CEO). “As we come together to adopt and beautify the Coliseum Corridor, we’re not just preparing for an event—we’re showing pride in our community. After all, it’s important to clean your house before welcoming guests, and that’s exactly what we intend to do. If this initiative is successful, we can keep it going and expand to other areas of Oakland, making a lasting impact beyond the All-Star weekend.”