Bay Area

City Auditor Says Mayor Schaaf Misused City Money and Resources to Fund Oakland Promise

Published

4 years ago

November 21, 2019

Mayor Libby Schaaf directed the city administration to make “inappropriate contributions” to her favored nonprofit organization, The Oakland Promise, bypassing the Oakland Municipal code and paying the director of Oakland Promise over $700,000 without authorization, according to the findings of an investigation released this week by the Oakland Office of the City Auditor.

The office of the City Auditor Courtney Ruby conducted the investigation in response to multiple “whistleblower allegations” and questions raised by the City Council in June 2019.

The Oakland Promise, a nonprofit “multi-agency partnership” that includes the Mayor’s Office, the Oakland Unified School District, the East Bay College Fund and the Oakland Public Education Fund, raises money to provide scholarships and other educational opportunities for Oakland youth. The organization began in 2014, and in 2015, the Mayor’s Office joined the partnership “and assumed a leadership role in collaborating with these organizations,” according to the auditor’s report on the investigation.

In June 2019, the East Bay College Fund changed its name to Oakland Promise, which became a registered nonprofit organization.

The auditor’s investigation concluded:

• “The Mayor’s Office directed the City Administration to provide workspace to Oakland Promise without following Municipal code requirements.” Without proper authorization, starting in 2016, the city provided three workstations, phones, computers and internet for up to five Oakland Promise employees for two years on the 11th floor of City Hall. “This arrangement … contrasts with other third-party organizations that have used city-owned real property,” the report said. “Other third-party entities using city-owned real property have formal agreements and were charged rents (and) have provided verification of insurance coverage.)”

•“For 16 months (from July 2015 – Nov. 2016), the Mayor’s office allowed an Oakland Education Fund employee to lead Oakland Promise as the “Mayor’s Director of Education” without executing an agreement to ensure the City’s interests were promoted and protected.”

•Since fiscal year 2017-2018, the city has funded the Mayor’s Director of Education, who continued to work for Oakland Promise, “without authorization from the City Council as an in-kind contribution to Oakland Promise, at a cost to the city exceeding $700,000.”

The Mayor’s Director of Education, David Silver, was not mentioned by name in the auditor’s report. “City financial records show that (David Silver) has accounted for $704,374 in direct personnel-related costs from the city’s General Purpose fund between July 1, 2017 and Nov. 7, 2019.

In August 2015, Mayor Schaaf submitted a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to the City Council to implement Oakland Promise, approving it herself while the council was on summer recess. A memo from the mayor stated that the “MOU has no cost implications to the City of Oakland.”

According to the auditor’s findings,“It wasn’t until June 2019 that a republic report summarized the city’s financial and in-kind contribution to Oakland Promise.”

In total, the city has contributed $4,372,428 to Oakland Promise, including authorized and unauthorized expenditures and excluding the cost of in-kind donation of office space and equipment, which is unknown.

Among its recommendations, the City Auditor suggested that the city administration “should comply with the Municipal Code in providing space to other others” and suggested that the City Council request a yearly report on leases and other arrangements with organizations that use city facilities. The auditor also suggested that the City Council develop a policy that requires in-kind contributions to be “formally authorized in advance.”

The Mayor’s Office agrees with all of the recommendations, said Justin Berton, the mayor’s director of communications.

“The Office of the Mayor is grateful for the City Auditor’s detailed report that concludes every contribution to the Oakland Promise is being used to send more kids to, and through college,” he said. “We regret, however, that in the eagerness to launch a generation-changing education initiative, we unintentionally failed to properly document the legal use of City Hall office space and a grant to support an employee’s salary. We wholeheartedly support all of the City Auditor’s recommendations that will bring clarity to this process in the future.”

A more complete report on this investigation will be published in next week’s Oakland Post.

By Ken Epstein

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Activism

S.F. Black Leaders Rally to Protest, Discuss ‘Epidemic’ of Racial Slurs Against Black Students in SF Public School System

Parents at the meeting spoke of their children as no longer feeling safe in school because of bullying and discrimination. Parents also said that reported incidents such as racial slurs and intimidation are not dealt with to their satisfaction and feel ignored.

