We surveyed candidates running for D2 city council on pressing issues. Read their answers

Age: 37

Are you at the moment employed? What’s your present or most up-to-date job?

Sure, Senior Pastor at Williams Chapel Baptist Church

Your most popular pronouns: We

Do you lease your own home? Personal? Different?

I personal residential property apart from my major place of residence.

Have you ever held earlier elected workplace in Oakland or past?

No

Have you ever ever served on an Oakland or Alameda County board or fee?

No

Why are you working for workplace? What may you do as a public official which you could’t do in any other case?

I Merely care in regards to the welfare of Oakland on this darkish hour. I used to be bored with speaking my congregation and group and what have to occur i wished to step out myself. Being on Metropolis Council will permit me to assist make the adjustments wanted realizing i used to be as soon as only a resident asking for adjustments however as D2 Metropolis Council Member I will truly get the job achieved for the folks.

Are there any folks or organizations you gained’t settle for marketing campaign contributions from? If that’s the case, whom?

No Coal In Oakland simply to call one.

What is a matter that D2 uniquely faces or experiences in another way than different districts?

Crime, Intercourse Trafficking, Public Security for small companies.

Oakland’s in a fiscal disaster. The town has already made painful cuts and can doubtless have to make extra. What steps will you are taking throughout this finances cycle to stability town finances?

Value-Slicing Measures Streamline Operations: Cut back waste and enhance effectivity throughout departments.

Selective Cuts: Keep away from across-the-board reductions to guard important companies like public security and housing safety.

Postpone Tasks: Delay non-essential capital tasks and upkeep to save lots of funds.

Income Enhancements Tax Assortment Audits: Gather unpaid enterprise taxes and optimize tax income methods.

Occasion Income: Improve revenue from city-owned venues just like the Oakland Coliseum.

Lengthy-Time period Methods Restructure Companies: Discover merging overlapping departments (e.g., Public Works and OakDOT) for effectivity.

Neighborhood Collaboration: Interact unions and residents to determine sustainable options.

These actions intention to stabilize Oakland’s funds whereas minimizing hurt to crucial companies.

Do you help the gross sales tax measure that’s on the poll? Why or why not?

Want extra research.

Public security is a precedence for a lot of Oakland residents. What are three particular, actionable, and reasonable options you’ll pursue in your first time period to make town and your district safer? 

To enhance public security in Oakland’s District 2, three actionable and reasonable options embody:

Develop Neighborhood Policing and Improve Police Presence: Strengthen relationships between regulation enforcement and residents by increasing group policing initiatives. This contains assigning extra officers to foot patrols in high-crime areas and growing police presence in parks and neighborhoods to discourage crime and improve belief.

Spend money on Crime Prevention Know-how: Leverage instruments like Flock cameras and different surveillance methods to help investigations and deter organized crime, constructing on the success of statewide initiatives which have already proven leads to Oakland.

Improve Visitors and Pedestrian Security: Implement site visitors calming measures, enhance crosswalk visibility, and set up bodily limitations to discourage harmful driving and sideshows.

These steps will make streets safer for pedestrians and drivers alike.

D2 is house to a whole bunch of homeless residents. How ought to Oakland change or enhance the way it addresses the disaster of hundreds of individuals dwelling with out everlasting housing?

To handle the homelessness disaster in Oakland’s District 2, town ought to give attention to three key methods:

1. Develop Interim and Everlasting Housing Options: Make the most of state and native funding, such because the $28 million HHAP grant and Encampment Decision Fund, to create extra interim housing choices like resort conversions and reasonably priced housing tasks, similar to The Refuge Residences. These amenities ought to embody supportive companies like case administration, counseling, and well being care to make sure long-term stability for residents.
2. Improve Emergency Interventions: Scale up low-barrier emergency shelters, protected parking packages, and navigation facilities with 24-hour entry to supply rapid aid for unsheltered people. Packages just like the Lake Merritt Lodge mannequin, which has a low return-to-homelessness fee, reveal the effectiveness of mixing emergency shelter with wrap-around companies.
3. Strengthen Outreach and Preventative Companies: Spend money on cell outreach groups and trauma-informed advocacy to attach unhoused residents with assets like rental help, psychological well being care, and authorized help. Packages like Alameda County’s “Navigate to Housing” and peer outreach initiatives for seniors can function fashions for focused interventions.

Ought to Oakland change the way in which it responds to homeless camps, in mild of the Grants Cross Supreme Court docket determination?

Sure, Oakland ought to alter its strategy to homeless encampments in mild of the Grants Cross Supreme Court docket determination, which permits cities to implement tenting bans even when shelter area is unavailable. Nonetheless, any adjustments should stability enforcement with compassion and housing options. One in all many Really useful Change: Refine Encampment Administration Coverage — Oakland ought to prioritize camps posing well being, security, or infrastructure dangers whereas guaranteeing humane remedy. Mayor Sheng Thao’s govt order already emphasizes this strategy, specializing in camps close to faculties, bike lanes, and demanding infrastructure.

From Lakeshore Avenue to Oakland Chinatown, District 2 is house to distinguished purchasing and eating locations. How would you help the district’s companies and employees?

To help companies and employees in District 2, Oakland can give attention to the next methods:

Strengthen Enterprise Enchancment Districts (BIDs): Collaborate with organizations just like the Oakland Chinatown Enchancment Council to boost cleanliness, security, and advertising for purchasing and eating hubs. These efforts can entice extra guests and create a welcoming surroundings for companies.

Develop Monetary and Technical Help: Make the most of packages just like the Oakland Small Enterprise Resiliency Fund to supply grants and assets to small companies, significantly these impacted by financial challenges or security issues. This contains providing coaching, mentorship, and assist navigating metropolis processes.

Oakland’s final mayor was recalled and indicted. What two particular, actionable issues would you do to develop Oaklanders’ belief in authorities?

To rebuild belief in Oakland’s authorities following the recall and indictment of the final mayor, two particular and actionable steps may embody:

Improve Transparency By way of Citizen Oversight Boards: Set up or strengthen unbiased oversight our bodies, similar to privateness or ethics commissions, with citizen illustration. These boards would assessment authorities selections, contracts, and insurance policies to make sure accountability and transparency. Oakland’s present privateness fee serves as a mannequin for fostering public confidence by legitimizing initiatives via group oversight.

Implement Participatory Budgeting: Interact residents straight in finances selections via participatory budgeting processes. This strategy permits group members to allocate parts of town finances to tasks they prioritize, growing transparency and guaranteeing that funds deal with native wants. Oakland’s Resilient Technique already emphasizes inclusive governance and will develop this mannequin.

President Trump has signed an order going after sanctuary cities and particular person officers who don’t cooperate with immigration enforcement. You’re working for workplace in a sanctuary metropolis the place a earlier mayor was focused by Trump over immigration. How will you strategy problems with immigration and threats from the federal authorities on this subject?

To handle immigration points and federal threats focusing on sanctuary cities like Oakland, listed below are two actionable approaches:

Defend Sanctuary Insurance policies By way of Authorized and Monetary Advocacy: Oakland ought to be a part of lawsuits, as seen with New Haven and San Francisco, to problem federal actions that threaten funding or criminalize sanctuary insurance policies, citing constitutional protections such because the Tenth Modification and due course of rights. Moreover, town can diversify funding sources to cut back reliance on federal funds focused by these insurance policies.

Strengthen Neighborhood Belief and Help for Immigrants: Develop “welcoming metropolis” initiatives by guaranteeing native regulation enforcement doesn’t implement federal immigration legal guidelines, sustaining give attention to public security quite than immigration standing. Improve funding in authorized help, housing, and workforce packages for immigrant communities to counteract federal restrictions on advantages.

Describe your preferrred Oakland weekend. The place are you consuming? How are you spending your free time?

My weekend is with my spouse and kids. I allow them to choose.

Age: 56

Are you at the moment employed? What’s your present or most up-to-date job?

Sure. Lowe Consulting Group, in Enterprise Growth, and Frontier Wealth Methods in Planning

Your most popular pronouns: He/him

Do you lease your own home? Personal? Different?

I personal my major place of residence.

Have you ever held earlier elected workplace in Oakland or past?

No

Have you ever ever served on an Oakland or Alameda County board or fee?

Sure

When you’ve got served on a board or fee, please inform us the place, when, and what place(s).

Chair, Oakland Youth Advisory Fee 1986-1989

Why are you working for workplace? What may you do as a public official which you could’t do in any other case?

The problems that I cared about in 2022 nonetheless must be addressed. I nonetheless consider that our very rapid wants usually are not being prioritized. I didn’t help a discount in regulation enforcement companies, as I noticed that Oakland was in the midst of a criminal offense wave, and we had not signaled to the group that we have been ready to satisfy the problem. Final month, we had 13 murders, and dozens of different violent incidents, so we’re nonetheless in want. I talked in regards to the intercourse trafficking years in the past, and now we see it coming to a boiling level with residents.

As a group particular person and candidate, I advocated for funding, engagement and help in Chinatown, Jack London, and the Little Saigon districts, and there nonetheless is not any work occurring right here. Not even I thought-about that we’d lose an In-N-Out the way in which that we did. I advocated management accountability to the residents. I used to be very clear about how I noticed the Mayor and the Council President not being forthright with Oakland, and the way a tradition of insiders was eroding belief and goodwill. I mentioned that I knew the A’s scenario was going to be a debacle as a result of I’ve been speaking with the A’s and so they didn’t belief our leaders. I consider I advised you in 2022 that Oakland can be confronted with shedding 15% of its workforce to stability the finances, and right here we’re…. I fairly frankly am drained of people that hold coming in from the skin suggesting options which can’t work as a result of they don’t know Oakland, or cramming in concepts solely meant to additional their careers.

