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Alameda County

Oakland Youth May Be Able to Vote in the Upcoming November School Board Elections

Four years after passing Measure QQ, which advocated for youth voting in school board elections, Alameda County is progressing towards granting 16 and 17 year olds the opportunity to vote for their district directors in the upcoming November election.

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Oakland Youth First students and volunteers at the Oakland City Council meeting where members passed an ordinance that allows 16- and 17-year old teens to vote in the upcoming school board election. Photo courtesy of Oakland Youth First.
Oakland Youth First students and volunteers at the Oakland City Council meeting where members passed an ordinance that allows 16- and 17-year old teens to vote in the upcoming school board election. Photo courtesy of Oakland Youth First.

By Magaly Muñoz

Four years after passing Measure QQ, which advocated for youth voting in school board elections, Alameda County is progressing towards granting 16 and 17 year olds the opportunity to vote for their district directors in the upcoming November election.

The process for this outcome has been frustrating and somewhat slow for those who advocated for the measure. Two school board elections came and went since the measure was passed by 67% of the vote in 2020- one in 2022 and a special election in 2023- with many saying that would’ve been the perfect opportunity to test out the voting process.

At the time of the fall special election, the county Registrar of Voters (ROV) missed the deadline to introduce new voting systems, which were required in order to register the eligible teens for the election.

Sources told the Post that there had been considerable back and forth between the ROV and the city council, who needed to pass an ordinance to authorize teen voting, about when they would see tangible plans to make this happen. The ROV had allegedly not been very communicative with the city.

Now, the council has passed a first reading of the ordinance, and should everything run smoothly, eligible students could vote for one of the four school board seats in the fall.

Sam Davis, Oakland Unified District 1 director and board president, represented the students who participated in the voting initiative at the city council’s meeting. He told the Post he’s advocated for this measure since the beginning and is excited to see their years of efforts come to fruition.

“There’s been some different hoops to jump through, but it makes it all the more rewarding that this actually happened,” Davis said.

Davis explained that lowering the age to 16 and 17 will allow teens to get a sense of how the democratic process works before they get to vote in larger elections once they turn 18. He said with the current political climate, it’s important that teens know how to make informed decisions about their representatives.

Lukas Brekke-Miesner, Executive Director of Oakland Kids First (OKF), the group that assisted in pushing the 2020 measure forward, told the Post that he won’t feel real victory until everything is set in stone and students are standing in the voting line.

He said the teen voting was vital because it allows students to hold the board accountable when making decisions that directly affect them. Students have shared with him that they often have felt like their words were going through one ear and out the other when addressing the board, but this new voting changes how their voices are heard.

In 2022, Measure S for noncitizen parent voting, passed by 66% of the votes, but as of today, no word has been given on when that will see implementation in the city.

In 2016, San Francisco passed a similar measure for non-citizen school board voting but was quickly met with a lawsuit by the United States Justice Foundation and the California Public Policy Foundation, that is still ongoing. Results of that case will help determine what will happen in Oakland school board elections.

Domenichi Morris, lead organizer with OKF, said they try to involve undocumented parents’ voices as often as possible through community forums because they value the care and input parents have in their child’s lives.

With the ordinance now approved, Oakland will enter into a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the city of Berkeley, who also passed youth voting in 2016. The MOU states that the city of Oakland and Berkeley Unified School District (BUSD) will take on the primary costs of youth voting.

While costs may vary depending on how many voters are registered or by type of election, standalone or special, the November election could cost Oakland $20,672 – $22,848, based on current pre-registered voters. This number is expected to fluctuate now that youth voting is beginning its implementation in the city.

The MOU also states that Oakland and BUSD would be responsible to pay any litigation costs Alameda County might incur if sued for anything related to youth voting. The county would in turn compensate both parties due to Alameda’s negligence or willful misconduct performing its duties.

A second reading of the ordinance in order to solidify teen voting in Oakland is scheduled for July 16.

