Interim Oakland Mayor Kevin Jenkins hires 2 deputies

With just a few weeks left as an interim mayor, Kevin Jenkins has appointed two deputy mayors.

Jenkins introduced final Wednesday that he’s taking Laniece Jones and Burt Jones (no relationship) as deputy mayors to assist with quick -term tasks “targeted on cleaner and safer communities”.

“With the upcoming funds course of that requires my full consideration, I’m grateful that I’ve to step into Laniece and Burt in these key roles,” Jenkins wrote in a press assertion. The interim mayor didn’t reply to an interview request. “Their management will assist promote important initiatives that make our neighborhood safer and cleaner.”

Oakland is at present with no everlasting mayor as a result of voters recalled Sheng Thao final November. In January, the town council appointed Jenkins Interim Burgemeester – A place he’ll take till residents select a brand new mayor to finish what the Thao interval would have been, till 2026, at what level Jenkins will return to the town council. The particular election is deliberate for 15 April.

As an interim mayor, Jenkins is a funds for the following two-year cycle that begins on July 1. He’s anticipated to make the design funds on Could 1.

The upcoming funds is usually anticipated to introduce painful cuts within the departments to stability a deficit of $ 265 million for the following two tax years. Town has already taken price -saving measures to deal with a deficit within the present tax 12 months. This included dozens of fired for metropolis employees.

In line with the mayor’s workplace, Laniece Jones has been employed as a full -time non permanent worker. A spokesperson stated that she is going to provide the mayor common workers member, together with: “Supporting the presence of the mayor and in his absence in actions for neighborhood involvement” and “attending conferences and occasions as his designated consultant and providing element communication and help.”

The mayor’s workplace didn’t present any details about the job of Burt Jones or his particular duties.

Laniece Jones is the founding father of a advertising and public relations firm situated in Oakland in Oakland La Jones & Associates. Jones beforehand served as a marketing consultant of the chairman of the Californian legislative Black Caucus, and for that was the chief director of the Peralta lectures Basis. She was not too long ago collectively in favor of the political advisory committee of former congress member Barbara Lee and in 2020 Lee appointed her as one of many voters of California who launched votes within the Kiescollege. In 2021, then-Meeting member Rob Bonta appointed her as a consultant for an assemblage district.

Jones can also be a member of the African American Sports & Entertainment Group. This non-public developer has an settlement with the town to purchase Oakland’s curiosity within the Coliseum for $ 125 million. This deal was inked final 12 months, however was delayed a number of occasions, probably the most not too long ago as a result of the Alameda County Board of Supervisors didn’t approve the switch of the curiosity of the province within the property.

The Oakland funds is now not linked to this transaction. However metropolis officers nonetheless need to see the deal persevering with, in order that Oakland can harvest the windfall. Jenkins not too long ago expressed his concern that the buyers of Aaseg maybe pull out of the venture if the sale isn’t rapidly accomplished.

A spokesperson for the mayor stated that Lanieze Jones has no monetary curiosity within the metropolis or the Coliseum acquisition of the province, and that she isn’t concerned in negotiations or conferences with regard to authorities buying and selling with Aaseg.

Burt Jones comes from West Oakland and in response to his LinkedIn run an organization referred to as Paragon Administration and Consulting Firm that focuses on artists and entrepreneurs. Final 12 months he additionally served as a marketing campaign chief for supervisor Nate Miley and as a judicial intern for the California Legislative Black Caucus Policy Institute. In line with the town’s press launch, Jones additionally labored for the black girls for political motion. He’s at present nonetheless talked about as an assistant to a supervisor on Miley’s District 4 Page.

The mayor’s workplace has not shared whether or not Burt Jones additionally works as a full -time non permanent worker.

The mayor’s workplace didn’t say how a lot the 2 deputy mayor will probably be paid.