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:

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• $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

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