Election 2024
Despite claims and counterclaims by politicians, police officials and community groups about the direction of Oakland’s crime rate, one thing is clear: Many Oakland voters say they continue to feel unsafe when they are out shopping, dining at a restaurant, or even strolling around Lake Merritt. On Tuesday, California voters will decide on a new statewide ballot measure that proposes tougher penalties for law-breakers. Proposition 36, say its supporters, will provide much needed relief to the crime plaguing the city….
BART will run its regular schedule across all 50 stations on Election Day, providing voters with a transit option to reach polling sites and ballot drop boxes. The agency said it aims to ensure smooth service for residents who rely on public transit to cast their ballots. “We are always excited to make it easier for riders to participate in the election process, especially those who lack options beyond public transit,” said BART spokesperson Chris Filippi. Use the interactive map…
Empty toilet paper rolls. Missing bathroom stall doors. Dirty sinks and desks. Those were among the top concerns identified by Oakland Unified School District students in a survey by their peers. This year, students hope a new form of leverage will push the district to fix things: their votes. As Oakland teens prepare to cast ballots for the first time, students have been organizing to make sure their needs as students are heard by School Board candidates. “If our representatives…
With just days left before Tuesday’s election, Oakland North interviewed the three candidates running for Oakland’s City Council District 5 seat. District 5 extends from the affluent streets of Park Boulevard to the industrial flatlands of International Boulevard. Incumbent Noel Gallo is running, along with candidates Erin Armstrong and Dominic Prado. Each responded to the questions about their top concerns and policy plans. Their answers are presented verbatim, with editing for clarity and brevity. Noel Gallo Gallo has served as…
Ranked-choice divides Oakland voters — some want to scrap it, others want outreach to educate voters
In November 2022, Oakland resident Ima Ekong went to her local polling place to cast her vote in the city’s mayoral election. Two years later, she says she’s still unclear how ranked-choice voting, the ballot system used in city elections, selects winners and losers. “I think it is really confusing,” she said. Ekong is not alone. The 2022 election put a spotlight on ranked-choice voting with the surprise victory of Sheng Thao over Loren Taylor in the Oakland mayoral race…
With two weeks to go before the election, supporters of Pamela Price are campaigning hard to convince voters to allow the progressive Alameda County district attorney to finish her first term. They are up against a heavily funded recall effort determined to see that Price’s tenure is as short-lived as that of Chesa Boudin, the progressive San Francisco district attorney who was recalled in 2022 — the year Price was elected. More than 60 Price supporters rallied Sunday outside the…
Three Oakland council members are giving up their seats, paving the way for new leaders to join the City Council. Council Members Dan Kalb and Treva Reid, and Vice Mayor Rebecca Kaplan are not running for reelection in November. Their exits have created an opportunity for three new members to join the eight-member council, putting the newcomers in a pivotal position for what is shaping up to be a tough budget season. “Three new members, replacing long-standing and experienced council…
A proposal to temporarily increase campaign contribution limits for the November election has stalled, after the City Council failed to meet a quorum for the legislation’s passage. The change, proposed by Councilmembers Janani Ramachandran and Kevin Jenkins, would have increased campaign contribution limits to $800 from individual donors and $1,500 from political committees until 2027. It passed its first reading on Oct. 1 in a 5-2 vote, but at the second reading, which was scheduled for last week, several council…
At a youth town hall meeting Tuesday, Mayor Sheng Thao said she was interested in how the government can better support young people and the importance of transitional housing for 18-year-olds as they become adults. She also said that the FBI raid on her house was an attempt to stop her from creating meaningful change in Oakland. “I know I did nothing wrong, so I’m not even tripping,” Thao said. The mayor faces a recall on Election Day after less…