News

Proposed City Council Rule Change Falls Short in Face of Community Opposition

Published

8 years ago

February 8, 2018

Speakers concerned about Chief Kirkpatrick’s interference in council decisions; Her
actions also cost her former employer, City of Spokane, $1.7 million jury award

Conflicts about abuse of power and political intrigue that are typically a feature of debates at the national level arose at the Oakland City Council meeting this week. Dozens of people from the community showed up to oppose a resolution to give the council president unchecked authority to appoint and remove committee chairs and members.

Speaker after speaker blasted the resolution as an anti-democratic move designed to intimidate oppositional, progressive voices on the council. A number of speakers said the change was especially meant to silence Public Safety Committee Chair Desley Brooks, who has been outspoken in condemnation of the Oakland Police Department’s cooperation with ICE immigration raids in violation of the sanctuary city policy passed by the council.

In the course of the debate, Council President Larry Reid admitted he had been called by Police Chief Anne Kirkpatrick about this issue but refused to discuss the content of their conversation.

Until now, the council’s Rules and Procedures has granted the president the authority to appoint committee members and chairs for two-year terms and has required that the appointments go to a council vote for confirmation.

The rule change, proposed by Councilmembers Lynette Gibson McElhaney and Annie Campbell Washington and Council President Larry Reid, would have allowed the president to shuffle committee chairs and members at any time and would remove the requirement for a council confirmation vote.

Not a single speaker who addressed the council supported the motion. In the face of community opposition, the proposal failed, winning only four votes, one vote short of what it needed to pass. It was supported by the proposal’s original three sponsors and Councilmember Abel Guillén.

Ultimately, a modified motion was passed, proposed by Councilmember Dan Kalb.
Falling short of what the McElhaney proposal was trying to achieve, the new rule—which goes into effect immediately—gives the council president power to appoint and remove committee members at will, but requires that his decisions go to the council for ratification.

Under the new rule, changes in committee membership cannot go into effect without public debate and a council decision.
Voting for the rule change were McElhaney, Campbell Washington, Reid, Guillén and Kalb. Opposed were Brooks and Noel Gallo. Councilmember-at-Large Rebecca Kaplan abstained.

Concerns have been circulating about whether Police Chief Anne Kirkpatrick had contacted Council President Reid about removing Brooks from her position as chair of Public Safety, and when questioned at the meeting by a community member, Reid said he had received a call from the chief.

Jonah Strauss of the Oakland Warehouse Coalition asked President Reid, “Did you have a recent call with Anne Kirkpatrick, chief of police? Do you feel it is appropriate for OPD to have a say in committee assignments?”

Reid responded, “Yeah, the police chief called me, but that’s my conversation with her, and I don’t have to share it with you. That’s my answer to your question.”

Rashidah Grinage of the Coalition for Police Accountability criticized the chief for interfering in city government and councilmembers for doing her bidding.

The police chief is afraid of an elected councilmember “to the point where she crosses all kinds of ethical and governmental

Rashidah Grinage

processes to make an effort to remove this person who has oversight,” said Grinage.

The chief is “so intimidated by being questioned and asked to account for her own actions that she retaliates against this person who is doing her job [and] who is representing the interests and the values and the laws of the community,” she said.

“This is a very frightening situation if this council is going to knuckle to pressure from a police chief,” she said. “Think about the signal that will send to this community.”

“You seem to think we don’t know what’s behind [the rule change], and in your efforts to be obscure, you are very clear and transparent,” Grinage said.

The East Bay Times reported Wednesday that the police chief said she had called Reid “to express concerns” about the December verdict in Elaine Brown’s lawsuit against the city and Brooks.

The police chief was herself the subject of a lawsuit while she served in Spokane, costing the city nearly $2 million.

Councilmember McElhaney said the rule change was only to make the council rules more efficient and modern, in line with how other cities assign committee members.

“Since 2014, I have sought to bring forth these changes…to provide for a continuity of service in case there is an interruption in our chair leadership [for health or other reasons],” said McElhaney.

“I have sought to bring modernization to [the rules],” she said.

Campbell Washington said, “This a very common rule in legislative bodies. I believe it will allow us to manage our business in a way that is necessary and respond to issues that we need to respond to.”

Kaplan questioned the motivation and consequences of the rule change.
“I don’t see any reference [in the proposal] to when a committee chair is incapacitated,” she said.

“But it appears this would allow committee assignments to be changed daily, hourly, for any reason, for no reason, and in fact there be no protections at all [against] it being used to punish somebody for not voting for something or for other reasons that would really be disruptive to the integrity of the body.”

Desley Brooks

Councilmember Brooks called the proposal part of a “concerted effort” on the part of councilmembers, the administration and the media “to try and seize this moment, to try to get the public to make a rush to judgment about me.”

“[This] really isn’t just about me,” she said. “I am just the vehicle. This has been an attempt to silence the voice of the community.”
A number of speakers syosupported Brooks’ work as a defender of the interests of the community.

Anthony Palik said he has been living in Oakland for less than a week and came to the council meeting after reading newspapers.
“[Desley Brooks] is obviously someone who can speak truth to power, and she’s a courageous woman for doing so,” he said.

“To hear what Ms. Brooks had to say convinced me that there’s a problem here. And that problem is the consolidation of power…an attempt of the majority to silence the minority.”

