Make Oakland Better Now! (MOBN!) is concerned that the actions required to balance the budget will be harmful to essential city services. Therefore, in adopting a budget, we recommend that the Mayor and City Council observe the following priorities:
The budget must make Oakland safer: Public Safety is the first priority in this budget.
Oakland is currently experiencing a crime wave as measured by any statistical measure. We are reminded of this every day by the crime constantly occurring all around us.
Following are our recommendations to the Oakland City Council:
- Maintain a robust police force of at least the 726 officers as funded in the mid-cycle budget adjustment. This includes staffing and funding the four academies required to insure 726 officers. The Department of Violence Prevention must be organized and fully funded as an essential part of a robust response to crime. The Ceasefire Program must be fully implemented. We recommend MACRO be utilized to respond to 911 calls as determined to be appropriate. We support the proposed change to civilianize police internal investigations and transfer that responsibility to the Police Commission.
- The Council and Administration must identify other savings or sources of income to maintain vital public safety services. Every option must be considered.
- Fully fund homelessness programs as an essential part of the budget. This also requires close coordination with Alameda County and adopting a single plan with the County to guide homelessness services. The MOU approach used in Sacramento between the City and County provides a model.
- The Council must closely examine the projected Real Estate Transfer Tax revenue estimate in light of current economic conditions including lowered residential sales and the potential over supply of commercial properties to determine if the current revenues estimates may be too optimistic. Because of the volatility of this tax the Council should in the future consider revising the Consolidated fiscal policy to devote a greater percent of the tax to the Rainy Day fund (Vital Services Stabilization Fund) or other programs to address the city’s long-term unfunded liabilities.
- No new positions should be created and funded in the budget unless essential to implementing budget priorities. If new positions are identified as necessary in the long term they should be created but not funded until the city’s financial position improves.
- Implementing the above priorities will require more resources. Oakland must make it a priority to seek Federal, State, County, and private sector funding to maintain our essential services. The Council must create at least one new position or redirect an existing position to be fully committed to seeking additional funding.
- The Council must examine the unfunded liabilities of $2.14 billion with a goal of adopting a solution to this challenge.
- It is essential that the Council address the long-term structural budget deficit that has faced the city for years. This requires a deep and immediate review to determine all of the possible actions which could resolve this issue including economic development, added revenues, changes in the manner of providing services, and addressing the long-term unfunded liabilities. This must be an exhaustive review. We recommend the Administration and Council create a broad-based ad hoc commission to examine all aspects of the city’s financial situation. The Council must commit to place those recommendations of the Commission requiring voter action on the ballot.
- The Mayor, City Council, City Staff and Oaklanders must act together to solve the city’s challenging financial situation.
MOBN! commits to support and assist in accomplishing these priorities. We urge all Oaklanders to join in the effort to ensure vital services are preserved and our city becomes solvent for the long term.
I’m puzzled. You recommend a large increase in the OPD budget yet identify no ways to cut spending. This doesn’t sound like a feasible budget at all.
As President of the Coalition for a Better Oakland, I commend MOBN for their diligent analysis of the city’s budget problems. I don’t agree with each of your points. In particular I have doubts about the violence prevention programs, which I don’t see working. I also believe OPD needs a minimum of 900 officers, and while that number may currently be fiscally unrealistic, that should not prohibit us from speaking truth. Public safety must always be our number one concern. Thank you.
Comments on MOBN analysis. Thanks for the work on this, although wish MOBN was more aggressive in its advocacy, including answering emails….
Maintain a robust police force of at least the 726 officers as funded in the mid-cycle budget adjustment. This includes staffing and funding the four academies required to insure 726 officers.
What happened to the promise of 800 officers behind the marketing of Measure Z ? Why 726… what
analysis comparing Oakland with other CA cities of officers to populations, officers to crime, officers to
911 calls, etc support 726. ? Since Oakland is losing 5 – 6 sworn office per month, meaning 120
officers need to be hired in the next two years just to stay at current levels.
The Department of Violence Prevention must be organized and fully funded as an essential part of a robust response to crime.
