Video: Oakland mayoral candidates wrestle with city budget, public safety and arts funding

Residents of Oakland give deep about the way forward for their metropolis.

A lot was clear from the offered -out, concerned crowd on the Mayoral Candidate Discussion board of the Oaklandside on Wednesday night at Castlemont Excessive Faculty.

For 2 sounding hours, seven candidates tried to show for the town’s prime workplace that they’re greatest outfitted to deal with probably the most troublesome challenges in Oakland, from worries about public security to the funds deficit and shrinking assist for artwork.

Rosucena Rasilla, Roselyn Romero and Eli Wolfe Oaklandside Reporters Azucena Rasilla, have the candidates punctuated with a variety of questions, not protecting them answerable for statements from the previous and positions that aren’t nicely outdated. When drawing up our questions for the candidates, we impressed the greater than 500 Oaklanders who submitted a query prematurely that they wished to ask.

Right here is a few of which now we have requested the mayor hopeful:

• Their plans to enhance security regardless of the dearth of monetary sources of the town
• How they may steadiness Oakland’s funds and generate new revenue
• Whether or not Oakland ought to change his method to managing homeless camps
• How can Oakland proceed to assist artwork, regardless of the arduous financial instances we fell

Whereas most real solutions gave, just a few tangible options provided.

The candidates current have been Barbara Lee, Mindy Pechenuk, Suz Robinson, Eric Simpson, Elizabeth Swaney, Loren Taylor and Renia Webb.

About 900 individuals voted down remotely to the discussion board Op Zoom.

A part of the discussion board was aimed on the new federal authorities and the threats of President Donald Trump to withhold financing of sanctuary corresponding to Oakland. Ximena Loeza, reporter of our companion Newsroom El TímpanoThe questions of the candidates who’ve been submitted by their viewers from Latino and Maya immigrants in Oakland.

The discussion board ended with a query submitted by a reader of Oaklandside, a query that’s in all probability within the heads of many individuals. “Being a mayor looks as if an unimaginable, thankless job,” they mentioned. “Why would you like it?”

Missed the occasion? View your entire discussion board within the video beneath. For those who choose audio, you possibly can take heed to our companion Kalw’s Recording of the evening.

Discover extra in -depth protection of the particular elections of 15 April from the Oaklandsside. Tell us what questions you could have and what you wish to see from our report when the election day is approaching.

View the Full Oakland Mayoral Candidate Discussion board

We’ve additionally made a cheat sheet to make use of whilst you look. It provides a fast overview of issues to know concerning the candidates and the matters and challenges that the subsequent mayor is confronted with.