I need Oakland to be the wonderful metropolis it needs to be, and I haven’t seen anybody with my mixture of labor, life, management, or institutional expertise working so I’m. I’ve participated as a pacesetter in most actions one can do as a citizen: enterprise teams and organizations, affinity orgs, nonprofit management, the humanities, psychological well being, youth organizations, Oakland Faculties, Metropolis Fee, county advisory, and so on., none of which enabled residents like me to affect the management to make basic coverage shifts to enhance town. I do know the impression that our Council could make in coverage which might set the social, financial and cultural tone of the Metropolis, and I need to take part in that.

Are there any folks or organizations you gained’t settle for marketing campaign contributions from? If that’s the case, whom?

I’ve made it a basic follow to not search contributions from people who find themselves in litigation with the Metropolis.

What is a matter that D2 uniquely faces or experiences in another way than different districts?

We’ve skilled a monetary meltdown in a drastically scary method, and much faster than different districts in Oakland, and it hit hardest amongst our immigrant and small enterprise communities. Whereas different districts can level to heavy business, we’re the leisure district of Oakland, so we’re depending on infrastructure and the general public feeling protected to dine and store.

Having a densely populated district largely bordered by two freeways, the character of our crime is escalated in nearly each neighborhood as residents are subjected to violence by perpetrators who typically can escape shortly. The dearth of enforcement towards intercourse work has made these actions migrate and proliferate in our district in methods which are unprecedented.

The unhoused are sometimes hidden or have remoted enclaves in different districts, however in District 2 they typically dwell among the many residents and in our gathering locations, and the psychological challenges of those residents typically create worry and battle with residents and sure patrons of enterprise.

Our sideshow tradition is the biggest within the metropolis, and also you’ll see or hear exercise on the Lake and Eastlake neighborhood areas weekly after hours.

Oakland’s in a fiscal disaster. The town has already made painful cuts and can doubtless have to make extra. What steps will you are taking throughout this finances cycle to stability town finances?

Effectively, we first have to have transparency and function. We noticed what occurred on the Federal stage when folks reflexively minimize the finances. I’ll prioritize between the issues we need to have vs. the features we have to must function town. I need the Metropolis Auditor to focus a precedence effort in reviewing departmental finances and operational practices, and to audit our funds. If departments should expertise cuts, then all of us have to share in that burden, together with Metropolis Council. The arguments of refinancing the debt usually are not doubtless, however we hold listening to this narrative as an choice. I labored for an funding banking agency inside Frank Ogawa Plaza close to Metropolis Corridor and I’ve consulted with finance individuals who made muni offers. Of us are sharing a nasty narrative as a result of they haven’t realized that Oakland’s credit standing has fallen, with a drop from secure to adverse outlook on our future. The notion that we are able to cajole the County to provide us their reserve cash to prop up Oakland when the County could expertise important State finances cuts, and at a time when Oakland is just not a superb associate to the County isn’t logical. We have to not be within the enterprise of paying for associate organizations to exist, however quite to supply help to those that can stand on their very own. I’m involved that there’s a proliferation of jobs in housing and different companies which don’t appear to be crucial. However there have to be a dialog with labor, and its unavoidable.

Do you help the gross sales tax measure that’s on the poll? Why or why not?

I don’t help the tax measure. It’s a regressive tax, the individuals who have the least to pay shall be burdened. The tax is not going to do something to bail us out on this finances yr, and is unlikely for use subsequent yr, and I didn’t need to help a brand new tax with out first fixing the issues with our finances course of. Lastly, if we all know that we’re having a tough time in attracting and retaining enterprise in Oakland, we should always have decrease taxes than the cities round us to draw folks to buy in Oakland.

Public security is a precedence for a lot of Oakland residents. What are three particular, actionable, and reasonable options you’ll pursue in your first time period to make town and your district safer? 

I’m glad you requested what was reasonable. I don’t know why candidates with no public security backgrounds hold getting requested questions on what we’ll do to battle crime. Many of the options I see and listen to are unrealistic, and it’s like we’re making it up as we discuss. It retains turning into a recipe for catastrophe as a result of it’s like an ideological query, and infrequently the solutions I’m listening to come from private ache or an expectation of unfair intent and never frequent sense or sound coverage. As Councilmembers, we’re prohibited from interfering with workers, however this space of governance appears to be the final word interference. We aren’t anticipated to inform folks within the libraries what to do, which regularly occurs in much less liberal cities. Even with the challenges up to now, we aren’t geared up to inform what regulation enforcement must do to battle crime. We have to interact the people who find themselves entrusted to do the job; my restricted vary comes from quite a lot of research and the counsel of two former police chiefs. They’ve prompt that we’d like 1100 officers, that they want to have the ability to implement the legal guidelines, that we’d like an energetic group presence, and we’d like higher documentation methods to maintain officers on the streets and never behind desks. With that in thoughts, including an extra police academy to make up for our attrition, permitting officers to arrest these soliciting intercourse employees (and suing the state if essential to make it occur), permitting officers to cease automobiles with out correct license plates or registration, to encourage officer/group engagement and to carry again group policing, and doing a dive into technology-based options which might help security actions can have reasonable outcomes.

D2 is house to a whole bunch of homeless residents. How ought to Oakland change or enhance the way it addresses the disaster of hundreds of individuals dwelling with out everlasting housing?

We should first decide what everlasting housing truly means. If the typical unhoused particular person is 48, we merely don’t have the assets to help somebody for 25 years completely. Everlasting housing needs to be prioritized for many who are actively employed and households with kids, or for many who are unable to be employed attributable to age or incapacity, and our transitional housing needs to be to help those that are in search of to be employed.

Oakland makes it more and more tough for small traders and property homeowners to create new housing inventory. The ADU necessities want an overhaul. There must be a strategy to shield people who find themselves offering housing which are overburdened with purple tape and metropolis charges.

I’m nervous that the individuals who had mishaps on their properties are being assessed with empty lot charges, impression charges, again taxes so insurmountable that they couldn’t afford to construct on these properties in the event that they tried, and people persons are typically African American. It’s not worthwhile for bigger scale builders to construct low-income housing, and even when it might be constructed, we don’t have sufficient center class housing for our metropolis workers and expert professionals.

I’m not a proponent of the concentrated poverty that low-income housing creates, significantly in a metropolis with concentrated crime. We should discover a means to create combined used housing; it gives the perfect range amongst our resident inhabitants and might permit for encouragement of growth.

Ought to Oakland change the way in which it responds to homeless camps, in mild of the Grants Cross Supreme Court docket determination?

After we search for information to find out the character of our homeless inhabitants, i.e.; variety of folks from Oakland vs the Bay space, variety of folks with psychological sickness, variety of folks succumbing to dependancy, the data typically factors to Oakland being answerable for supporting quite than giving us information to discover ways to mitigate the disaster.

If stories are true that 90% of the homeless haven’t any job, then there isn’t a value for housing that they will afford. The difficulty right here is just not reasonably priced housing, however it’s extra about the way to finest help people who find themselves damaged. I don’t know if that’s the job of 1 metropolis, however I do know that even probably the most liberal ones have deserted that position as a result of it isn’t sustainable.

I grew up going to Grants Cross typically as a scout and with my grandparents on highway journeys, and I do know from experiences that this area in Oregon allowed folks to dwell there with little or no restrictions. Berkeley banned motor properties a number of years in the past (which subsequently moved to Oakland) and commenced shifting out its largest encampments in June 2021, one yr into the pandemic.

The encampment experiment because it at the moment exists is over. It doesn’t work right here. Not one of the options offered by organizations such because the Bay Space Council Financial Institute supply something Oakland can do both.

I’ve seen a couple of extra discouraging research; final yr solely a 3rd of SF’s homeless accepted shelter when supplied. Solely 1 / 4 of the homeless folks surveyed in SF have been attributable to job loss, and solely 1 / 4 of the homeless individuals who got here from exterior SF to town arrived with the aim of in search of jobs. We’ve got lots of people invested on this unhoused business in Oakland, together with Oakland management, realizing we can’t meet this second. It’s merciless to the folks struggling on the road, and it’s altering to the housed inhabitants which should alter to an alternate group which collectively doesn’t abide by metropolis guidelines and conventional social practices.

With that, Oakland should leverage areas the place folks could be housed humanely whereas now not permitting for folks dwelling in environmentally hazardous areas on the streets and in our parks. The unused downtown jail, which closed six years in the past, needs to be transformed from a spot of ache to a spot of promise. We must always be capable of elevate up 800 hundred folks from the streets to working water and electrical energy, now, and with the conversion of previous admin areas, one other 200, and nonetheless have rooms for inner help companies. When folks don’t take Oakland or Alameda County or group group’s companies, it presents important danger to town areas, our companies, our susceptible aged and youth.

From Lakeshore Avenue to Oakland Chinatown, District 2 is house to distinguished purchasing and eating locations. How would you help the district’s companies and employees? 

