I did a little retailing politicking yesterday with Seneca Scott, or I should say he did the politicking and I was just his sidekick. We walked around the Lake Merritt-Uptown neighborhood and Seneca, with his green business cards, stopped almost everyone we passed, announced he’s running for Mayor, gave them a card and—if they were interested—stopped and chatted with them.
It can’t be easy for a candidate to run in Oakland, where there are so many issues, and people come down on all sides. Seneca began by asking people what their #1 issue was, and it surprised me that most of them had to stop and think about it. I guess that’s good: they wanted to give a thoughtful answer. Some people said gender issues; some said homelessness and housing; some said crime and filth; some talked about policing. One man wanted more cops; one lady wanted fewer. Nobody talked about Howard Terminal. Few had heard of Oakland’s Encampment Management Policy, which is really one of Seneca’s strengths, in that he sued the city to implement it. But when Seneca explained what it was—and how the City Council so cynically failed to implement their own law—people quickly understood. They also understood his explanation of why he’s in favor of a charter amendment to give Oakland a so-called “strong mayor.”
Seneca is very good at this kind of retail politics. He likes people, genuinely enjoys meeting them and engaging with them; and, as he says, most people like him if they just take the time to get to know him. I’m convinced Seneca would have a real shot at beating Sheng Thao, if he could only be competitive in fundraising. Here’s the link to donate to his campaign. I hope you’ll be able to come up with something.
It’s hard, because Seneca is up against the entrenched power structure in Oakland, and they’ve come out for Sheng, who is one of their own. Her own website calls her “one of the Bay Area’s boldest and most progressive leaders,” but she’s actually quite a timid politician. Can you name one issue she owns, one thing she stands for, one accomplishment? She’s wrapped up the endorsements of most of the establishment—Rebecca Kaplan, Nikki Bas, the Bontas, in other words, the very people who put Oakland in its present predicament, and in whose interests it is to keep the status quo.
But it’s really the unions supporting her that concern me. Teamsters, Food and Commercial Workers, SEIU, Electrical Workers, Plumbers and Steamfitters—I mean, nothing against unions, but why are they endorsing her? I don’t know why, and I’d wager you don’t either. Our local unions are so secretive. Nobody knows what deals have gone down, what promises were made in those back rooms. All we know is that Sheng Thao will be beholden to the unions, and if you think that’s a good enough reason to vote for her, then by all means do so.
I can’t emphasize this enough: If she’s elected, Sheng Thao’s mayoralty will be even less successful than Libby Schaaf’s (itself a disaster), because Thao will pursue her far-left, race-based agenda, which largely throws ordinary Oaklanders under the bus. The result: more crime, more camps, more demoralized cops, more wasting taxpayers’ money on dubious “social investments.” We can do better.
I wish you all a pleasant and safe weekend.
Steve Heimoff