Overview of Important Items on Tuesday's. 1/18/22 Council Agenda. Plus Planning Commission's Hearing on Howard Terminal EIR certification, and Redistricting. Council first:
Last year, CM Bas tried to introduce a ballot measure for prog biz tax that would increase revenue by $27 MM. "Conservative" Council at the time diverted issue to a special commission. Now Commission recommends changes to increase BLT rev by $32 MM; City Admin isn't supportive
A parallel Progressive Business Tax ballot measure signature campaign, supported by Bas, IAFF 55, SEIU 1021, IFPTE 21 and local orgs will kick off on that same Tuesday--thus the pressure for the measure comes from Council + public. Press conference before the meeting
Why I'm relentless on Oakland news purveyors being trash: Seen any article about the Equitable Business Tax Taskforce? In September, the body recommended to Council a ballot measure that could increase yearly Business tax revenue to $32MM. Council will consider it Tuesday.
I am sure the only reporting anyone has seen has been on my twitter timeline. You'd think it'd be important as it contemplates adding an additional $320 MM to the City's coffers over the next decade, & 1.2 B over the next 40 yrs. Dwarfing any benefit provided by Howard Terminal.
Not surprisingly, the Schaaf Administration opposes the potential ballot measure, claiming it will cost Oakland jobs.
After taking corresponding public comment, the Oakland Police Commission has adjourned into Closed Session and anticipates starting meeting at 6:30 pm
Now Commission is back, and taking open forum comment.
In the current item, newly hired Inspector General Michelle Phillips, who moves from a similar position for the City of Baltimore, is being introduced to the Commission and public
Colbruno was fined 10 K for not reporting his lobbying work right before he was reappointed to the Port Commission, just FYI. He was Jean Quan's campaign director when he used his position as a Port Commissioner to send mailers boasting of her achievements.
To a certain extent, Colbruno embodies the Mayor and Council's view of appointing members to the Port board who absolutely don't belong there because of their many conflicts, hand in hand with the Treasurer of the ALCO Building Trades, and the CEO of the Chamber of Commerce
Recently, ALCO Building Trades Treasurer and Port Commission President Cluver argued that emission limitations that would spare the health of thousands of BIPOC residents would harm plant workers and owners income, and should be watered down.
Redistricting Commission Update: City Attorney filed the mandated petition to state court last Friday [excerpts below]. It requests court delay making map until early February, to give Commission time to pass a map w/super-majority vote before end of January. Failing that... 1/5
...the City Attorney would then file the petition, asking the State use whatever Commission map has the most commissioner support by then, subject to legality, instead of the Court drawing its own boundaries... 2/5
...Commission would continue to try to pass a super-majority [9 of 13 votes] map by April 17. If they succeed in doing so, that map would be the City's final district map, super-ceding whatever map the state was going to use by then. 3/5
Oakland City Council Special Meeting, 12/7. Council President Bas opens by reviewing order of business, will take 2 ceremonial items first, before moving on to public comment. There's several public hearings today. Measure Z and academy budget resolution will be taken together.
Bas says that the academy vote is about filling police positions that were already budgeted in June. [but the academies and associated costs were not budgeted, I have to add]
As far as Bas' comments go, she's right. Even with the most optimistic [and apparently false] estimates, OPD doesn't get beyond the sworn staffing budgeted for 21-22 until June '23. The sworn staffing for 22-23 is actually higher than 21-23, so they'll still be "under-staffed"