If residents and companies are protected and the streets and lighting are mounted, these locations will thrive.

Now, there are six financial zones inside the district that I’ve recognized, and even with public security enforcement, the Worldwide/Foothill/East 18th and 14th Avenue corridors will nonetheless want capital funding. I’ve a 10-point plan to help the revitalization of Chinatown, and I’ve a HOPE plan to draw jobs and alternative for enterprise and employees.

Being a Port district, we have now a chance to collaborate with the Port on its leased lands and search for elevated housing alongside our boundaries of the estuary, away from the maritime business.

Loads on this marketing campaign path has been mentioned about going after grants, and that isn’t good enterprise coverage, nor will it occur with the finances cuts on the State and Federal ranges. Having decreased or eradicated metropolis taxes for small companies, slowing down site visitors on the principle streets, growing availability of parking/free parking, leveraging enterprise funding relationships.

Oakland’s final mayor was recalled and indicted. What two particular, actionable issues would you do to develop Oaklanders’ belief in authorities?

First, not interact in criminality. Subsequent, not deal with folks as insignificant by dismissing them and ignoring them, or considering that we have now all of the solutions. Oakland residents, particularly long-term ones, consider that the management is crammed with out of towners coming right here to benefit from us, and so they really feel this manner with good purpose. I’ve a monitor file of long-term dedication in the neighborhood and independence from particular curiosity teams, and I gained’t have to show myself like half of the candidates who moved right here within the final 4 years.

The subsequent response is to be current, accountable and open. I’ll have workplace hours, host month-to-month boards, and create a District Cupboard made up of a dozen resident advisors which replicate the district’s teams. In contrast to different candidates, I typically interact folks on social media, and whereas I do know it may be a recipe for catastrophe, it does present folks that I’m prepared to reply straight and tackle the robust questions and hearken to those that usually are not proud of authorities, or me.

President Trump has signed an order going after sanctuary cities and particular person officers who don’t cooperate with immigration enforcement. You’re working for workplace in a sanctuary metropolis the place a earlier mayor was focused by Trump over immigration. How will you strategy problems with immigration and threats from the federal authorities on this subject?

I advised 50 folks in an viewers within the Clinton Park discussion board that I couldn’t be the descendant of slaves who sought freedom and sanctuary from an oppressive South, solely to show my again on these immediately who’re in search of freedom as effectively. I don’t belief this administration to do the fitting factor, so I assume if the time comes, they’ll see Oakland in courtroom.

Describe your preferrred Oakland weekend. The place are you consuming? How are you spending your free time?

I assume it is determined by who’s paying…..and it is determined by the time of yr.

The good half about Oakland is that there’s not one factor I can level to. Each weekend one thing is occurring.

Now the perfect weekends I’ve had currently are being on the Chinatown Parade and the Black Pleasure Parade, the place hundreds of individuals come collectively to only be, going to the Oakland Zoo lights in January, or the lights competition at Lake Merritt.

On slower weeks, it undoubtedly entails me in Jack London being an enormous wine and small beer man visiting the Brooklyn West and the breweries, and also you’ll discover me consuming typically down there on the Home of Hen and Waffles or Everett and Jones massive time.

After which there are the pizza locations..I’m a HUGE fan of City Fare, and since I like going to the OMCA it’s a win-win.

Then there are the three spots I eat in Chinatown, and when my youngsters come again from school, we regularly store on the markets there.

Mountain climbing within the Oakland Hills is wonderful and lets me reconnect to how stunning the total City is. I attempt to do a 3-mile hike at the least as soon as per week.

Age: 44

Are you at the moment employed? What’s your present or most up-to-date job?

Sure, I’m at the moment employed because the proprietor of Howden Market, a small enterprise in downtown Oakland that I’ve operated since 2015. I additionally owned Spice Monkey Restaurant & Bar from 2007 till it closed through the pandemic in 2020. As an area entrepreneur, I’ve confronted the identical challenges as many District 2 residents—crime, financial uncertainty, and paperwork—and I’m working to carry that real-world expertise to Metropolis Corridor.

Your most popular pronouns: She/Her

Do you lease your own home? Personal? Different?

I lease my residence in Chinatown, dwelling alongside many District 2 voters who lease, whereas additionally proudly owning industrial property in Oakland. This offers me a firsthand understanding of renters’ challenges—like rising prices—and the duties of property possession. As a small enterprise proprietor who’s navigated these realities, I’m able to battle for reasonably priced housing and tenant protections that strengthen our complete group.

Have you ever held earlier elected workplace in Oakland or past?

No

Have you ever ever served on an Oakland or Alameda County board or fee?

No

When you’ve got served on a board or fee, please inform us the place, when, and what place(s).

No, however as a enterprise proprietor and energetic group member of 20 years I’ve appeared and spoken on quite a few points together with the significance of public security on the Police Fee City Corridor, election integrity points in entrance of the Alameda County Board of Supervisors and Election Fee and at in Metropolis Council chambers at Metropolis Corridor on dashing up the constructing of reasonably priced housing.

Why are you working for workplace? What may you do as a public official which you could’t do in any other case?

I’m working for Oakland Metropolis Council as a result of I’ve skilled my neighbors’ struggles firsthand—whether or not it’s the break-ins or automobile crash into my enterprise, Howden Market, or town’s failure to help us in instances of disaster. When my father, a founding father of human rights in my beginning nation of Cambodia handed away in 2023, town refused to research his dying citing restricted resources-leaving my household annoyed and in search of solutions. This failure to supply probably the most primary companies after we wanted them most, left me enthusiastic about different families-and why I selected to run for workplace and DO SOMETHING.

As a small enterprise proprietor, Air Pressure veteran, and Cambodian immigrant who’s known as Oakland house for many years, I’ll carry a sensible perspective to addressing rising crime, housing shortages, and financial growth. With my expertise managing funds and bouncing again after the quite a few setbacks which have closed dozens of lengthy standing companies round mine—I’ve the talent and confirmed resilience to satisfy our metropolis’s challenges. Whereas some lean on easy ideologies as an alternative choice to efficient governance, I’m battle examined and confirmed to get Oakland via the approaching years. As a councilmember, I can assist enact actual change—boosting police patrols in Chinatown, chopping purple tape for companies, addressing intercourse trafficking and unlawful dumping in Clinton and San Antonio whereas legislating to develop reasonably priced housing for Bella Vista households. I’ll prioritize directing funding for disaster help companies—so no household endures what mine did. I’m dedicated to making sure District 2 serves all of our seniors, households and companies all through our splendidly numerous communities. I’m right here to ship outcomes, not simply recycled guarantees.

Are there any folks or organizations you gained’t settle for marketing campaign contributions from? If that’s the case, whom?

I don’t settle for particular curiosity affect, whether or not unions with their vested curiosity of their upcoming contracts negotiations, or the tech and actual property billionaires lining as much as oppose them with funding these shiny flyers about to replenish our mailboxes for the following six weeks. I’m funded by, and represented by, you-the particular person voter. Our nation was primarily based upon the precept of 1 particular person, one vote. Now, greater than ever, we have to protect this sanctity of democracy that’s at the moment underneath risk. This implies cash must get out of politics, together with right here in Oakland.

What is a matter that D2 uniquely faces or experiences in another way than different districts?

One challenge that District 2 uniquely faces in comparison with different districts in Oakland is the extreme stress on its industrial corridors, significantly in Chinatown and alongside Grand and Lakeshore avenues, attributable to its central location and numerous financial exercise. In contrast to extra residential or industrial-focused districts, D2 struggles with a better focus of vacant storefronts, unlawful dumping, and pedestrian security issues. I’ve lived this actuality—strolling these streets, elevating my household, continually being burglarized and, like others, had a automobile crash via my storefront—practically placing myself and workers out of labor. In Chinatown, the place I dwell, older residents really feel unsafe attributable to crime and might’t simply entry metropolis assist due to language limitations. Their longtime household companies battle to remain afloat amid rising prices and lack of foot site visitors. Close by, Lake Merritt sees heavy foot site visitors however lacks enough infrastructure similar to ample crosswalks or site visitors calming measures to assist guests and locals really feel protected. These points differ from the San Antonio neighborhood, the place intercourse trafficking and gun violence, together with graffiti, blight and fire-prone encampments require coordinated help from metropolis companies.

When elected, I’ll prioritize increasing the group ambassador program to boost security and cleanliness, streamlining permits to fill vacant storefronts with native companies, and pushing for site visitors security upgrades like higher lighting and crosswalks and improved enforcement of our site visitors legal guidelines. I’ll associate with our public security management on making actual progress on these points, together with wildfire danger for our neighbors in industrial areas and the hills. With my lived expertise on these points, I’m wanting ahead to turning these challenges into alternatives to make our neighborhoods safer and extra pleasant for each locals and guests alike.

Oakland’s in a fiscal disaster. The town has already made painful cuts and can doubtless have to make extra. What steps will you are taking throughout this finances cycle to stability town finances?

