Oakland

Opinion: Councilmember Desley Brooks is a Passionate Advocate for Oakland

Published

8 years ago

January 19, 2018

Oakland Post

By Darin T. Wesley

In Oakland, most electeds claim to play nice. But with whom? At whose expense?

As rents skyrocket and affordable housing becomes a distant dream, local politicians make nice with big developers, venture capitalists and rich tech companies – partnerships that leave residents literally outside in the cold.

As more families lose their homes, the representatives they elected to represent them smile widely while cutting deals with deep pocket investors responsible for making the Bay Area the most expensive place to live in America.

Those who dare question the game are framed as contentious. They are ostracized from political power circles and smeared outside of them. This is politics as usual—a game of life or death for many, and one that Oakland’s public servants happily play by the rules.

Not Desley Brooks.

Brooks is a politician who has always been a passionate advocate for our community. Anyone who has witnessed her hold court during a City Council meeting could not deny her vocal, unyielding approach to her legislative duties.

A licensed attorney, Brooks was in-house counsel for several departments at both federal and state levels before being elected to represent District 6 in East Oakland. It’s a sound bet that those around during her trial days would describe her pursuit of justice back then in a similar way.

No matter the role, throughout her career Brooks has been a staunch advocate for the interests of those she represents, bravely challenging those that oppose.

She doesn’t often seem concerned with nice—that much is true. Her focus is lasered in on what’s right. During her 16 years on the Council, Brooks has challenged City Hall from within, refusing to play politics in an arena of closed door deals.

Instead, she’s worked to foster an open-door policy with residents.

She has a long list of accomplishments:

Backing legislation to keep tenants and homeowners safe from eviction and foreclosure;
Organizing free legal assistance at Eastmont Mall for Oakland residents;
Backing Oakland’s Prompt Payment Policy ensuring nonprofits are paid on time;
Sponsoring the new Department of Race and Equity, created to end systemic racism in the City of Oakland;
Helping pass an historic Cannabis Equity Ordinance, winning rights for those from neighborhoods most devastated by War on Drugs to participate in legal cannabis industry;
Backing measures to increase police accountability;
Sponsoring concerts, food giveaways and other activities in neighborhoods that get little attention from City Hall.

When decisions are made that affect people’s livelihoods, she makes sure the community pays attention and participates. She extends her political power beyond the walls of City Hall, attending local meetings to hear concerns directly from the community.

These methods have helped make Brooks’ reputation as an advocate well known in Oakland.
What’s lesser known is how those efforts often find her pitted against the interests of other Council members and government officials.

Big developers and others set to gain from rampant speculation see Brooks’ adherence to the needs of her base as an obstacle, and Brooks herself as a contentious nuisance rather than a valued voice.

District 6, full of Black and Brown families with little economic power, don’t often figure in political big money games, even as a bargaining chip.

As most government representatives reach up for the next rung on the political ladder, Desley Brooks has time and time again chosen to reach back to her community.

Brooks has consistently risked political gain in favor of public good.

She has sacrificed personal comfort for good public policy and taken plenty of hits along the way.

Despite big opposition, Brooks continues to fight for her district, granting her constituents exactly what they voted for: a seat at the table.

D. Wesley is a freelance writer and native Midwesterner who loves hiking, cooking and living somewhere it doesn’t snow.

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Advice

Financial Wellness and Mental Health: Managing Money Stress in College 

While everyone’s financial situation is unique, several common sources of stress have the potential to strain your financial health. These include financial and economic uncertainty, existing debts, unexpected expenses, and mental or physical health changes. Financial stress may differ from situation to situation, but understanding the factors contributing to yours may help you begin to craft a plan for your unique circumstances.

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3 weeks ago

March 17, 2026

Oakland Post

Sponsored by JPMorganChase

As a college student, managing financial responsibilities can be stressful.

If you’ve found yourself staying up late thinking about your finances or just feeling anxious overall about your financial future, you’re not alone. In one survey, 78% of college students who reported financial stress had negative impacts on their mental health, and 59% considered dropping out. While finances can impact overall stress, taking steps to manage your finances can support your mental, emotional and physical well-being.

When it comes to money, the sources of stress may look different for each student, but identifying the underlying causes and setting goals accordingly may help you feel more confident about your financial future.

Consider these strategies to help improve your financial wellness and reduce stress.

Understand what causes financial stress

2. Determine your financial priorities

Start by reflecting on your financial priorities. For students this often includes paying for school or paying off student loans, studying abroad, saving for spring break, building an emergency fund, paying down credit card debt or buying a car. Name the milestones that are most important to you, and plan accordingly.

3. Create a plan and stick to it

While setting actionable goals starts you on the journey to better financial health, it’s essential to craft a plan to follow through. Identifying and committing to a savings plan may give you a greater sense of control over your finances, which may help reduce your stress. Creating and sticking to a budget allows you to better track where your money is going so you may spend less and save more.

4. Pay down debt

Many students have some form of debt and want to make progress toward reducing their debt obligations. One option is the debt avalanche method, which focuses on paying off your debt with the highest interest rate first, then moving on to the debt with the next-highest interest rate. Another is the debt snowball method, which builds momentum by paying off your smallest debt balance, and then working your way up to the largest amounts.

5. Build your financial resilience

Some financial stress may be inevitable, but building financial resilience may allow you to overcome obstacles more easily. The more you learn about managing your money, for instance, the more prepared you’ll feel if the unexpected happens. Growing your emergency savings also may increase resilience since you’ll be more financially prepared to cover unexpected expenses or pay your living expenses.

6. Seek help and support

Many colleges have resources to help students experiencing financial stress, like financial literacy courses or funds that provide some assistance for students in need. Talk to your admissions counselor or advisor about your concerns, and they can direct you to sources of support. Your school’s counseling center can also be a great resource for mental health assistance if you’re struggling with financial stress.

The bottom line

Financial stress can affect college students’ health and wellbeing, but it doesn’t have to derail your dreams. Setting smart financial goals and developing simple plans to achieve them may help ease your stress. Revisit and adjust your plan as needed to ensure it continues to work for you, and seek additional support on campus as needed to help keep you on track.

 JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. Member FDIC