Published

3 days ago

May 4, 2024

Oakland Post

Rev. Amos C. Brown, president of the San Francisco NAACP and pastor of Third Baptist Church. Photo courtesy Third Baptist Church.

By Carla Thomas

San Francisco’s Third Baptist Church hosted a rally and meeting Sunday to discuss hatred toward African American students of the San Francisco Unified School District (SFUSD).

Rev. Amos C. Brown, president of the San Francisco NAACP and pastor of Third Baptist Church, along with leadership from local civil rights groups, the city’s faith-based community and Black community leadership convened at the church.

“There has been an epidemic of racial slurs and mistreatment of Black children in our public schools in the city,” said Brown. “This will not be tolerated.”

According to civil rights advocate Mattie Scott, students from elementary to high school have reported an extraordinary amount of racial slurs directed at them.

“There is a surge of overt racism in the schools, and our children should not be subjected to this,” said Scott. “Students are in school to learn, develop, and grow, not be hated on,” said Scott. “The parents of the children feel they have not received the support necessary to protect their children.”

Attendees were briefed last Friday in a meeting with SFUSD Superintendent Dr. Matt Wayne.

SFUSD states that their policies protect children and they are not at liberty to publicly discuss the issues to protect the children’s privacy.

Some parents said they have removed their students from school while other parents and community leaders called on the removal of the SFUSD superintendent, the firing of certain school principals and the need for more supportive school board members.

Community advocates discussed boycotting the schools and creating Freedom Schools led by Black leaders and educators, reassuring parents that their child’s wellbeing and education are the highest priority and youth are not to be disrupted by racism or policies that don’t support them.

Virginia Marshall, chair of the San Francisco NAACP’s education committee, offered encouragement to the parents and students in attendance while also announcing an upcoming May 14 school board meeting to demand accountability over their mistreatment.

“I’m urging anyone that cares about our students to pack the May 14 school board meeting,” said Marshall.

This resource was supported in whole or in part by funding provided by the State of California, administered by the California State Library via California Black Media as part of the Stop the Hate Program. The program is supported by partnership with California Department of Social Services and the California Commission on Asian and Pacific Islander American Affairs as part of the Stop the Hate program. To report a hate incident or hate crime and get support, go to CA vs Hate.

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Bay Area

Mayor London Breed: State Awards San Francisco Over $37M for Affordable Housing

On April 30, Mayor London N. Breed announced San Francisco has been awarded more than $37.9 million in funding from the California Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD) as part of the State’s Multifamily Housing Program (MHP). The HCD loan will provide the final funding necessary for development of Casa Adelante – 1515 South Van Ness, a 168-unit affordable housing project located in San Francisco’s Mission District.

Published

3 days ago

May 4, 2024

Oakland Post

San Francisco Mayor London N. Breed (File Photo)

By Oakland Post Staff

The HCD loan will provide the final funding necessary for development of Casa Adelante – 1515 South Van Ness, a 168-unit affordable housing project located in San Francisco’s Mission District.

The new development at 1515 South Van Ness Ave. will provide 168 affordable homes to low-income families, formerly homeless families, and persons living with HIV earning between 25-80% of the San Francisco Area Median Income (AMI).

In addition, the project is anticipated to provide family-friendly amenities and ground floor community-serving commercial spaces that preserve the prevailing neighborhood character of the Calle 24 Latino Cultural District.

“This funding unlocks our ability to move on building affordable housing units for families in San Francisco at a crucial time. We understand the level of need for more housing that is accessible, and like the state, the city continues to face a challenging budget cycle,” said Breed. “1515 South Van Ness is a good example of what can be achieved in San Francisco when you have strong community partnerships and an unwavering commitment to deliver on critical needs for our residents.”