I’ll battle for a balanced strategy that prioritizes what our district wants, not simply what’s best to chop. I’ll shield core companies—public security, avenue upkeep, and small enterprise help—as a result of moms like me want protected streets for our children, and my retailer can’t survive extra neglect. I’ll push to streamline paperwork, like dashing up permits, to get income flowing from new companies with out elevating taxes on struggling households. Second, I’ll demand transparency: audit each division, minimize waste, and redirect funds to the place they’re felt—like multilingual outreach for our numerous group, not top-heavy administrative prices. Lastly, I’ll advocate for public-private partnerships to fund what town can’t. I’ve seen town fail my household and my enterprise. I gained’t let it fail our future. We should stability our metropolis’s monetary priorities by specializing in the folks, not simply numbers, and ship an trustworthy finances for Oakland. Our households deserve transparency, not corruption.

Do you help the gross sales tax measure that’s on the poll? Why or why not?

Don’t be fooled by one more tax enhance that’s presupposed to pay for the issues it says. It will go proper into Oakland’s basic fund with out being required for use for.

Oakland’s already bleeding households and small companies dry—$130 million within the gap, and piling on extra taxes simply kicks them after they’re down. As a pacesetter who studied finance, I do know taxing residents and companies extra gained’t simply sluggish our financial restoration—it’ll hold enabling prior management’s misprioritization of spending and budgeting duties. I balanced budgets at Howden Market by chopping waste, not squeezing extra from struggling folks. Measure A’s $20 million ‘promise’ lacks transparency—the place’s it actually going? Voters deserve a metropolis that lives inside its means, not one slapping bandaids on dangerous spending. So I stand with nearly all of D2 residents and small companies and say “NO!” to this gross sales tax measure. It’s time Metropolis Corridor works with the big finances they have already got.

Public security is a precedence for a lot of Oakland residents. What are three particular, actionable, and reasonable options you’ll pursue in your first time period to make town and your district safer? 

Public security is a prime precedence for me and for the residents of District 2. In my first time period, I’ll give attention to three particular, actionable, and reasonable options to make Oakland safer:

Improve Foot Patrols and Neighborhood Policing: I’ll work to develop foot patrols in key enterprise districts like Chinatown, Lakeshore, and Jack London Sq.. A visual police presence not solely deters crime but in addition builds belief between regulation enforcement and the group. I’ll advocate for a finances that prioritizes hiring and retaining officers particularly for community-based assignments.

Help Violence Prevention Packages: I’ll strengthen partnerships with confirmed violence prevention and intervention packages, similar to Oakland’s Division of Violence Prevention and native nonprofits. These packages play a crucial position in addressing the foundation causes of crime by providing assets and help to at-risk youth and previously incarcerated people.

Enhance Lighting and Infrastructure: Many areas of District 2 are poorly lit, creating alternatives for crime. I’ll push for infrastructure enhancements, together with higher avenue lighting, clear and well-maintained public areas, and safer crosswalks. Easy environmental adjustments can considerably improve public security and high quality of life.

By combining regulation enforcement presence, group engagement, and good infrastructure, I consider we are able to create a safer, stronger District 2.

D2 is house to a whole bunch of homeless residents. How ought to Oakland change or enhance the way it addresses the disaster of hundreds of individuals dwelling with out everlasting housing?

Oakland’s homelessness disaster requires a complete, results-oriented coverage reset, which I’m ready to guide with a method primarily based upon finest practices from confirmed outcomes in different cities coupled with a fiscal self-discipline strategy. Oakland has allotted $69 million to non-profits that haven’t produced their anticipated end result, as evidenced by the roughly 25% rise in unhoused people because the pandemic started.

I’ll suggest adopting a Homeward Certain program, modeled on San Francisco’s profitable initiative, which gives transportation to reunite people with familial help networks. This strategy has demonstrably diminished homelessness in San Francisco by reconnecting a whole bunch to secure environments. And for native residents, I’ll advocate for enhanced shelter capability with rigorous consequence monitoring to make sure effectiveness. Moreover, it’s vital we get on monitor with constructing reasonably priced housing. Presently, Oakland is much behind on assembly our state required Regional Housing Wants Allocation (RHNA) of over 26,000 models constructed by 2031 placing us liable to monetary penalties and potential funding losses—which we can’t afford.

I used to be the one candidate working for D2 to seem and communicate at our Metropolis Council’s Neighborhood and Financial Growth Committee the place I argued for nearer assessment of Measure U’s Challenge Labor Agreements, which analysis signifies elevate prices and delay building timelines, in favor of not additional delaying assembly our housing targets. Fortunately, our Metropolis Council agreed. That is an instance of how I’ll work to assist obtain our housing wants by serving to streamline our allowing processes, cut back administrative limitations, and pushing the event of mixed-income tasks alongside District 2’s industrial corridors, guaranteeing cost-efficiency whereas upholding high quality and labor requirements. My expertise managing a number of companies and building tasks throughout each good and difficult instances taught me to prioritize options that ship measurable outcomes grounded in accountability and motion, which I’m uniquely certified in delivering.

Ought to Oakland change the way in which it responds to homeless camps, in mild of the Grants Cross Supreme Court docket determination?

Sure, Oakland should change the way it addresses homeless encampments, and the Grants Cross Supreme Court docket determination gives an vital alternative to behave with each urgency and compassion. Because the proprietor of Spice Monkey Restaurant and Howden Market in downtown Oakland for practically 20 years, I’ve witnessed the struggling and heartbreak up shut. Small enterprise homeowners like me are sometimes the primary level of contact for our unhoused and their emergencies, serving to them join with the suitable help which sadly are far quick of what’s wanted in our neighborhoods and enterprise districts.

Households and kids dwell simply steps from many of those encampments, the place roughly 500 fires happen in Oakland every year—diverting our already strained public security assets. Every occasion is a stark reminder of the Ghost Ship fireplace tragedy, the place we misplaced 36 lives. We can’t danger such a loss once more, so we should act preventatively—particularly as numerous these encampments are close to crucial transportation corridors similar to freeway underpasses and exit ramps. We strategy with a humane, efficient plan: supply shelter and help first, then conduct sweeps to clear encampments and get rid of fireplace dangers, guaranteeing streets are protected for all. This isn’t about punishment—it’s about defending lives, housed and unhoused alike. My coronary heart aches for these struggling, however the danger to public security and the unhoused themselves calls for motion requires we do one thing—and now. Oakland’s ineffective insurance policies of inaction have left households susceptible and our unhoused in danger. With my decided work ethic and compassioned strategy, I’m dedicated to measurable progress on this central challenge for our group.

From Lakeshore Avenue to Oakland Chinatown, District 2 is house to distinguished purchasing and eating locations. How would you help the district’s companies and employees? 

When elected, I’ll be the primary native restaurant operator in Oakland’s recorded historical past on Metropolis Council—an unbelievable honor. With 18 years working Spice Monkey restaurant and Howden Market, I’m the one candidate who actually understands what our retailers and eating places—from Lakeshore Avenue to Chinatown, Jack London Sq. to Little Saigon, Grand Avenue to Lake Chalet—have to succeed. I’m pleased with our numerous culinary group, not too long ago named Condé Nast’s #1 Meals Metropolis within the U.S. After I opened Spice Monkey 18 years in the past, I believed then what I consider now: our eating places are the center of our group. As they go, so goes Oakland. It’s been a tough two years watching our most liked companies shut regardless of surviving the pandemic. It was tough surviving a dashing automobile crash into my remaining enterprise Howden Market after the pandemic closed my 14 yr restaurant Spice Monkey. It’s time to show this round. However it could’t occur with out a change in public security.

As the one candidate who spoke on the current Police Fee City Corridor, I understand how vital it’s to help District 2’s companies, employees, and clients. Like all Oaklanders, they should be protected. I’ll push for police foot patrols in industrial zones so clients really feel assured popping out at evening. I’ll work to chop allow charges and taxes to make opening a enterprise extra engaging, and never burden our present ones with extra charges or tax hikes. I’ll work to revive funding for our festivals and avenue gala’s in Jack London Sq., Brooklyn Basin, Henry Kaiser Heart and The Lake Merritt Amphitheater, and develop fashionable occasions like the brand new Evening Market in Chinatown, Off The Grid/Friday Nights at Oakland Museum partnering with my lengthy relationships with our enterprise enchancment district (BIDs). Supporting our companies is essential to our economic system as they’re a an vital contributor to our basic fund that pays for police, fireplace, and different important companies…a vibrant Oakland is a fast strategy to repair our finances disaster so we are able to get again on monitor. It’s time for a small enterprise voice in Metropolis Corridor, the primary since former mayor Frank Ogawa. I’ll assist revitalize Oakland’s economic system with the perfect belongings we have now—ourselves.

Oakland’s final mayor was recalled and indicted. What two particular, actionable issues would you do to develop Oaklanders’ belief in authorities?

Month-to-month City Halls: I’ll host month-to-month conferences throughout District 2—beginning in Chinatown and San Antonio, rotating neighborhoods—to listen to you straight. At Howden Market, I discovered listening beats lip service; that’s how belief grows. Zero-Tolerance Ethics Coverage: I’ll implement strict transparency guidelines for myself and workers, publishing all spending on-line month-to-month. After the mayor’s mess, Oaklanders deserve no much less.

President Trump has signed an order going after sanctuary cities and particular person officers who don’t cooperate with immigration enforcement. You’re working for workplace in a sanctuary metropolis the place a earlier mayor was focused by Trump over immigration. How will you strategy problems with immigration and threats from the federal authorities on this subject?