The department of violence prevention has done nothing for four years, except overpaying Cespedes,
who then quit. The headcount of this department should be folded into 911 team and OPD
The Ceasefire Program must be fully implemented.
Completely agree, and ceasefire must continue strict enforcement along with counseling,
alternative avenues to crime, etc.
We recommend MACRO be utilized to respond to 911 calls as determined to be appropriate.
Maybe. Macro should be CLOSELEY monitored for results with a an effective process to move
funding if mental health related issues is not decreasing. It is not clear at all there is a substantial
amount of mental health related issues that will be solved by this process.
We support the proposed change to civilianize police internal investigations and transfer that responsibility to the Police Commission.
Maybe. Have not seen any evidence of competent management of the police commission, and now
they cannot fill vacancies on the commission. Not to mention the bizarre requirement that
commissioners have NO police experience
The Council and Administration must identify other savings or sources of income to maintain vital public safety services. Every option must be considered.
Ok, The 2019 internal audit report on Oakland finances found that Oakland has the HIGHEST
taxation per citizen of any similar sized city in California. Perhaps no strings attached long term
funding from Federal or State would work. But any solution needs to include action to reduce the
ridiculous level of compensation for city employees – median compensation of 190k
Fully fund homelessness programs as an essential part of the budget. This also requires close coordination with Alameda County and adopting a single plan with the County to guide homelessness services. The MOU approach used in Sacramento between the City and County provides a model.
Not confident that any homeless programs at any level of funding will materially impact this
problem. See San Francisco – $700 million. Need to aggressively pursue changing laws to allow
involuntary placement of people that are a danger to themselves or others. See internal auditor
report on homeless program – oh, and the city has had two directors in less than a year… Hmm
The Council must closely examine the projected Real Estate Transfer Tax revenue estimate in light of current economic conditions including lowered residential sales and the potential over supply of commercial properties to determine if the current revenues estimates may be too optimistic. Because of the volatility of this tax the Council should in the future consider revising the Consolidated fiscal policy to devote a greater percent of the tax to the Rainy Day fund (Vital Services Stabilization Fund) or other programs to address the city’s long-term unfunded liabilities.
Completely agree
No new positions should be created and funded in the budget unless essential to implementing budget priorities. If new positions are identified as necessary in the long term they should be created but not funded until the city’s financial position improves.
Completely agree
Implementing the above priorities will require more resources. Oakland must make it a priority to seek Federal, State, County, and private sector funding to maintain our essential services. The Council must create at least one new position or redirect an existing position to be fully committed to seeking additional funding.
Ok…
The Council must examine the unfunded liabilities of $2.14 billion with a goal of adopting a solution to this challenge.
This issue will never be resolved until the state/federal court puts Oakland into receivership
It is essential that the Council address the long-term structural budget deficit that has faced the city for years. This requires a deep and immediate review to determine all of the possible actions which could resolve this issue including economic development, added revenues, changes in the manner of providing services, and addressing the long-term unfunded liabilities. This must be an exhaustive review. We recommend the Administration and Council create a broad-based ad hoc commission to examine all aspects of the city’s financial situation. The Council must commit to place those recommendations of the Commission requiring voter action on the ballot.
The Mayor, City Council, City Staff and Oaklanders must act together to solve the city’s challenging financial situation.
Scott we agree on your comment re 800 police, at least, needed. But this budget presents such huge challenges. The issue on number of officers will be fought out next year when the renewal of Measure Z comes up.
Ed Gerber
There is an error on number of police academies in # 1. It should read 6 academies.
After my comment on MACRO, saw this story posted on Nextdoor, which IMO is very telling about MACRO effectiveness so far. https://www.ktvu.com/news/draftoakland-mobile-crisis-unit-touts-success-but-only-6-of-macro-calls-come-from-911. Also, didn’t realize that MACRO headcount was included into the SEIU… which of course is by far the leading direct contributors to city council political campaigns (not to mention the avalanche of money from affiliated union pacs..). So, as stated, this program deserves INTENSE scrutiny for effectiveness in reducing crime/police activity. Not convinced at all….