Public Policy
The polls have now closed in Oakland, and throughout the city, candidates and voters are awaiting the results of closely-watched local and state races that includ a seven-way race for the District 1 city council set and a closely-matched at-large race, while others have begun celebrating the apparent victory of President Barack Obama, after CNN, NBC, Fox News and CBS all projected a win for the president at approximately 8:15 p.m. Shortly after the opening of the polls in California at…
The ranked choice voting accumulated results are in from the Alameda County Registrar of Voters, meaning the runoff votes have been tallied. Barring any major changes in provisional ballots, introducing your new (and old) Oakland elected officials: UPDATE: 11:23 am November 7 PRECINCTS REPORTING: 100 percent
For Oakland’s sick and elderly population, voting today presented a litany of obstacles, from immobility to sickness to mental illnesses. But the Registrar of Voters is tackling what seems to be the biggest hurdle: patients who physically cannot walk to a polling station. “Most people here are in wheelchairs,” said Stephen Kutchko, the director of social services at Kindred Nursing and Rehabilitation Center, on 29th Street near the hospital center in North Oakland. “Most people can’t walk or get out…
With four Oakland districts and the Council At-Large seat up for grabs, 25 candidates have all entered the race to join Oakland’s City Council. The following map lists every candidate running in each district, a photo of each candidate, and a brief statement—provided by the candidate—about his or her key goals.
What is Gimme Props? The simplest answer is an experiment. We experimented here with data visualization, with quizzes, with games, and with interactives. Can you take what is typically dry material and explain it in a way that is more fun and engaging, hence broadening the audience that learns about these important ballot measures?
Born out of Code for America, a non-profit that serves as a kind of digital liaison between governments and residents, OpenOakland is a volunteer-based group of people interested in using technology to make government more accessible. It is led by Steve Spiker, who describes the group as the “Peace Corps for geeks.”
This year, voters must choose whether to give a full four-year term to current City Attorney Barbara Parker or to longtime District 1 Councilmember Jane Brunner, both familiar faces in Oakland politics. When Oakland voters nixed Measure H in 2011, they decided how the city would select a city attorney this year. Until 1998, city officials appointed someone to the office, but under that year’s “strong mayor” initiative, the position became an elected one, which was held by John Russo…
Amy Lemley, the only woman among seven candidates competing for the District 1 seat, lists safety, the economy and education as some of her campaign’s top priorities. The Oakland Police Officers Association and the Chamber of Commerce are some of Lemley’s endorsers.
Accountant Len Raphael, one of the seven people running for a District 1 city council seat, plans to hire more police officers, using funds gained from cutting compensation for all city employees.