Oakland’s a sanctuary metropolis—I’ll defend it. Trump’s order gained’t bully us into abandoning households; I’ve lived that battle as a Cambodian immigrant working Howden Market. I’ll shield our group, however I’ll let ICE deport drug sellers and criminals—security issues. I’ll fund authorized help for trustworthy residents going through threats—no caving to feds, no shielding crooks. Voters deserve a pacesetter who stands agency—my plan retains Oakland ours, not theirs.

Describe your preferrred Oakland weekend. The place are you consuming? How are you spending your free time?

My preferrred Oakland weekend is all group. I’d kick off at Chinatown Road Fest, chatting with distributors and neighbors—working Howden Market taught me these ties matter. Lunch at Taking pictures Star Café, a family-owned spot, preserving it native. Then, a Lake Merritt stroll with my two daughters, soaking within the park I’ll hold protected and clear. It’s actual—connecting, consuming, unwinding—mirroring the District 2 I dwell day by day. Households deserve that Oakland, and I’ll battle for it.

Age: 35

Are you at the moment employed? What’s your present or most up-to-date job?

Housing Enterprise Lab Director with Terner Labs

Your most popular pronouns: she/her

Do you lease your own home? Personal? Different?

I personal my major place of residence.

Have you ever held earlier elected workplace in Oakland or past?

No

Have you ever ever served on an Oakland or Alameda County board or fee?

Sure

When you’ve got served on a board or fee, please inform us the place, when, and what place(s).

Metropolis Funds Evaluation Subgroup Chair, Oakland Reimagining Security Job Pressure, 2020-2021

Why are you working for workplace? What may you do as a public official which you could’t do in any other case?

The choice to run got here after I used to be caught by 1000 fantastic toothpicks: the many individuals I trusted and revered telling me they thought I may contribute, that my expertise can be helpful on the Council. I like my work supporting folks across the nation who work on difficult housing affordability points, however the alternative to use my information and expertise straight within the metropolis I like is one I can’t move up. I really consider within the potential of my group in District 2. It’s the most numerous district within the metropolis and I feel Oakland has the potential to be a mannequin for a well-run blue metropolis, and this looks like a means I generally is a conduit and catalyst for that. I’ve a participatory management type, centering facilitation and bringing collectively stakeholders to search out options that work for us all. Co-governance is crucial to attaining transformative change within the Metropolis. The position of a pacesetter is to not know every thing, however to have the ability to collect consultants and impacted folks collectively, being open-minded and versatile on options whereas holding quick to our values. I need to maintain this workplace open for our group, in order that we are able to make selections that faithfully characterize our numerous and urgent wants.

Are there any folks or organizations you gained’t settle for marketing campaign contributions from? If that’s the case, whom?

I’m a company free candidate, and won’t settle for any donations from companies or company PACs. I may even not settle for cash from anybody affiliated with the fossil gas business or from these with enterprise pending earlier than the Oakland Metropolis Council.

What is a matter that D2 uniquely faces or experiences in another way than different districts?

One factor that makes District 2 distinctive is that it encompasses the total range of our metropolis, and in some methods the entire nation. It has cultural districts in Chinatown and Little Saigon, it has hills and flats, and variety in background and revenue. It has distinct issues like intercourse trafficking and up to date assaults towards Asian neighbors in Chinatown. So I feel greater than every other district it’s tough to search out unifying points throughout neighborhoods and but, most individuals can agree that they need their neighborhoods to be protected, and their streets to be walkable. They need their grocery shops shut and so they need third areas to benefit from the metropolis. I feel the district is at its finest when, as a substitute of neighborhood divisiveness, group members are invested in stewarding town for the entire residents, which is much more important in a finances disaster, when group engagement performs a bigger position in metropolis care.

Oakland’s in a fiscal disaster. The town has already made painful cuts and can doubtless have to make extra. What steps will you are taking throughout this finances cycle to stability town finances?

I’m open-eyed that, if elected, I shall be coming right into a crucial finances disaster for the Metropolis and our complete group. My prime precedence shall be guaranteeing our finances selections protect crucial packages that help working class Oaklanders and keep away from layoffs as a lot as potential. I’m dedicated to exploring price saving measures like govt and excessive stage administrative pay, freezing vacant positions, police additional time reform, and analyzing marketing consultant contracts for reductions earlier than contemplating layoffs and damaging cuts to crucial packages. Legislatively, a key precedence is implementing new progressive income measures to fund Metropolis companies. The implementation of a progressive enterprise tax was successful for the earlier Council, and with out it we might be in a far worse scenario budgetarily. I need to enhance adherence to the enterprise tax and work with our labor companions to search out new sources, like increasing the emptiness tax, payroll taxes, and different new sources.

Do you help the gross sales tax measure that’s on the poll? Why or why not?

Sure. Typically I don’t need to move regressive taxes, however in a finances disaster, closing crucial metropolis companies like fireplace departments and libraries can also be regressive. Passing the gross sales tax measure will nonetheless hold Oakland aligned with a lot of our neighboring cities and is a crucial step to balancing our finances.

Public security is a precedence for a lot of Oakland residents. What are three particular, actionable, and reasonable options you’ll pursue in your first time period to make town and your district safer? 

1) Recruiting officers takes time. In the mean time, we have to cut back the burden on our stretched police drive by increasing non-police options for responding to homelessness, psychological well being crises, drug dependancy, and parking violations, permitting officers to give attention to violent and severe crime.

2) Ceasefire was an extremely efficient program to cut back violence, and when it was defunded underneath Mayor Libby Schaaf violence elevated. Increasing packages like Challenge Ceasefire, MACRO, and different evidence-based violence prevention packages will cease the violence earlier than it occurs.

3) Crime prevention via environmental design is an proof primarily based resolution confirmed to cut back crime. I need to associate with companies in District 2 to carry these options to our industrial corridors, each inside companies and on our streets. That features elevated avenue lighting and using fencing and landscaping to sluggish site visitors. As we construct new housing we are able to additionally make use of design rules that encourage eyes on the streets.

D2 is house to a whole bunch of homeless residents. How ought to Oakland change or enhance the way it addresses the disaster of hundreds of individuals dwelling with out everlasting housing?

There are three key steps to tackling the homelessness disaster. First, we have to pace up the development of everlasting supportive housing to get folks off our streets. As an skilled in housing coverage, I’ve labored with organizations throughout the nation which are utilizing revolutionary strategies like modular growth to create reasonably priced housing shortly. We will carry these improvements to Oakland and help efficient and sustainable strategies for sooner housing supply.

Second, we have to cease the stream of individuals onto our streets. Whereas many individuals are exiting homelessness yearly, extra are getting into. Emergency rental help is likely one of the most vital and value efficient steps we are able to take to staunch the bleeding and stop homelessness. It’s also far less expensive and humane to maintain somebody from turning into homeless than get them re-housed as soon as they’ve change into homeless. We will additionally proceed and enhance the capability of our social companies to cut back the contributing elements to eviction, like drug dependancy companies and funding for decluttering/anti-hoarding packages.

Lastly, we are able to cut back the impression of homelessness on our neighborhoods and enhance the standard of life for these on the streets by offering extra companies like restrooms, sanitation, and trash removing for encampments instantly, together with social companies that helps determine and supply steady take care of our unhoused neighbors. This improves their housing outcomes and in addition can assist them really feel extra dedicated to the wellbeing of their neighbors of their transition out of homelessness.

Ought to Oakland change the way in which it responds to homeless camps, in mild of the Grants Cross Supreme Court docket determination?

Although Oakland gives shelter when clearing homeless camps, there’s a lack of housing choices meaning we can’t truly humanely home all of our unhoused neighbors. There’s a actual and urgent want for clear, protected, and navigable streets and public areas for our complete group, and we should always prioritize security and order in and round camps whereas we work to create extra everlasting supportive housing choices. I don’t need to do sweeps that find yourself spending metropolis {dollars} to basically transfer folks from neighborhood to neighborhood with out enhancing outcomes for camp occupants or their housed neighbors. The current ruling by Trump’s extremist Supreme Court docket doesn’t respect that stability we’d like.

From Lakeshore Avenue to Oakland Chinatown, District 2 is house to distinguished purchasing and eating locations. How would you help the district’s companies and employees? 

I need to work to assist rework our enterprise districts into stunning and vibrant locations the place folks really feel protected to do enterprise, stroll the streets and be in group. Which means slowing and reclaiming streets which have change into facilities of human trafficking, whereas supporting survivor-led intervention packages and never victimizing intercourse employees. Which means investing in bicycle and pedestrian security so that individuals could be protected nonetheless they get round. Which means stunning and resilient pure options which are immune to local weather change. And meaning help for our unhoused neighbors that facilities their dignity and humanity, offering them with liveable and humane housing whereas lowering the impression of encampments on our neighborhood.Making it enjoyable, straightforward, and protected to stroll via our enterprise corridors will drive our economic system and maintain our district. I additionally need extra mixed-use housing. Many individuals are nonetheless working from house, at the least half time, and densifying housing close to purchasing and enterprise will assist carry again foot site visitors.

Oakland’s final mayor was recalled and indicted. What two particular, actionable issues would you do to develop Oaklanders’ belief in authorities?

I help instituting new, more durable measures to audit Metropolis contracts, guaranteeing that they’re being given to the perfect bider, not the politically effectively related. Voters should know that their cash is being spent effectively, and daylight reduces the profitability and incentive of corruption. It’s also clear that we’re badly in want of constitution reform that higher defines the connection between the Mayor and different Metropolis establishments. I might transfer to direct workers to arrange a survey of the charters of equally sized cities, so we are able to see what works and what doesn’t, in preparation for a constitution modification on the 2026 poll.

