Oakland Report is experimenting with new ways to use technology to monitor and understand the actions of Oakland government — starting with a recap of the January 6 city council meeting.
This recap is a great addition to Oakland Report. I will appreciate having the recap detail and insight it provides. There is nothing like it with Oakland Report's typical organization and approachability. Please keep it up!
re: streets--I admire the patience of city staff who must explain to the council that (hello) state law applies in Oakland, too.
At this point, I don't care if the lowest repaving bid came from the reanimated corpses of Pol Pot, Idi Amin, and Josef Stalin. Stop with the melodrama over "equity" and fill in the dangerous potholes on Grand Avenue.
The original Progressives prided themselves on efficient, completed civic projects; where is that sentiment today?
The SLEB is a poorly outlined designation. You can literally rent an apartment in Oakland and use it as a business address. If I were a person of color, disabled person, a veteran or better yet a disabled female veteran person of color, I would be treated the most preferentially based on points with the city of Oakland. All of this is great, but I’m none of those. I’m not knocking a “SLEB” as a consideration however, but what it does in the real world is allow for some shady workarounds which disqualify other capable candidates with a point system. I’m always for the best business to do the job with tenure and a resume, not awarding projects to those who fit a social template and continually underperform, charge low prices and ask for change orders later. There should be a report card point system based upon sticking to the budget and doing the work awarded in a timely manner. What do we get by excluding others? Fewer capable bidders.
I appreciate this recap. It is very concise and easy to read. Thank you for all that you do to keep us informed.
This recap is a great addition to Oakland Report. I will appreciate having the recap detail and insight it provides. There is nothing like it with Oakland Report's typical organization and approachability. Please keep it up!
re: streets--I admire the patience of city staff who must explain to the council that (hello) state law applies in Oakland, too.
At this point, I don't care if the lowest repaving bid came from the reanimated corpses of Pol Pot, Idi Amin, and Josef Stalin. Stop with the melodrama over "equity" and fill in the dangerous potholes on Grand Avenue.
The original Progressives prided themselves on efficient, completed civic projects; where is that sentiment today?
The SLEB is a poorly outlined designation. You can literally rent an apartment in Oakland and use it as a business address. If I were a person of color, disabled person, a veteran or better yet a disabled female veteran person of color, I would be treated the most preferentially based on points with the city of Oakland. All of this is great, but I’m none of those. I’m not knocking a “SLEB” as a consideration however, but what it does in the real world is allow for some shady workarounds which disqualify other capable candidates with a point system. I’m always for the best business to do the job with tenure and a resume, not awarding projects to those who fit a social template and continually underperform, charge low prices and ask for change orders later. There should be a report card point system based upon sticking to the budget and doing the work awarded in a timely manner. What do we get by excluding others? Fewer capable bidders.