Oakland city council argues over budget amendments and declares a "severe and unanticipated financial event" for the fourth year in a row, ten days after voters rejected Measure E.
Oakland and Berkeley City Councils and City Managers simply refuse to do what must be done. I don’t know how many employees Oakland has but CoB has in the neighborhood of 1300 known to be among the highest number of employees per capita (in relation to residents) in the state and possibly the country. You’re telling me that you can’t meaningfully identify where cuts need to be made in headcounts in both Cities? Berkeley’s list of positions to cut is laughably meager. Sounds like no-one is willing to do the hard work in Oakland either. The corrupt union to City Council member pipeline where the CMs are indebted to the unions for their own employment is a huge part of the problem that both cities have when it comes to meaningfully cutting the fat, so to speak. I commend Oakland Report and Sean Reinhart for keeping the heat on these inept and corrupt politicians and the SEIU machine, heaven knows our local online media such as Oaklandside and Berkeleyside don’t have the guts or the skill to put their finger on the problem and call it out.
Thank you for your comment. Notably, mayor Barbara Lee claimed during the Measure E campaign that the new tax was needed in order to open the senior centers five days per week instead of four.
After the Measure E tax was rejected by Oakland voters, the council found $200,000 to direct to the senior centers after all.
Below is a link to a video of Lee’s remarks about senior centers at a Yes on E campaign rally before the election.
At the same rally, firefighters union boss Seth Olyer claimed that Measure E was needed in order to replace fire trucks, and repeatedly made statements that fire service would be cut if the measure did not pass.
After the tax failed, council member Zac Unger, a former firefighters union boss, announced yesterday that he and other council members had found $2.4 million to buy two new fire trucks after all.
It will be interesting to see what else they will “find” money for. If there were a polymarket listing for this I would put a substantial bet down on “we found money to give the unions raises even though we said it was contingent on measure E passing!”
Oakland and Berkeley City Councils and City Managers simply refuse to do what must be done. I don’t know how many employees Oakland has but CoB has in the neighborhood of 1300 known to be among the highest number of employees per capita (in relation to residents) in the state and possibly the country. You’re telling me that you can’t meaningfully identify where cuts need to be made in headcounts in both Cities? Berkeley’s list of positions to cut is laughably meager. Sounds like no-one is willing to do the hard work in Oakland either. The corrupt union to City Council member pipeline where the CMs are indebted to the unions for their own employment is a huge part of the problem that both cities have when it comes to meaningfully cutting the fat, so to speak. I commend Oakland Report and Sean Reinhart for keeping the heat on these inept and corrupt politicians and the SEIU machine, heaven knows our local online media such as Oaklandside and Berkeleyside don’t have the guts or the skill to put their finger on the problem and call it out.
Fife is delaying the opening because she wants to cut the ribbon. The center is open and ready and has been for week. Exposing this today
Thank you for your comment. Notably, mayor Barbara Lee claimed during the Measure E campaign that the new tax was needed in order to open the senior centers five days per week instead of four.
After the Measure E tax was rejected by Oakland voters, the council found $200,000 to direct to the senior centers after all.
Below is a link to a video of Lee’s remarks about senior centers at a Yes on E campaign rally before the election.
At the same rally, firefighters union boss Seth Olyer claimed that Measure E was needed in order to replace fire trucks, and repeatedly made statements that fire service would be cut if the measure did not pass.
After the tax failed, council member Zac Unger, a former firefighters union boss, announced yesterday that he and other council members had found $2.4 million to buy two new fire trucks after all.
https://www.oaklandreport.org/p/mayor-barbara-lee-that-is-a-plan
It will be interesting to see what else they will “find” money for. If there were a polymarket listing for this I would put a substantial bet down on “we found money to give the unions raises even though we said it was contingent on measure E passing!”