President Trump has signed an order going after sanctuary cities and particular person officers who don’t cooperate with immigration enforcement. You’re working for workplace in a sanctuary metropolis the place a earlier mayor was focused by Trump over immigration. How will you strategy problems with immigration and threats from the federal authorities on this subject?

Each Oakland resident should know that their Metropolis will shield them and take care of them, irrespective of the actions of this federal administration. I can’t let threats cease us from doing the fitting factor and defending our immigrant neighbors. I help our Metropolis Legal professional becoming a member of with Legal professional Basic Rob Bonta in bringing go well with towards the Trump administration every time they overreach or take actions which are unlawful or unconstitutional. We may even proceed to help nonprofits and group teams that present immigration defence for Oakland residents and work along with neighboring cities to supply a united entrance that’s more durable to focus on than any particular person metropolis.

Describe your preferrred Oakland weekend. The place are you consuming? How are you spending your free time?

I even have a Google checklist of 41 of my favourite locations in Oakland that may be offered upon request, so I’ve a really Every little thing In all places All at As soon as multiverse mindset about potential preferrred weekends, but when I needed to choose one: I might begin off with a solo chai sitting on the patio on the Espresso Mill studying or folks watching, ideally meet a bunch of mates for brunch at Portal on the patio. Meet my tennis buddy to play a spherical of tennis on on the Athol courts proper exterior, (though I’m very dangerous at tennis, however being dangerous means extra cardio.) Then meet extra mates, hopefully a big group, for a picnic by the lake, hopefully with a non-alcoholic bottle of one thing bubbly from Alkali Rye and desserts from Gregory’s or It’s All Good Bakery. Most likely stroll off the energy by strolling to Walden Pond. I’ve been wanting to purchase Tommy Orange’s new e book. Bag it. Head to ReLove to thrift a cute little outfit. Go to SF Health for a fast exercise out. Go house, bathe, lie on my flooring with my canine, head to a pleasant date evening dinner in my (previous) new outfit at Bardo if I’m feeling fancy or at Tacos mi Rancho if I’m feeling like myself. Meet my brother or my mother for an evening cap at Viridian or Tall Boy after which end the evening with an quaint donut at Colonial or a stuffed maple bar if I need to eat half for breakfast the following day.

Age: 50+

Are you at the moment employed? What’s your present or most up-to-date job?

Industrial Property Supervisor

Your most popular pronouns: Ms.

Do you lease your own home? Personal? Different?

I lease or sublet my major place of residence.

Have you ever held earlier elected workplace in Oakland or past?

No

Have you ever ever served on an Oakland or Alameda County board or fee?

No

When you’ve got served on a board or fee, please inform us the place, when, and what place(s).

CA Democratic Occasion — 2000 – Present; Sac County EEOC Committee — Jan 2024- Oct 2024; Sac United Method, Exec Bd Member — 2000 – 2010; Elk Grove Planning Advisory Bd — 2000 – 2003

Why are you working for workplace? What may you do as a public official which you could’t do in any other case?

I’m working for workplace as a result of I need to create an financial revitalization program for town, that can entice giant and small companies and employers to District 2.

I’m very involved about public security and our management. The Metropolis of Oakland has 26 Departments and No Division of Commerce! That’s why the Metropolis is on the verge of submitting for chapter! As a Council member I can work with the Metropolis to draw Giant Companies, that can generate tax income.

Are there any folks or organizations you gained’t settle for marketing campaign contributions from? If that’s the case, whom?

I can’t settle for cash from Oil Firms or Coal Firms.

What is a matter that D2 uniquely faces or experiences in another way than different districts?

I consider the Baby Prostitution aka Intercourse Trafficking downside is a kind of points that we face that perhaps one or two different districts could must take care of. I need to Finish Intercourse Trafficking and I’m prepared to Donate half of my first yr’s wage to eradicate this downside.

Oakland’s in a fiscal disaster. The town has already made painful cuts and can doubtless have to make extra. What steps will you are taking throughout this finances cycle to stability town finances?

I wish to arrange packages, that can generate various streams of revenue for town. The town has many vacant buildings and plenty in a number of areas. I need to collaborate with the Metropolis to arrange a Industrial Leasing Program for big and small companies. The Industrial Leasing Packages will supply financial incentives that can entice new companies to our communities. Extra income will assist stability the finances!

Do you help the gross sales tax measure that’s on the poll? Why or why not?

I’ll solely help a tax measure on the poll that may be a non permanent enhance. No more than 3 – 5 years, and after it expires, we are going to vote on it once more, if wanted.

Public security is a precedence for a lot of Oakland residents. What are three particular, actionable, and reasonable options you’ll pursue in your first time period to make town and your district safer? 

1) I’ll rent extra law enforcement officials from our group, who respect our residents and have been educated to de-escalate violence. 2) I need to cease intercourse trafficking, this conduct will increase crime. I’m prepared to donate half of my first years wage to perform this, and three) I’ll advocate for extra Neighborhood Policing particularly in our enterprise districts. These three issues will assist make Oakland safer.

D2 is house to a whole bunch of homeless residents. How ought to Oakland change or enhance the way it addresses the disaster of hundreds of individuals dwelling with out everlasting housing?

I consider the Metropolis of Oakland can do extra to search out everlasting housing for a lot of of our unhoused residents. As Councilwoman, I’ll multi-task and do these three issues concurrently to get folks off of our streets:

1) We have to begin sending folks again house. San Francisco has a program that sends unhoused folks again to their households, we should always meet and collaborate with the officers which are working this program. It seems to be working for them, we are able to do the identical factor.

2) Research have proven that once you discover folks dwelling of their automobiles and trailers, that’s the finest time to get them into housing. These are individuals who need to dwell in a house. I’ll make it a precedence to search out housing for households dwelling of their automobiles. We have to prioritize households with kids, no baby on this nation needs to be homeless. It breaks my coronary heart.

and three) There are fairly a couple of housing models which were constructed that are actually vacant as a result of the homeowners filed for chapter. The Metropolis of Oakland can work out an settlement that can permit the Metropolis to take over the properties after which lease the models out to Oakland residents which have earlier rental historical past and good credit score for decrease funds. As we transfer these folks in, we will begin absorbing a number of the homeless populations which are dwelling of their automobiles and trailers. Lastly, for folks dwelling on the streets, we might want to ship in social employees and well being professionals to display people and discover housing options for them. They might have to enter restoration packages to be stabilized attributable to psychological well being problems and/or drug addictions.

Ought to Oakland change the way in which it responds to homeless camps, in mild of the Grants Cross Supreme Court docket determination?

I feel there may be at all times room for enchancment, however we’d like to verify we’re compassionate. We must always at all times do our greatest to work with folks earlier than throughout and after we transfer them, to make sure higher outcomes.

From Lakeshore Avenue to Oakland Chinatown, District 2 is house to distinguished purchasing and eating locations. How would you help the district’s companies and employees? 

I feel we should always take a look at decreasing taxes and charges that companies are required to pay together with strengthening public security for them. We must always present the enterprise districts with Neighborhood Policing — Police that stroll the beat, this can hold the companies and clients protected! This can be a win-win resolution for our enterprise districts.

Oakland’s final mayor was recalled and indicted. What two particular, actionable issues would you do to develop Oaklanders’ belief in authorities?

I’ll have common City Corridor Conferences, together with an open-door coverage. I may even run Public Service Bulletins on Tv and Radio to maintain my constituents knowledgeable about what is occurring in Metropolis Corridor. I can’t go silent, particularly throughout a disaster.

President Trump has signed an order going after sanctuary cities and particular person officers who don’t cooperate with immigration enforcement. You’re working for workplace in a sanctuary metropolis the place a earlier mayor was focused by Trump over immigration. How will you strategy problems with immigration and threats from the federal authorities on this subject?

I’ll work with Director, Rob Bonta and The Division of Justice together with our group organizations to guard our Sanctuary Metropolis standing. Legal professional Basic Bonta, is taking the lead on legislations and lawsuits to protect and shield Sanctuary Cities. He’s doing a tremendous job!

Describe your preferrred Oakland weekend. The place are you consuming? How are you spending your free time?

I’m spending most of my time on Lake Shore and Jack London sq. consuming and hanging out with family and friends. That’s it for me. Thanks for the chance to be part of the interview course of.

Age: 34

Are you at the moment employed? What’s your present or most up-to-date job? I at the moment function an Advisor for Civil Rights and Environmental Justice on the Environmental Safety Company (EPA), the place I assist communities maintain company polluters accountable, help organizations to use for grants, and information small companies on compliance with rules. Beforehand, I used to be an Biden-Harris administration appointee on the Division of Transportation the place I formed the Infrastructure Funding and Jobs Act, and led the creation of a $4.2 billion historic federal infrastructure initiative to reconnect communities harmed and razed by highways that has introduced over $34 million in 3 tasks and union jobs to Oakland.

Your most popular pronouns: She/her

Do you lease your own home? Personal? Different?

I lease or sublet my major place of residence. I’m a renter and really feel the urgency of our housing disaster, because of this I’m dedicated to constructing housing in Oakland.

Have you ever held earlier elected workplace in Oakland or past?