“From the beginning of my term as Supervisor, I have fought to bring affordable housing to 1515 South Van Ness” said Supervisor Hillary Ronen. “In the interim, the site has been utilized for homeless services and shelter, and I am thrilled that HCD has recognized the value of this development, and we are finally ready to break ground and bring 168 affordable homes to low income and formerly homeless families in the Mission.”

Owned and occupied by McMillan Electric Company until 2015, the City and County of San Francisco purchased 1515 South Van Ness Avenue in June 2019 with the intent of developing new affordable housing.

In November 2020, the San Francisco Mayor’s Office of Housing and Community Development (MOHCD) released a Multi-site Request for Qualifications (RFQ) seeking qualified developers to build affordable housing on the site, and subsequently selected Chinatown Community Development Corporation (CCDC) and Mission Economic Development Agency (MEDA) in May 2021 to develop the site.

The project is expected to begin construction in winter 2025.

“A strong, long-term push by Mission advocates to make this site 100% affordable is now paying off, with 168 family units that include services and childcare. People of color communities know what they need, and we are excited to be in partnership with a team, consisting of MEDA, CCDC, and MOHCD, that listens,” said Malcolm Yeung, Executive Director at CCDC.

“We are excited to be in partnership with CCDC, yet again, and for the opportunity to develop intergenerational affordable housing in the City’s Mission District,” said Luis Granados, executive director at MEDA.

Increasing housing affordable to lower-income and vulnerable residents is a key priority in the City’s Housing Element which calls for additional funding for affordable housing production and preservation, as well as Mayor Breed’s Housing for All Executive Directive that sets out the steps the City will take to meet the bold goal of allowing for 82,000 new homes to be built over the next eight years.

Tuesday’s funding announcement emphasizes the importance of regional and state collaboration in order to reach our housing and climate goals.

“We are thrilled—not just to bring a project of this size to a community with great need — but to do so with community-based developers and their partners who understand the neighborhood and sensitivities around cultural preservation,” said HCD Director Gustavo Velasquez.

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Bay Area

East Bay Regional Park District Issues Rattlesnake Advisory

The East Bay Regional Park District released an advisory today on rattlesnakes, which emerge from winter hibernation in early spring and become more active. Warm weather can bring more potential for rattlesnake encounters with humans and dogs, particularly along trails and roads.

Published

3 days ago

May 4, 2024

Oakland Post

The Northern Pacific rattlesnake is the species found in East Bay Regional Parks. Courtesy photo.

The Richmond Standard

The East Bay Regional Park District released an advisory today on rattlesnakes, which emerge from winter hibernation in early spring and become more active.

Warm weather can bring more potential for rattlesnake encounters with humans and dogs, particularly along trails and roads.

Visitors are encouraged to avoid hiking alone in case of an emergency, to scan the ground ahead as they walk, jog or ride, stay on trails avoiding tall grass, and to look carefully around and under logs and rocks before sitting down. Keep your dog on your leash to be extra safe, park officials said.

If you encounter a rattlesnake, leave it alone – it is unlawful to capture or harm one. Move carefully and slowly away or around it and give it plenty of space, park officials said.

Those who are bitten by a rattlesnake are instructed to stay calm by lying down with the affected limb lower than the heart, then having someone call 911.

Getting medical attention is critical.

Those bitten should not use tourniquets, “sucking,” or snake bite kits. If you are by yourself, walk calmly to the nearest source of help to dial 911, do not run.

If bitten by any other type of snake, wash the wound with soap and water or an antiseptic and seek medical attention.

Not sure what bit you? Check the bite for two puncture marks (in rare cases one) associated with intense, burning pain, which is typical of a rattlesnake bite. Other snakebites can leave marks without associated burning pain.

The Northern Pacific rattlesnake is the species found in East Bay Regional Parks. Snakes are important to the natural environment, helping to control rodents and other reptile populations. But enjoy them from afar.

For more information, download the Park District’s Common Snakes brochure or watch our Gopher Snake or Rattlesnake video to learn how to tell the difference between rattlesnakes and gopher snakes. Additional information is available at ebparks.org/safety/wildlife-encounters.