Oakland voters have an opportunity to remake the City Council this November. With several seats up and new candidates running for some of them, residents can send a message that the status quo isn't working — and can elect out candidates at the same time. Multiple recent reports have noted that people are fed up with public safety concerns, property crime, and the lack of services for the unhoused, among myriad other issues.
Below are our recommendations.
Oakland City Council District 3
Warren Logan
This district, which encompasses West Oakland, would be well-served by Logan, a gay Black man who has experience in city government.
"My work for over a decade has been making policies, designing projects, and developing programs for cities around the Bay Area and across the county in times of need," he stated in his endorsement questionnaire. "As one of Oakland's emergency directors during the city's response to COVID-19, 2020's massive wildfire season, and the power shutdowns, I served as the city's emergency community resilience director, where I led an interdisciplinary team that fast-tracked community testing and vaccination sites, directed departments to work collaboratively, and helped small businesses take advantage of outdoor merchant programs. And it got done in just weeks — not years."
Logan stated he wants to do more for LGBTQ nonprofits in the city, and in light of Oakland's budgetary challenges, offered non-monetary ideas.
"As councilmember, I would be fully committed to supporting LGBTQ nonprofits," he noted. "While Oakland is facing significant budgetary challenges, there are several key strategies that I would pursue to ensure these organizations continue to thrive and serve our community including better connecting them to existing city resources, facilitating key partnerships, and engaging local philanthropists for these critical organizations.
"While direct financial support may be limited, the city can still provide valuable non-monetary resources," he added. "I would push to streamline the permitting process for LGBTQ nonprofits seeking to host events, rallies, or fundraisers, ensuring they have access to public spaces at low to no cost."
Recently, Logan outlined his public safety plan. It calls for strengthening community-police relationships through better accountability and training; expanding violence prevention programs, such as Oakland's Ceasefire, which has proved effective; and investing in afterschool and job training programs to give youth more opportunities and safer pathways.
Logan is running against incumbent Councilmember Carroll Fife, and stated he believes the time for change is now.
"I'm running for Oakland City Council District 3 because I feel our city is on the wrong track," he stated. "Neighbors continue to share concerns about public safety, homelessness, and pollution. We deserve a representative who responds to us and can deliver meaningful changes that help our residents, workers, and business owners."
Logan noted that he supports the city hiring a full-time grant writer after the city was criticized for missing out on a state retail theft grant last year.
We believe Logan would be an effective councilmember and endorse him in the race.
Oakland City Council District 5
Erin Armstrong
Armstrong, a queer trans woman, also has experience in local government. While she faces a tough race against incumbent Noel Gallo, who represents the Fruitvale district, Armstrong has done her research and sees a path to victory, she recently told us.
As a senior policy adviser to longtime Alameda County Supervisor Nate Miley, Armstrong stated in her endorsement questionnaire that she has "nearly a decade of experience addressing some of the region's most challenging issues, including the lack of affordable housing and mental health resources, the rise in homelessness, unequal access to affordable early care and education, the proliferation of illegal dumping, and more."
On homelessness, Armstrong would like to see those services returned to Alameda County. "My personal belief is that Oakland needs to get out of the homeless services business, which I see as the role of the county," she stated. "Funding shelters, organizing the coordinated entry system, and administering services like health care for the homeless and street medicine are all the responsibility of the county. Over the past decade Oakland has taken on some of that funding to administer itself, but the unintended consequence has been that it is harder for small nonprofits to apply and sustain funding because now they must apply with Alameda County and Oakland, managing two grants rather than one, and segregate their billing based on whether the client is based in Oakland or elsewhere."
After Oakland missed out on a state grant to combat retail theft, candidates were asked if they support hiring a full-time grant writer. Armstrong stated, "Not only a grant writer, but an entire development team."
On mental health services, Armstrong stated that Community Assistance Recovery and Empowerment, or CARE, Courts, which were established by Governor Gavin Newsom, would be coming online in the county next year. "The city needs to be engaged in this work," she stated, adding she sees policy changes needed for non-police teams like MACRO, which is a mobile response program for non-violent, non-emergency 911 calls. They "need to have the ability to refer someone to Care Court, as well as 5150 someone who is in crisis (currently they must involve Oakland Police Department to do a 5150 hold). These are policy changes that could actually save money, while making the city's response to the mental health crisis on our streets more effective," Armstrong stated.
She also noted that OPD is "dramatically understaffed," and the city pays about $30 million in overtime spending and yet it is still not able to provide public safety services the community deserves. She proposes that the role of non-sworn officers be expanded in areas of public safety that do not require a badge or gun. Additionally, she supports the city contracting with the California Highway Patrol or Alameda County Sheriff's Office rather than rely on overtime spending.
Armstrong has a lot of good ideas to improve the city's governance. We endorse her for the District 5 seat.
Oakland City Council At-large
Rowena Brown
Brown, a queer Black woman, would continue out representation for the district that includes the entire city. Lesbian longtime Councilmember Rebecca Kaplan opted not to seek reelection after serving for 16 years. Brown is currently the district director for Assemblymember Mia Bonta (D-Oakland) so she has government experience that should serve her well on the council. Kaplan has endorsed her.
"I have been able to provide legislative fixes to issues that have plagued West Oaklanders for decades — writing and uplifting legislation after a toxic fire in August 2023. Assembly Bill 2851 will serve to regulate the metal shredding industry, working to ensure all can breathe fresh, clean air. My leadership in Oakland has proven that I am fully equipped for the role of Oakland City Councilmember At Large," Brown stated in her questionnaire.
On homelessness, Brown wrote about her own background. "As someone who has experienced housing insecurity and almost being homeless between the ages of 18-24, I am focused on ensuring that transitional-age youth can be housed immediately," she stated. "Additionally, I will work with all that are on the frontline supporting our unhoused neighbors, since they know what they need. I know that many advocates have created plans of action for local and state governments to support their needs. We need a true housing first approach, mental health services, and not only transitional housing programs but programs that take care of the whole person."
Public safety is a top concern and her first priority.
"I will work to improve response times, collaborate with police leadership to understand the staffing shortage, and work to increase the number of sworn officers," Brown stated. "As councilmember, I will ensure that law enforcement has the resources and public accountability it needs to keep our communities safe; responsible policing that our community trusts as well as community-building initiatives will serve to combat violence, robberies, and bipping.
"In addition, I will work very closely to address the root cause of crime by connecting with the Department of Violence Prevention and ensuring that they have the tools to do their best work, and help recruit community leaders for their vacant positions," she added.
Brown also supports hiring a full-time grant writer for the city.
Asked about increasing tourism, Brown stated, "My priority is to ensure that the promotion of Oakland through the San Francisco Bay Area Oakland International Airport drives an inclusive local economy that benefits everyone. By working with the Port of Oakland and Visit Oakland, I would focus on marketing campaigns that position Oakland as the Bay Area's gateway while ensuring that the economic gains are shared across our communities."
Brown has many good ideas for improving the city and working to solve its issues. The at-large seat is important because the person who occupies it must keep the entire city in mind. We endorse Brown, who would be an asset to the City Council.
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