City Government
Community Coalition Files Lawsuit Against Measure AA
A community coalition filed a lawsuit today in Superior Court to challenge the certification of City of Oakland’s Measure AA and prevent collection of the tax.
The coalition includes the Jobs and Housing Coalition (JHC), several homeowners, and landlords owning property in the city.
In December, the Oakland City Council convened a special meeting to certify and declare the passage of Measure AA, the Oakland Children’s Initiative, even though the measure failed to receive the required two-thirds vote needed for passage at the ballot box last November.
After the votes were counted and the measure fell short of the two-thirds threshold, the City Council, at the urging of the Mayor, asserted that the measure only required a simple majority to pass.
This is contrary to the official ballot guide sent to all voters that said in multiple places that a two-thirds vote was required. Moreover, it was City Attorney Barbara Parker who concluded that Measure AA was a parcel tax that required a two-thirds vote to pass.
JHC states that this lawsuit is not about whether the Measure AA is a good or bad idea. Many JHC members have contributed millions of dollars to the Promise Fund, which would have received funding from Measure AA.
JHC took no position on the measure during the election campaign,
“Regardless of the merits of the measure – and who doesn’t like children – the council’s vote, ignoring the will of the voters, is a stunning rebuke to the democratic process, and represents a huge breach of trust to businesses, residents and taxpayers,” said Greg McConnell, CEO of JHC.
This sentiment is apparently shared by the League of Women Voters of Oakland. On January 31, the League went before the City Council Rules Committee to request that it schedule a nullification hearing overturning the prior Council Action on Measure AA.
To support its request, the League issued a statement which read:
“The Council’s choice to act as it did, despite the lack of notice and transparency, is both shocking and disappointing. It also undermines public confidence in our elected officials. We urge you to nullify the certification of Measure AA as passed and accurately certify the measure as Failed.”
The request was not approved because of pending litigation on the issue.
Activism
Oakland Post: Week of April 24 – 30, 2024
The printed Weekly Edition of the Oakland Post: Week of April 24 – 30, 2024
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Alameda County
DA Pamela Price Stands by Mom Who Lost Son to Gun Violence in Oakland
Last week, The Post published a photo showing Alameda County District Attorney Pamela Price with Carol Jones, whose son, Patrick DeMarco Scott, was gunned down by an unknown assailant in 2018.
Publisher’s note: Last week, The Post published a photo showing Alameda County District Attorney Pamela Price with Carol Jones, whose son, Patrick DeMarco Scott, was gunned down by an unknown assailant in 2018. The photo was too small for readers to see where the women were and what they were doing. Here we show Price and Jones as they complete a walk in memory of Scott. For more information and to contribute, please contact Carol Jones at 510-978-5517 at morefoundation.help@gmail.com. Courtesy photo.
City Government
Vallejo Welcomes Interim City Manager Beverli Marshall
At Tuesday night’s Council meeting, the Vallejo City Council appointed Beverli Marshall as the interim city manager. Her tenure in the City Manager’s Office began today, Wednesday, April 10. Mayor Robert McConnell praised Marshall’s extensive background, noting her “wide breadth of experience in many areas that will assist the City and its citizens in understanding the complexity of the many issues that must be solved” in Vallejo.
Special to The Post
At Tuesday night’s Council meeting, the Vallejo City Council appointed Beverli Marshall as the interim city manager. Her tenure in the City Manager’s Office began today, Wednesday, April 10.
Mayor Robert McConnell praised Marshall’s extensive background, noting her “wide breadth of experience in many areas that will assist the City and its citizens in understanding the complexity of the many issues that must be solved” in Vallejo.
Current City Manager Michael Malone, whose official departure is slated for April 18, expressed his well wishes. “I wish the City of Vallejo and Interim City Manager Marshall all the best in moving forward on the progress we’ve made to improve service to residents.” Malone expressed his hope that the staff and Council will work closely with ICM Marshall to “ensure success and prosperity for the City.”
According to the Vallejo Sun, Malone stepped into the role of interim city manager in 2021 and became permanent in 2022. Previously, Malone served as the city’s water director and decided to retire from city service e at the end of his contract which is April 18.
“I hope the excellent work of City staff will continue for years to come in Vallejo,” he said. “However, recent developments have led me to this decision to announce my retirement.”
When Malone was appointed, Vallejo was awash in scandals involving the housing division and the police department. A third of the city’s jobs went unfilled during most of his tenure, making for a rocky road for getting things done, the Vallejo Sun reported.
At last night’s council meeting, McConnell explained the selection process, highlighting the council’s confidence in achieving positive outcomes through a collaborative effort, and said this afternoon, “The Council is confident that by working closely together, positive results will be obtained.”
While the search for a permanent city manager is ongoing, an announcement is expected in the coming months.
On behalf of the City Council, Mayor McConnell extended gratitude to the staff, citizen groups, and recruitment firm.
“The Council wishes to thank the staff, the citizens’ group, and the recruitment firm for their diligent work and careful consideration for the selection of what is possibly the most important decision a Council can make on behalf of the betterment of our City,” McConnell said.
The Vallejo Sun contributed to this report.
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