Bay Area

OP-ED: Balancing the Budget—and the Needs of Our Residents

When I took office in January, I knew that my Administration would be facing a large deficit. In fact, with a $360 million shortfall over the next two years, it is the largest deficit in Oakland’s history. This inherited shortfall is largely the result of two factors: the loss of federal pandemic funding and a decline in revenue generated from the real estate transfer tax and transient occupancy tax.

Published

1 year ago

May 11, 2023

Oakland Post

Mayor Sheng Thao

By Mayor Sheng Thao

When I took office in January, I knew that my Administration would be facing a large deficit.

In fact, with a $360 million shortfall over the next two years, it is the largest deficit in Oakland’s history. This inherited shortfall is largely the result of two factors: the loss of federal pandemic funding and a decline in revenue generated from the real estate transfer tax and transient occupancy tax.

But when you’re in need of City services, something I know about all too well, it doesn’t matter why there’s a shortfall, it matters if you’ll have a job, whether you have an affordable place to live, whether you live in a city that has opportunities and resources for your children and your family.

With this in mind, our challenge was unprecedented, but our mandate was clear: Balance the budget, invest in our communities, preserve jobs.

Thanks to the ingenuity and hard work of our City staff, our “One Oakland” proposed budget accomplishes all of the above—while also making significant investments in our communities, including the largest in affordable housing in the city’s history.

Yes, we were forced to make difficult decisions, but it was also an opportunity to create efficiencies and improve coordination in City government, reducing costs and strengthening our ability to serve our communities.

As a result, our proposed budget includes a new reorganization of City departments— Department of Homelessness & Housing Development; Department of Children, Youth and Families; and Department of Planning, Building and Economic Development.

The reorganization will ensure each department has a clear mission related to community priorities and save $2 million per year, allowing us to preserve vital services in these challenging times.

This reorganization will be supported by an improved management structure in the City Administrator’s Office. Departments with related services will be grouped into “channels” and report to or coordinate with a dedicated Deputy or Assistant City Administrator.

To further close the gap, we are freezing vacant positions—300 in total—many of which have been open for a long period of time; allowing for attrition, meaning if a position becomes vacant, we will hold off hiring a replacement until funding becomes available; and delaying on spending.

In all cases, we did this with the goal of minimizing impacts on services. And we will prioritize hiring for these positions if revenue exceeds forecasts.

This budget is a reflection of my Administration’s values: Centering Equity; Valuing the City Workforce; and Strategic Thinking.

This is why, despite the environment we face, the proposed budget allocates more than $200 million over the next two years toward affordable housing; expands early childhood education through Oakland’s Head Start and Early Head Start program; includes more than $106 million to build, repair and upgrade parks, recreation facilities, libraries, storm drains and non-road infrastructure; and invests more than $9.1 million toward street safety.

The proposed budget will also allow for better coordination of key public safety goals while continuing the ‘civilianization’ of certain functions of the Police Department.

This is a budget that manages our fiscal situation responsibly, responds to the needs of our residents and local businesses, and reflects my Administration’s commitment to direct investments in our communities—all while avoiding layoffs.

I applaud our City staff for this huge accomplishment, balancing not just the budget but the needs of our residents.

I look forward to hearing community input through a series of public forums—and to adopting this budget on June 30 so we can move forward together, as One Oakland.

Sheng Thao is the 51^st and current Mayor of Oakland.

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Oakland Post: Week of July 24 – 30, 2024

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

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13 hours ago

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Oakland Post: Week of July 17 -23, 2024

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Bay Area

Op-Ed Senate Bill 966 Threatens Health Equity in East Bay

My East Bay community is struggling to get by. A proposed State Senate bill would set us back even further. Serving the East Bay community has been my life’s work and my greatest joy. After leaving the Bay Area to complete my seminary, I returned home to found The Community Church in Oakland. From the outset of my time as the church’s pastor, I have been guided by the belief that my service must extend beyond the pulpit, because the health and economic needs of my community are so great. Our church has organized free food banks, COVID-19 testing clinics, and a housing and re-entry program for those suffering from addiction.

Published

1 week ago

July 19, 2024

Oakland Post

Rev. Dr. Lawrence E. VanHook

By Rev. Dr. Lawrence E. VanHook

Special to the Post

My East Bay community is struggling to get by. A proposed State Senate bill would set us back even further.

Serving the East Bay community has been my life’s work and my greatest joy. After leaving the Bay Area to complete my seminary, I returned home to found The Community Church in Oakland.

From the outset of my time as the church’s pastor, I have been guided by the belief that my service must extend beyond the pulpit, because the health and economic needs of my community are so great. Our church has organized free food banks, COVID-19 testing clinics, and a housing and re-entry program for those suffering from addiction.

Through my service, I have seen the challenges that our community members are facing. Oakland, my hometown, has the third-highest rate of violent crime in the state. The local economy is strained. Oakland-based businesses are leaving our community because they’re struggling to get ahead.

Both East and West Oakland has disproportionately high rates of respiratory illness due to heavy air pollution. While our local efforts have brought some aid to those in need, we are also counting on our state elected officials to help us address the systemic health disparities afflicting the community.

Chief among the health concerns of community members is having reliable and affordable access to prescription drugs. Equitable access to medications gives us the peace of mind that we can keep ourselves and our families healthy and safe. Our community should not have to choose between paying rent or purchasing prescriptions.

Unfortunately, rather than taking action to combat soaring prescription drug prices, some California lawmakers are pushing legislation that could raise patient costs at the pharmacy counter.

The Legislature is currently considering SB 966, a bill backed by special interests that would undercut the few tools we have to keep prescription drug costs contained, letting big drug companies increase their prices, profiting on the backs of working families – some of whom already live paycheck to paycheck.

SB 966 would target the fundamental programs through which small businesses, unions, and government health programs are able to offer their employees and members quality and affordable healthcare. Millions of Californians rely on these plans to obtain essential medications at the lowest-possible cost.

The bill would make it illegal for employers and unions to incentivize the administrators of their prescription drug plans to negotiate for the lowest possible cost for prescriptions. Right now, small businesses and unions can choose to pay these administrators more for taking on big drug companies and securing discounts – a choice that will be outlawed under this bill.

As a result, employers will have no leverage to stop big drug companies from setting sky-high prices, disproportionately impacting working families.

As these health costs quickly add up, employers will have little choice but to pass the increases down to their employees. That means California patients will see higher healthcare costs and co-pays.

From my perspective, most concerning is that the bill would exacerbate the health disparities impacting my community and other underserved populations. If SB 966 becomes law, the most vulnerable may be forced to skip prescription doses, stop filling their prescriptions, and avoid essential care.

By rejecting this cash grab by big drug companies, our state elected officials can send a clear message that they stand with the community, patients, and working families.

We cannot afford SB 966.

Rev. Dr. VanHook is the founder and pastor of The Community Church in Oakland and the founder of The Charis House, a re-entry facility for men recovering from alcohol and drug abuse.