How would you like to work with the Coalition for a Better Oakland? You’ll make thousands of dollars a month, participate in our Profit Sharing Program, have access to our luxury properties in Tahiti and Cap d’Antibes, fly on our corporate jet, dine at the best restaurants, hobnob with big shots, and of course you’ll enjoy all the benefits associated with working for our prestigious organization, including full wraparound healthcare, a generous 401(k) retirement plan, and three paid weeks of vacation time every year!
Well, I’m only kidding, unfortunately. But we do have a task for an enterprising volunteer. We’re looking for someone to keep track of upcoming meetings of the Oakland City Council. You’ll do this by monitoring their website. They meet a couple times a week. The agenda and meeting details are usually posted. You’ll check them out for items that are important for the work we do—especially anything related to OPD funding and homelessness.
You’ll also provide instructions on how the public can comment during meetings via Zoom and, when the Council decides to begin holding in-person meetings again, how to attend at City Hall.
You’ll send the information, via email or in a word document, to me (Steve).
This is important work. Please let me know if you’re interested or have any questions.
Thanks, Steve
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P.S. I’m including this email [below; certain parts have been edited] from Seneca Scott and his Neighbors Together Oakland group. You may recall that Seneca sued the city of Oakland for failure to enforce its own, unanimously-passed Encampment Management Policy. The city fought in court and won. This is shameful. It guarantees that encampments are here to stay and there’s nothing you or I can do about it, because we have a “progressive” City Council that doesn’t respect even its own laws.
Dear Neighbor,
We hope this email finds you well. We are writing to provide an update on the state of the lawsuit against the City for failing to enforce the Encampment Management Policy.
Unfortunately, the city's demur was upheld and they have stated that they have no "mandatory duty" to enforce their own policy. As a new small non-profit, Neighbors Together Oakland currently does not have the financial resources to continue with an appeals process that requires extensive legal funds.
It is disheartening that the city is embroiled in over 500 active lawsuits and they will spend taxpayers' money to avoid accountability rather than implementing their own policies for the benefit of their constituents, housed and unhoused alike…
We had hoped that more candidates would run on the promise of enforcing the EMP, but unfortunately, Oakland is currently stuck with weak and ineffective leadership. As neighbors, it is our duty to place as much pressure on them as possible to stick to their words.
We believe that our lawsuit and organization have clearly punched above their weight as far as their influence on local political discourse. One of our successes was that the Oakland Chamber of Commerce put the enforcement of the EMP and reopening City Hall as one of their main policy demands. The press coverage we received thanks to NTO's activism, lawfare, and Seneca's campaign has directly led to added pressure on our officials to answer the demands of neighbors and local businesses…
Best,
Neighbors Together Oakland