No

Have you ever ever served on an Oakland or Alameda County board or fee?

Sure

When you’ve got served on a board or fee, please inform us the place, when, and what place(s).

I’m an Alameda County Commissioner for Shopper Affairs, the place I work to guard residents from fraud, advocate for decrease vitality charges, and help homeownership initiatives. I used to be on the board of Oakland’s Household Violence Regulation Heart, the place I labored to herald funds for companies for survivors of home violence and intercourse trafficking in Alameda County.

Why are you working for workplace? What may you do as a public official which you could’t do in any other case?

Oakland was the formative metropolis of my childhood and gave a lot to my household. My grandparents lived in West Oakland reasonably priced housing. They raised me on the weekends and their house was a crucial supply of security and stability for me throughout my childhood which was fraught with home violence. I bear in mind taking the bus alone as a child, with out a second thought for my security, from their house to the Oakland Youth Orchestra at Laney. Chinatown was brimming with life and exercise, and offered group for me.

Over time I had seen the homelessness disaster take maintain in Oakland, and obtained concerned in Massachusetts’ reform of their homelessness system to focus assets on fast rehousing to get folks off the streets as shortly as potential. My work was acknowledged by Harvard College with an award and I plan on bringing classes discovered from that work house. Since coming house to be with my grandmother close to the top of her life, I’ve been heartbroken by circumstances within the city I like. I can hardly acknowledge the Oakland I bear in mind, with companies boarded up and tagged with graffiti. I’ve been troubled with seeing how crime is hurting everybody, however particularly Oakland’s most susceptible– the poor, the working class, and the aged. Everybody in our metropolis deserves to really feel protected, thrive, and be heard by their authorities. My life’s work and mission has been to repair governments to raised serve folks after my household fell into poverty attributable to home violence and a scarcity of ample companies. I’ve reformed federal, state, and native governments and I really feel geared up to hit the bottom working to assist Oakland throughout this tough and unsure time.

Are there any folks or organizations you gained’t settle for marketing campaign contributions from? If that’s the case, whom?

I’m a corporate-free candidate. I’ve signed the No Fossil Gas Cash pledge and won’t settle for contributions from police unions.

What is a matter that D2 uniquely faces or experiences in another way than different districts?

District 2 is the epicenter of intercourse trafficking within the county–this can be a disaster. Sadly, I do know most of the minors which are being exploited within the intercourse trafficking business have run away from abusive properties. As a baby, I virtually ran away from house because of the home violence together with sexual abuse I used to be experiencing. That private expertise has led to my advocacy for companies to battle gender-based violence together with my time on the White Home Gender Coverage Council and regionally as a board member of the Household Violence Regulation Heart to supply companies for survivors of intercourse trafficking and home violence.

We’ve got traffickers that camp exterior of our faculties to lure kids into this business. As a council member, I’ll battle to carry “johns” and traffickers accountable whereas supporting packages like MISSEY which empower survivors to rebuild their lives. We’d like extra assets to battle this heinous crime. Intercourse trafficking is a federal crime and I’ll name on help from the native FBI department to help our enforcement efforts right here. Our police are at the moment prohibited from towing a john’s automobile till their third offense. I’ll work to get rid of this rule. Minors who’re being trafficked want a protected place to remain since many come from abusive properties and I’ll work with the county to carry an emergency shelter for minors in order that Alameda County’s Kids and Household Companies can discover placement for a trafficked baby right into a protected house. I’ll additionally collaborate with group leaders in impacted neighborhoods just like the San Antonio Neighborhood Alliance to determine companies that give cowl to the unlawful intercourse commerce and revoke their licenses.

Oakland’s in a fiscal disaster. The town has already made painful cuts and can doubtless have to make extra. What steps will you are taking throughout this finances cycle to stability town finances?

District 2’s subsequent councilmember might want to vote on a traditionally tough finances simply months after being elected to workplace. I’m the candidate with intensive work expertise in authorities, restructuring packages for each high quality and effectivity. This background positions me to make tough finances selections. Sacrifice ought to begin on the prime. That’s why I’m pledging to take a pay minimize, and can name on division heads and metropolis executives to additionally take pay cuts. Decreasing govt pay alone would save Oakland $8 million. I gained’t ask residents to make do with even slower emergency companies earlier than govt pay, together with my very own, is reigned in. The most important short-term strategy to discover refinancing our pension curiosity funds, which price about $133 million every year. With current fee cuts, we may probably save round $40 million every year, taking an enormous minimize out of the finances deficit. I’d push the council to discover this step. I’ll additionally battle to uproot waste in Oakland’s finances. From $60+ million in contracts for homeless companies that didn’t monitor companies rendered, to Oakland Police Division’s ongoing use of high-priced, pseudoscientific “lie-detector” checks, to new reporting of $1.7 million in extra additional time funds, it’s clear that we are able to minimize waste with out sacrificing companies. Many metropolis grants and contracts deal with areas which are county, not metropolis, duties. With restricted assets, I’ll prioritize core metropolis companies like police and fireplace over duplicative grants. Final yr’s Funds Advisory Fee highlighted how metropolis packages typically don’t monitor outcomes or have a way of which targets to prioritize. This prevents the council from making knowledgeable finances selections. My authorities administration expertise, together with in efficiency and analysis, positions me to ascertain a construction for accountability. We additionally want to make use of metropolis properties to generate income. New York Metropolis generates $40 million every year from ads on metropolis areas, similar to bus shelters. We will generate short-term income by leveraging every thing from trash receptacles, city-owned buildings, and lightweight poles for advert area. Leasing metropolis lands for market-rate housing alongside reasonably priced housing is one other revenue-generating coverage I help. Enhancing our potential to win grants may assist stabilize our finances. Oakland was the one metropolis in California to overlook a retail theft grant, leaving $17 million on the desk throughout finances and crime crises. I’ve stood up grant packages, evaluated grant functions, and helped native governments apply to grants. I’m uniquely ready to reform Oakland’s grant-writing enterprise in order that we take advantage of state, federal, and philanthropic alternatives. Along with hiring extra revenue-generating grant writers, everybody in my council workplace will tackle grant-writing duties. I’m additionally working on a complete imaginative and prescient for inclusive financial growth. It will create financial alternative and develop metropolis income to fund our companies. Supporting cultural zones—similar to District 2’s Chinatown, Little Saigon, and the Lakeshore LGBTQ Cultural District—via tax incentives, improved public security, and strategic housing insurance policies will catalyze foot site visitors and financial exercise. Chinatown was Oakland’s prime supply of tax income, immediately companies are shuttering. I’ll associate with Chinatown enterprise and philanthropic leaders to revive this engine of financial alternative and develop metropolis income with capital enhancements similar to an iconic gate and recreation middle upgrades that can put the neighborhood on the map as a middle for tourism.

Do you help the gross sales tax measure that’s on the poll? Why or why not?

I help a brief gross sales tax enhance to forestall public security cuts. Whereas I acknowledge the burden of tax will increase, the largest risk to Oakland companies is crime. We’d like income from the gross sales tax measure to fund police patrols, security ambassadors, and different crucial companies that shield the general public and companies. I’ll battle to make sure that income from a gross sales tax enhance helps crucial public security companies to maintain our small companies open.

Public security is a precedence for a lot of Oakland residents. What are three particular, actionable, and reasonable options you’ll pursue in your first time period to make town and your district safer? 

Public security is my prime precedence, District 2 has two out of three hotspots of Oakland’s deadly gun violence. Our companies are shutting down, persons are afraid to remain out at evening, and persons are being killed by rampant reckless driving. Oakland’s police division is staffed effectively under the nationwide common and we have now certainly one of highest violent crime caseloads per officer within the nation. We’ve got had months the place common 911 response instances for prime precedence calls, these are violent assaults that want an prompt response, exceeded a full hour.

Oakland’s public security disaster is a grave social justice challenge as a result of home violence victims’ calls are going unanswered, frontline employees are threatened with every day violence and pushed into poverty when companies shut and jobs are misplaced, and intercourse traffickers usually are not being held accountable. Brief time period, I’ll name on help via our Alameda County Sheriff and our Regulation Enforcement Mutual Help System.. We have to absolutely workers our police division with hiring pipelines via Laney, Merritt, and public faculties. Lots of of individuals apply to our police academies every year, however 98% of police academy candidates are turned down; I’ll preserve excessive requirements however assessment our hiring pipeline to make sure that we aren’t turning away certified candidates. Oakland has additionally didn’t leverage a state regulation permitting Dreamers, undocumented individuals who have lived within the US since childhood, to change into law enforcement officials. Undocumented communities are focused by criminals who exploit fears of deportation which will stop them from reporting crimes. Hiring Dreamers would add badly wanted officers to the drive whereas enhancing belief in an particularly susceptible inhabitants. I’ll additionally champion methods to raised handle our police division with reforms to our police chase coverage, partnerships with community-based organizations via efforts similar to Ceasefire, Flock cameras to curb rampant auto theft, and using auto-transcription expertise to get our officers out from behind desks writing documentation and onto the road to allow them to give attention to strolling beats. That’s one of many causes I’m endorsed by Jim Donatell, a group chief who introduced Flock cameras to Crocker Highlands. I’ll push to reform our Privateness Fee which has additionally obstructed the power for Oakland police to entry video footage from Oakland neighborhood digicam efforts, when video sharing agreements have been put into place with neighboring cities.

