City Government

Oakland Cannabis Proposal to Fund Social Services Deadlocks in Council

Published

8 years ago

September 29, 2016

Public Safety Committee officials on Tuesday deadlocked on a proposal by council members Desley Brooks, Noel Gallo and Larry Reid that would require all pot businesses in Oakland to share their earnings with the city to help fund its social services.

The plan would make cannabis businesses and those who lease their property in Oakland give 25 percent of their profit to the city in order to receive operation permits.

It would also require at least one seat on the board of directors for the Commercial Cannabis Activity, and would restrict permits to people who have lived in Oakland for at least five years.

Desley Brooks, Noel Gallo and Larry Reid

Money generated from the plan would go towards a Cannabis Equity Fund, which would support three job-training programs, loans, community beautification and the establishment of a council district activities fund.

Supporters like local activist Carroll Fife said the proposal is necessary to address racial disparities in the bourgeoning pot business, which is expected to rake in more than $7 billion by the end of this year.

“We have an opportunity to fix what is wrong,” Fife said on Tuesday. “Let’s level the playing field and give more people opportunities to have the middle class existence that we have been robbed of.”

“The vast majority of people who are making money off this industry are white males, and it has not been an industry that has by and large included a majority of the population,” Brooks said.

On Tuesday, Brooks also emphasized how the plan would support Oakland’s historic Equity Permit Program, which City Council passed in May to provide unique support to those hardest hit by the Drug War.

Opponents – which include Terryn Buxton, who represents Brooks’ district for Oakland’s Cannabis Regulatory Commission – said the plan would drive the cannabis business out of Oakland.

In addition, the deadlocked proposal presented on Tuesday contained amendments from a previous version of the plan, which had received criticism from city and state officials for possibly not complying with state and federal regulations.

“Even if (the plan) is legal, which it’s probably not, it’s just ridiculous to the point where it’s not going to happen,” Councilmember Dan Kalb said on Tuesday. “What’s going to happen is that people are going to leave.”

But now that the plan is back to the drawing board, “everything is up for negotiations” according to Brooks.

And although the Committee took no official action on Tuesday, she said she’s still pleased with the outcome. “We changed the conversation… people are finally talking about funds that need to be set up to assist equity in business. For me, it was a victory.”

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Oakland Post: Week of April 24 – 30, 2024

The printed Weekly Edition of the Oakland Post: Week of April 24 – 30, 2024

Published

5 days ago

April 26, 2024

Oakland Post

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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.

Published

1 week ago

April 22, 2024

Oakland Post

District Attorney Pamela Price with Carol Jones

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.

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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.

Published

1 week ago

April 22, 2024

Oakland Post

Beverli Marshall began her first day with the City on April 10. ICMA image.

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.