Activism

Former U.S. Rep. Barbara Lee Reflects on Her Career as She Bids Farewell to Congress

“Together, we have raised our voices and pushed the envelope for peace, justice and equity. It has been the honor of a lifetime to provide constituent services, deliver federal investments to my district, speak out, and often times be the only one to take tough votes against the tide. I have, and will continue to, fight for working families, the middle class, low income and poor people,” said Lee On her final day in Congress.

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Rep. Barbara Lee. File photo.
Rep. Barbara Lee. File photo.

By Bo Tefu, California Black Media

Outgoing Congresswoman Barbara Lee (D-CA-12) expressed deep gratitude to her constituents and marked the end of her 26-year career in public service.

Lee, who is succeeded by Lateefah Simon, a civil rights and racial justice activist, praised people in her community for their support. She also highlighted her dedication to promoting peace, justice, and equity.

“Together, we have raised our voices and pushed the envelope for peace, justice and equity. It has been the honor of a lifetime to provide constituent services, deliver federal investments to my district, speak out, and often times be the only one to take tough votes against the tide. I have, and will continue to, fight for working families, the middle class, low income and poor people,” said Lee On her final day in Congress.

Throughout her tenure, Lee earned a reputation as a principled lawmaker known for taking bold and sometimes unpopular stances. One of her defining moments came in 2001 when she was the sole member of Congress to vote against the Authorization for the Use of Military Force in response to the September 11 attacks. This decision led to death threats but ultimately cemented her legacy of courage.

Lee’s leadership extended beyond her district, where she fought for social justice, the rights of low-income communities, and global health initiatives. She was a key figure in pushing for the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR). She was a vocal critic of the Hyde Amendment, which restricts federal funding for abortion services.

The Congresswoman also faced significant challenges in her career, including a failed Senate bid in 2024. Yet, Lee’s efforts have paved the way for more excellent representation, with more Black women now elected to Congress. She worked closely with organizations like Representation Matters to encourage more women of color to run for office.

Lee says she looks to the future, confident that the next generation of leaders will continue her unfinished work, particularly on issues like military force and reproductive rights.

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Activism

OPINION: Gavin’s Ghosts — Governor Attacks Oakland’s Voter-Approved Police Commission

The Coalition for Police Accountability (CPA) hears from Oakland residents that the Oakland Police Officers Association (OPOA) members misrepresent the policy. In October, police arrived during a business invasion and armed robbery but did not pursue fleeing assailants. This was ascribed to the pursuit policy — although chasing robbers with guns where people were beaten is clearly permissible within the policy.

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Gov. Gavin Newsom. Cal Matters photo.

By Oakland Coalition for Police Accountability

Why is Governor Newsom attacking the Oakland Police Commission over a pursuit policy that was written by the Oakland Police Department and later amended by ex-Chief LeRonne Armstrong?

The Governor is demanding more police chases in a broader set of circumstances that he appears not to know. Oakland’s pursuit policy says police cannot engage in high-speed chases unless there is a public safety benefit to catching the driver that outweighs the strong possibility of injury resulting from the chase.

The original policy was written and amended by OPD with no input or approval from the Oakland Police Commission.

The original policy was based on national best practices, written and implemented by former Police Chief Sean Whent. In 2022, after two high-speed police chases resulted in the deaths of two bystanders, then-Chief LeRonne Armstrong amended it to our current policy.

Most recently, the Oakland City Council requested the Police Commission review the policy even though it is not in their purview. After a town hall, and a review of research and comparable policies, the Commission supported OPD’s current policy.

The Coalition for Police Accountability (CPA) hears from Oakland residents that the Oakland Police Officers Association (OPOA) members misrepresent the policy. In October, police arrived during a business invasion and armed robbery but did not pursue fleeing assailants. This was ascribed to the pursuit policy — although chasing robbers with guns where people were beaten is clearly permissible within the policy.

Newsom’s insertion of himself into local politics amplifies the misinformation from OPOA and other opponents of police accountability. This deceit also distracts the community from focusing on the important issue of police overtime, a major driver of Oakland’s budget crisis.