Visitors security can also be a crucial part of public security. In accordance with the California Workplace of Visitors Security, we rank third highest within the state for pedestrians killed or injured in site visitors crashes. Final yr, annoyed San Antonio residents added highway limitations after complaints of reckless drivers and sideshows went unanswered by town. But, only a day after a reckless driver hit these limitations, town got here in full drive to take away the neighborhood alliance’s limitations. I’ll make metropolis corridor a associate on site visitors security, specializing in fast and low price methods with site visitors cones and rubber bumps to decelerate drivers and stop aspect reveals – strategies that I discovered whereas working for Boston mayor, then metropolis councilor Michelle Wu.

D2 is house to a whole bunch of homeless residents. How ought to Oakland change or enhance the way it addresses the disaster of hundreds of individuals dwelling with out everlasting housing?

The methods that we have now to reply to homelessness are damaged. Those that are homeless and in search of housing are put onto ready lists for housing – so these which were on the streets for longer are prioritized. Homelessness needs to be handled with urgency. As an alternative of serving to folks early in homelessness when they’re almost definitely to show their lives round, we make them look ahead to a yr or longer, pushing folks into power homelessness earlier than they get assist. The longer folks undergo on the streets, the extra traumatized they change into and the extra doubtless they’re to show to medicine for survival. A lot of the give attention to our homelessness response has been on constructing reasonably priced housing. Whereas helpful, it’s pricey and takes years to construct. I’m working to focus the county and town’s homeless response technique on fast rehousing, the kind of technique that I’ve already labored to implement in Massachusetts and was additionally utilized in Houston to vastly downsize the homeless inhabitants. Let’s marshall state, county and metropolis assets on getting folks off the streets shortly into present vacant house models with non permanent rental help.

We additionally have to prioritize jobs for our unhoused. About 30% of homeless persons are actively in search of work. We will associate with companies, probably with tax incentives to create an Oakland Corps program that connects these in restoration from homelessness with jobs to battle our metropolis’s blight by selecting up trash, cleansing graffiti, and planting bushes.

Homeless peoples’ wants are numerous, and this isn’t an answer for everybody, however this can assist many and liberate assets for many who want long-term care. For these instances, Oakland must do a greater job coordinating with the County well being system. I’m endorsed by Supervisor Lena Tam, who leads intergovernmental collaboration on homelessness on the Board of Supervisors, and can work intently together with her to construct a extra cohesive response. I’ll be sure that first responders are educated of their roles to compel dependancy and psychological well being remedy underneath the CARE Court docket system. When persons are coping with dependancy, leaving them on the streets to worsen, untreated, is merciless not compassionate. Lastly, we have to deal with Oakland’s acute housing scarcity that’s driving up rents and pushing folks into homelessness. I’ll approve new housing, sooner, and take away burdensome necessities that add price, time, and architectural complexity just like the requirement for buildings to have two distinct facade supplies. The Black Panther, a brand new reasonably priced housing growth led by former Black Panther Occasion Chairwoman Elaine Brown, was held up by town for months attributable to a dispute over paintings. We have to quick monitor desperately wanted, deeply reasonably priced residences (many lower than $500 month-to-month lease) as a substitute of including obstacles. I’m proud to have her endorsement too.

Ought to Oakland change the way in which it responds to homeless camps, in mild of the Grants Cross Supreme Court docket determination?

Our encampments are prioritized for shutdown as soon as a murder has occurred inside the encampment. One of many largest encampments in our district is the East twelfth encampment in San Antonio, with practically each close by enterprise closing down and unable to outlive with neighbors reporting shootings, fires, and sexual assault as a daily prevalence inside the encampment. Our metropolis must be extra pro-active so we stop this stage of violence, which is dangerous for encampment residents and the encompassing group alike. By accompanying the shutdown of an encampment with a proposal for housing and remedy, town is offering crucial social companies that encampment residents want. Throughout encampment sweeps final yr metropolis workers obstructed press entry. Some sweeps have wrongfully confiscated and destroyed private property together with IDs and medical gadgets. We have to make sure that metropolis workers don’t interact on this conduct and protect private belongings.

From Lakeshore Avenue to Oakland Chinatown, District 2 is house to distinguished purchasing and eating locations. How would you help the district’s companies and employees? 

Crime is destroying small companies in Oakland. All through Oakland you see vacant storefronts and deserted small companies. Automotive break-ins and auto theft have pushed clients away from companies. We’d like seen police patrols alongside group ambassadors to discourage crime and present Oaklanders that it’s protected to buy. I’ll search partnerships with philanthropy so we are able to create a fund or mortgage assure for small companies which were victimized by a break-in to get help for his or her retailer repairs.

I’m additionally calling on Oakland residents who’re studying the headlines about our metropolis with trepidation that one of the simplest ways they can assist get town again on monitor is by purchasing at your native small enterprise with a concerted Purchase Native marketing campaign, which has elevated gross sales between 10 and 15% in different cities. Such a marketing campaign might be supplemented with pop-up markets and occasions like Little Saigon’s Sundown Market at Clinton Park.

A number of what prevents folks from purchasing regionally is the worry of a automobile break-in, so I’d prefer to associate with rideshare firms like Uber, Lyft, and DoorDash to supply discounted rides to Oakland’s small companies in alternate for the promoting and demand advantages a “Store Oakland” marketing campaign would supply. I’d additionally search to decrease parking charges in our publicly-operated parking garages and growing transit choices, just like the Jack London to Alameda Ferry, which have efficiently introduced elevated site visitors to small companies in District 2.

We additionally want to hurry up the allowing course of for brand spanking new companies. Chicago’s shift to an internet allow system and small enterprise advisory program minimize allow processing instances by roughly 30%. By lowering purple tape and offering free advisory help (leveraging digital platforms and volunteer experience), Chicago helped new small companies open and develop sooner. Oakland may undertake a comparable on-line allowing initiative that integrates with present municipal methods, thereby decreasing limitations for entrepreneurs with little additional fiscal price.

Within the medium time period, we have to construct way more housing alongside our industrial corridors. Eradicating limitations to building, dashing allowing, and permitting larger constructing heights may even entice new residents, and new clients, for adjoining companies.

Oakland’s final mayor was recalled and indicted. What two particular, actionable issues would you do to develop Oaklanders’ belief in authorities?

Persons are proper to mistrust metropolis authorities, Oakland has a significant corruption downside. We deserve leaders which are clear-eyed about this reality. Essentially the most rapid means we are able to uproot corruption is to extend funding for the Public Ethics Fee, which investigates and penalizes misconduct. Our chief ethics enforcer stop final yr as a result of he didn’t have the assets to do his job. Gutting ethics enforcement is penny sensible, pound silly and has made metropolis authorities a straightforward mark for dangerous actors. Final yr, in my position on the EPA, I helped determine contractor fraud and was capable of assist reallocate funds in direction of packages that really superior environmental justice. I do know that daylight is the perfect disinfectant, and can battle to make sure that metropolis authorities is held to the very best requirements of accountability. Then, we have to decide to a significant overhaul of Oakland’s contracting system. At current, town council should approve most metropolis contracts, as a substitute of delegating that authority to civil servants. This course of provides delay to tasks like pothole restore and removes decision-making authority from the individuals who finest perceive the problems at hand. It additionally permits corruption, as the identical folks in search of donations and help for elected workplace additionally make selections on multi-million greenback contracts.

President Trump has signed an order going after sanctuary cities and particular person officers who don’t cooperate with immigration enforcement. You’re working for workplace in a sanctuary metropolis the place a earlier mayor was focused by Trump over immigration. How will you strategy problems with immigration and threats from the federal authorities on this subject?

The federal authorities can’t constitutionally commandeer metropolis workers for its personal ends. I’ll work with our Metropolis Legal professional and immigrant communities to be sure that Oaklanders know their rights, and test federal overreach. Metropolis authorities ought to assist be sure that each Oaklander is aware of their rights. We’ve already seen authorized immigrants and pure born United States residents from Puerto Rico be wrongfully deported by the brand new administration. Oakland has giant immigrant and refugee populations who’re threatened by the Trump administration’s unlawful overreach. Simply as service functions embody voter registration kinds, public-facing metropolis paperwork ought to notify folks of their rights round immigration, protest, and different areas that Trump will threaten.

Describe your preferrred Oakland weekend. The place are you consuming? How are you spending your free time?

I’m knocking doorways, at farmer’s markets, and assembly folks at BART stops each spare minute. Earlier than working for workplace, a soothing weekend meant a stroll round Lake Merritt with my rescue canine Galvi, and perhaps going to a yoga class if I’m feeling disciplined. I prefer to seize pho or banh mi at one of many Vietnamese eating places in my neighborhood. On the danger of sounding very Leslie Knope-ish, I like to spend my free time volunteering. I like to choose up one-time volunteering gigs to get publicity to all types of actions occurring in our group. I’ve achieved every thing from plant bushes, choose up trash, learn to college students, assist conduct the homeless point-in-time rely, and educate English. A few of my most enjoyable gigs have been serving to at AfroComicon, the place I noticed probably the most exceptional costumes, and serving to at a particular vacation occasion for homeless households. Lastly, I decompress by watching trash actuality TV – I like a present the place I don’t want the eye span to observe a fancy plot line. The Bachelor goes to get me via to the top of the election.