City Government

OP-ED: Open Process Will Strengthen Redrawing of Oakland Districts

Published

11 years ago

July 12, 2013

Last month, the Supreme Court weakened the Voting Rights Act and put the rights of voters of color at risk.

This week, Oakland residents can step forward and do their part to defend these critical rights. Will you stand and be counted at these public hearings?

The 2010 Census showed demographic shifts in Oakland’s population and – with the power of the Voting Rights Act behind it – established the need for a transparent, engaging redistricting process in 2013.

As leading advocates for open data, transparent public process, government accountability and equity, we know that district lines can be drawn to hold neighborhoods together, or to divide them; to dilute the voting strength of people of color, or to elevate their communities of interest.

Oakland’s citywide vote has been unbalanced for some time. While district lines are initially drawn on the basis of total population, historic housing segregation patterns put more eligible, registered and high-turnout voters in Districts 1 and 4.

In citywide campaigns, it is common knowledge that political consultants focus their efforts on these two districts, historically disproportionately white, creating a vicious cycle where residents more likely to vote receive more campaign information and reinforcement of their voting behavior.

Between the years 2000 and 2010, Oakland lost overall population – but gained voting age population. Within that voting age population, the numbers of Latino and Asian residents increased dramatically, especially in East Oakland districts.

However, white residents also increased, especially in gentrifying condo developments that attracted residents from across the Bay Area. While the City’s African-American population declined, this community remains concentrated in compact, contiguous communities of interest – and a transparent, open redistricting process can protect all communities’ interests for the next decade.

The district lines we draw matter because they both reflect and shape communities of interest. Defining the district often determines whose voice is heard on what issues. That is why voting rights advocates have fought so hard to protect “one person, one vote” and the rights of communities of interest under redistricting.

It is time for open data and an open process that allows Oaklanders to learn more about their community – and their rights. We commend the City Council for broadening outreach and engagement efforts and look forward to a robust process.

Urban Strategies Council is proud to partner with ACCE, Oakland Rising, League of Women Voters of Oakland and concerned residents to engage Oaklanders in learning more about Voting Rights, redistricting, and one person, one vote.

Our coalition is honored to have received funding from the James Irvine Foundation to support this work. You can learn more and add your voice at www.oaklandvotes.org or follow #OaklandVotes on Twitter.

An Oakland Votes redistricting meeting will be held from 10 a.m. to noon, Saturday July 13 at the Dimond Recreation Center, 3860 Hanly Road in Oakland.

Junious Williams is the CEO of Urban Strategies Council, a social impact organization using research, policy, collaboration, innovation and advocacy to achieve equity and social justice.

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City Government

San Pablo Appoints New Economic Development and Housing Manager

Kieron Slaughter has been appointed as the economic development & housing manager for the City of San Pablo. Since 2017, Slaughter has served as chief strategic officer for economic innovation in the City of Berkeley’s Office of Economic Development. Previously, he served in a 2.5-year appointment in the Pacific West Region as one of 10 Urban Fellows in the United States National Park Service.

Published

3 days ago

November 4, 2024

Oakland Post

Kieron Slaughter. Photo courtesy of the City of San Pablo

The Richmond Standard

Kieron Slaughter has been appointed as the economic development & housing manager for the City of San Pablo.

Since 2017, Slaughter has served as chief strategic officer for economic innovation in the City of Berkeley’s Office of Economic Development. Previously, he served in a 2.5-year appointment in the Pacific West Region as one of 10 Urban Fellows in the United States National Park Service.

Before that he was an associate planner in the City of Richmond’s Planning and Building Services Department from 2007-2015.

San Pablo City Manager Matt Rodriguez lauded Slaughter’s extensive experience in economic development, housing and planning, saying he will add a “valuable perspective to the City Manager’s Office.”

Slaughter, a Berkeley resident, will start in his new role on Nov. 12, with a base annual salary of $164,928, according to the City of San Pablo.

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City Government

Aaron Osorio Rises Up Ranks to Become Richmond’s Fire Chief

For Aaron Osorio, it started with a ride along on a firetruck at age 10. “I thought it was the coolest job,” he said, adding, “I knew being in fire service would make a big difference in the community.” Now a 27-year fire service veteran, Osorio appears to approach his work with the same youthful exuberance. And that’s good for the city as Osorio was recently named chief of the historic Richmond Fire Department.

Published

3 days ago

November 4, 2024

Oakland Post

Richmond Fire Department Chief Aaron Osorio. Courtesy photo

By Mike Kinney

The Richmond Standard

For Aaron Osorio, it started with a ride along on a firetruck at age 10.

“I thought it was the coolest job,” he said, adding, “I knew being in fire service would make a big difference in the community.”

Now a 27-year fire service veteran, Osorio appears to approach his work with the same youthful exuberance. And that’s good for the city as Osorio was recently named chief of the historic Richmond Fire Department.

Osorio is a San Francisco native who rose up the ranks in the Richmond Fire Department over the last 21 years before being elevated to chief.

He joined the department in 2002 and has served in multiple roles including firefighters, engineer, captain, battalion chief, training director and deputy fire chief. He said he truly loves working in this community.

While it isn’t common for a fire department to hire a chief that came up through its ranks, Osorio was credited by the city for serving Richmond well during uncommon times.

The city lauded him for developing internal policies and vaccination clinics during the initial COVID response, for supporting activation of the emergency operations center in response to a potential mudslide disaster in Seacliff last year, helping to draft mutual aid agreements and working to increase fire response capabilities for industrial incidents.

He’s also led departmental hiring and recruitment since 2018.

Osorio said it is an honor to be hired as chief and has big plans for the department moving forward. He said he wants to continue hiring and promoting for vacant positions, and also completing a strategic plan guiding the direction of the organization.

He also aims to replace and renovate a number of fire department facilities placed on the Capital Improvement Plan and create new ways to recruit that will enhance the diversity of the department.

Osorio said his experience within, and love for, the city of Richmond puts him in a good position to lead the department. He says he knows what is needed and also the challenges that are unique to the city.

“I look forward to utilizing that institutional knowledge to move the fire department forward in a positive direction and enhance the services we provide to the community,” the chief said.

Osorio holds a bachelor of science degree in Fire Administration and is also a California State Fire Marshal-certified chief officer, company officer, and state instructor.

He also holds numerous certifications in fire, rescue, hazardous material, and incident command.

The chief has been married to his wife, Maria, for 26 years and they have two sons, Roman and Mateo.

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Bay Area

Oakland Awarded $28 Million Grant from Governor Newsom to Sustain Long-Term Solutions Addressing Homelessness

Governor Gavin Newsom announced the City of Oakland has won a$28,446,565.83 grant as part of the Homeless Housing, Assistance and Prevention (HHAP) grant program. This program provides flexible grant funding to help communities support people experiencing homelessness by creating permanent housing, rental and move-in assistance, case management services, and rental subsidies, among other eligible uses.

Published

3 days ago

November 4, 2024

Oakland Post

Oakland Mayor Sheng Thao

Governor Gavin Newsom announced the City of Oakland has won a$28,446,565.83 grant as part of the Homeless Housing, Assistance and Prevention (HHAP) grant program.

This program provides flexible grant funding to help communities support people experiencing homelessness by creating permanent housing, rental and move-in assistance, case management services, and rental subsidies, among other eligible uses.

Oakland Mayor Sheng Thao and the Oakland City Administrator’s Office staff held a press conference today to discuss the grant and the City’s successful implementing of the Mayor’s Executive Order on the Encampment Management Policy.