Why is OPOA misrepresenting the role of the Police Commission to the public and attacking Armstrong’s policy?

Vilifying the commission is the wrong target, dishonest and reflects their real opposition to oversight and constitutional policing.

OPOA has manufactured this crisis by not following the current policy and signaling to criminals that they will not do their job. OPD does not have a “no chase” policy.

If OPOA is now concerned that criminals believe there is a “no chase” policy, then OPOA only has itself to blame. What other city workers are permitted to publicly misrepresent the city policy that they work under?

CPA stands with the 83% of the Oakland voters who created a civilian police commission. Despite improvements and reductions in the use of excessive force, the Oakland Police Department continues to have scandals and coverups, which is why they remain under federal oversight.

There may be changes to the pursuit policy that are worth considering, but it is harder to have that conversation when the impact and actual policy are being misrepresented.

The Coalition for Police Accountability condemns these disingenuous attacks against the Commission. If the Governor gets his demand for more high-speed chases it will result in more injuries and deaths on our streets.

Should we call these deaths Gavin’s Ghosts?

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Activism

Gov. Newsom Demands Oakland Police Commission Adopt Police Pursuit Policy Allowing More High-Speed Chases

CHP’s involvement in Oakland policing over the past year has resulted in more than 1,400 arrests, representing 30% of the 4700 of the arrests made by the entire Oakland Police Department in 2023. Aligning himself with the Oakland Police Officers Association (OPOA), Newsom called the Oakland Police Commission irresponsible in their duty to the safety of Oakland residents because they declined to change the pursuit policy when tasked to do so by the Oakland City Council:

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Gov. Gavin Newsom with California Highway Patrol officers.
Gov. Gavin Newsom with California Highway Patrol officers.

By Post Staff

At a press conference on Dec. 27, Governor Gavin Newsom gave an ultimatum to the City of Oakland. He demanded the city change its current police pursuit policy or risk losing current support from the California Highway Patrol (CHP).

“We need to see some commensurate support and reforms and changes as it relates to policing here in Oakland in order to consider extending this state subsidized partnership,” he said. “We specifically are going to need to see changes in the pursuit policy in Oakland.”

CHP’s involvement in Oakland policing over the past year has resulted in more than 1,400 arrests, representing 30% of the 4700 of the arrests made by the entire Oakland Police Department in 2023.

Aligning himself with the Oakland Police Officers Association (OPOA), Newsom called the Oakland Police Commission irresponsible in their duty to the safety of Oakland residents because they declined to change the pursuit policy when tasked to do so by the Oakland City Council:

“In July, I wrote a letter to the police commission. I wrote a letter to the city council. I wrote a letter to local leaders and the mayor at the time requesting some common sense, not going back to an extreme,” he said.

“We’re not looking for an old binary here. We’re trying to take best practices across the state and, for that matter, across the nation. It’s been a decade since that policy was reverted, and [we asked them] to update it. In September the police commission had that opportunity to do so, and they decided not to do it,” he said.

CHP Deputy Commissioner Ezery Beauchamp said, “Criminals are fully aware that when the lights come on in certain communities and municipalities, the police are not allowed to chase them. We have had CHP officers who pursue individuals and, upon arresting them, have had the criminals tell us they didn’t think we were allowed to chase them. This type of situation only benefits the criminals; it does not benefit the people that are being victimized here in California by crime.”

Over the past year, CHP conducted 500 chases. In contrast, the Oakland Police Department, with a much larger patrol force than CHP, conducted about 65.

In the public meeting of the police commission on Sept. 19, 2024, 100 residents of Oakland implored the commission to revise restrictions and restore police chase capabilities. They highlighted to the commission that “Oakland’s businesses are being targeted almost on a daily basis and we need to help our small business owners….it is a plea to help our city thrive.”

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California Gov. Gavin Newsom. Photo Courtesy of California Governor’s Office.
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