Homeless industrial complex; pay raises for city council and unions; who’s actually in charge of the city; you get what you pay for — and more letters from Oakland Report readers.
Many of these letters are very strong and on point.
But the essential Conflict of Interest remains buried under a heap of ideological misdirection.
Oakland public employee union leadership and Oakland citizens/voters have conflicting primary interests:
Public unions want to maximize their compensation AND maximize their membership (number of City employees!) Government efficiency is not a plus. It's a problem!
Citizens and voters want to pay employees fairly but get efficiency and performance and accountability from their employees. And by efficiency, we all understand that to mean the fewest employees needed to get the work accomplished.
Does anyone NOT see the conflict?
Look at the letters regarding budget problems, lack of accountability, demands to raise pay and hire more employees and to create departments and shift outside work to City departments?
The City government is not sloppy and not incompetent. They are doing exactly what their campaign contributors paid them to do. Raise pay to the sky and increase numbers of employees.
What is so shocking about Oakland is that this corruption in most cities is better hidden to a greater or lesser degree. In Oakland it is open and notorious, much like the current Washington corruption.
Our money is being stolen and they thumb their noses at us and laugh in our faces.
Teddy Roosevelt was one of founders of the American Progressive movement in the early 1900s. He built his party and reputation successfully defeating Boss Tweed and the New York City Hall corruption of Tammany Hall. Real Progressives don't destroy their cities with greed and corruption!
When I read the incisive and thoughtful comments I am heartened and depressed. I am glad there are citizens that don't buy the shameless propaganda from the "elite progressive" class, but deeply angered by the apathy by many citizens for fear of being canceled and labeled. Oakland can be salvaged if we the people stop capitluating.
Thanks to everyone who wrote letters and Oakland Report. These are conversations we need to have. What all these problems call for are real solutions. We need an outside audit of the entire city, non-profits and NGO's. We need to grow Oakland, bring back our businessess, new apprentice programs, bring in new manufacturing. Oakland does not need more taxes, or speeding tickets. As to homelessness, set up real drug and mental illness treatment centers, rebuild East and West Oakland, create real jobs for people. There is more to say, but I will leave it there for now. Mindy Pechenuk, for Oakland Mayor 2026
Oaklandside would NEVER do such a thing….because they are sloppy propaganda for a failing, corrupt and incompetent administration.
Many of these letters are very strong and on point.
But the essential Conflict of Interest remains buried under a heap of ideological misdirection.
Oakland public employee union leadership and Oakland citizens/voters have conflicting primary interests:
Public unions want to maximize their compensation AND maximize their membership (number of City employees!) Government efficiency is not a plus. It's a problem!
Citizens and voters want to pay employees fairly but get efficiency and performance and accountability from their employees. And by efficiency, we all understand that to mean the fewest employees needed to get the work accomplished.
Does anyone NOT see the conflict?
Look at the letters regarding budget problems, lack of accountability, demands to raise pay and hire more employees and to create departments and shift outside work to City departments?
The City government is not sloppy and not incompetent. They are doing exactly what their campaign contributors paid them to do. Raise pay to the sky and increase numbers of employees.
What is so shocking about Oakland is that this corruption in most cities is better hidden to a greater or lesser degree. In Oakland it is open and notorious, much like the current Washington corruption.
Our money is being stolen and they thumb their noses at us and laugh in our faces.
Teddy Roosevelt was one of founders of the American Progressive movement in the early 1900s. He built his party and reputation successfully defeating Boss Tweed and the New York City Hall corruption of Tammany Hall. Real Progressives don't destroy their cities with greed and corruption!
When I read the incisive and thoughtful comments I am heartened and depressed. I am glad there are citizens that don't buy the shameless propaganda from the "elite progressive" class, but deeply angered by the apathy by many citizens for fear of being canceled and labeled. Oakland can be salvaged if we the people stop capitluating.
Thanks to everyone who wrote letters and Oakland Report. These are conversations we need to have. What all these problems call for are real solutions. We need an outside audit of the entire city, non-profits and NGO's. We need to grow Oakland, bring back our businessess, new apprentice programs, bring in new manufacturing. Oakland does not need more taxes, or speeding tickets. As to homelessness, set up real drug and mental illness treatment centers, rebuild East and West Oakland, create real jobs for people. There is more to say, but I will leave it there for now. Mindy Pechenuk, for Oakland Mayor 2026