Turha Ak of the Community Ready Corps talked about how Brooks helped protect people during the protests in 2009 when Oscar Grant was killed by BART police.
He explained that as he was “trying to get people out to safety,” Ms. Brooks stepped through the tear gas, made [the police] back down and allowed me to get the people out.”

“You are not going to tell me that this isn’t about getting rid of her,” he said. “We’re (not) going to play that game,” he said. “You do developers’ business. You do corporations’ business. You do your business. You don’t do the people’s business.”

Cat Brooks, a journalist, actor and leader of the Anti Police-Terror Project, said, “This is not about personal relations. It’s about when the people say this is how we want to move, and we got hundreds of people inside this room saying this is how Oakland wants you to move, Desley listens when we say that.

“We have to be clear that getting Desley off of this council is getting progressive voices out of the room.”

In November 2011, a jury found that then-Spokane, WA Police Chief Anne Kirkpatrick (left) had illegally fired a police officer and then retaliated against him even after the officer was cleared of any wrongdoing. The jury ultimately awarded the officer $1.7 million.

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Oakland Mayor Pushes Charter Overhaul to Clarify Roles in City Government, Increase Accountability and Improve Service Delivery

Under the proposal, the mayor would serve as Oakland’s chief executive, overseeing city departments, implementing policy, proposing the annual budget, and managing day-to-day operations. The measure would also give the mayor veto power over legislation and the budget, though the City Council could override a veto with a two-thirds vote.

Published

1 week ago

May 17, 2026

Oakland Post

Oakland Mayor Barbara Lee. File photo.

By Oakland Post Staff

Oakland Mayor Barbara Lee is backing a sweeping proposal to restructure Oakland’s government, arguing the changes would make City Hall more accountable and improve the delivery of basic services like public safety, homelessness response, and infrastructure repairs.

The charter reform measure, introduced April 7 and co-sponsored by Oakland City Council President Kevin Jenkins, would ask voters in November to approve a “strong mayor, strong council” system designed to create clearer lines of authority inside city government.

The City Council, meanwhile, would maintain legislative authority by adopting ordinances, approving budgets, conducting oversight hearings, and confirming key mayoral appointments. The proposal would also create an Independent Budget and Legislative Analyst Office to provide nonpartisan fiscal and policy analysis for councilmembers.

“I’ve spent months listening to Oaklanders across every neighborhood about what they expect from their city government,” Lee said. “The Charter Reform Working Group’s engagement made clear that residents want a system where there are no questions about who is responsible for delivering results on public safety, homelessness, infrastructure, and basic services.”

Jenkins said the proposal would strengthen both executive leadership and council oversight.

“I’ve long believed Oakland works best when residents have clear lines of accountability and a government structure that aligns responsibility with results,” Jenkins said.

The proposal follows recommendations from the Mayor’s Charter Reform Working Group, co-facilitated by the League of Women Voters of Oakland and SPUR.

Over five months, the group conducted more than 60 interviews, held 14 public meetings across Oakland, and engaged more than 750 residents while reviewing governance models used in other cities.

“The process of engaging residents across Oakland surfaced the governance clarity Oakland needs,” said Sujata Srivastava of SPUR. “The Charter Reform Working Group has produced a thoughtful set of recommendations that if adopted could strengthen accountability and improve service delivery across city government.”

Polling cited by the mayor’s office suggests voters may be open to the changes. A February 2026 poll by the East Bay Polling Institute found 64% of voters support adopting a strong-mayor system. Separate polling conducted by the Oakland Chamber of Commerce and David Binder Research found support ranging from 61% to 63% among likely voters.

The measure is scheduled to be heard by the City Council Rules Committee on May 21. If approved by the council, it would appear on the November 2026 ballot, where Oakland voters would have the final say.

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Activism

The Ladies of Delta Sigma Theta Hold Day of Advocacy at the Capitol in Sacramento

A member of the “Divine Nine,” Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., was founded on Jan. 13, 1913, at Howard University in Washington, D.C. The organization was established by 22 women who sought to shift the group’s focus from social activities to public service, academic excellence, and social activism.

Published

1 week ago

May 17, 2026

Oakland Post

Sen. Laura Richardson (D-San Pedro) presents a Senate resolution to the Delta Theta Sigma Sorority Farwest Region at the State Capitol on May 4. Photo courtesy of the Senate Rules Committee.

By Antonio Ray Harvey, California Black Media

On May 4, members of the Farwest Region of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., convened at the California State Capitol for the organization’s 23rd annual Delta Days in Sacramento.

The two-day advocacy event brings together chapters from across California to engage directly in the legislative process, connect with lawmakers, and advocate for policies impacting Black communities.

Members of the sorority were honored on the Senate floor by Sen. Laura Richardson (D-San Pedro), who is also a member of Delta Sigma Theta.

Richardson welcomed the Farwest Region during the presentation of a Senate resolution recognizing outgoing Regional Director Kimberly Usher for her leadership and service.

“In addition to the Far West Region, we are led by a fearless leader, regional director Kimberly Usher. She has now served her full term of what’s allowed,” Richardson said. “We are going to be having our regional conference, but we wanted to give it to her here, officially recognizing her service.”

The resolution was co-authored by Richardson and fellow members of the California Legislative Black Caucus (CLBC) and Delta Sigma Theta, Sen. Akilah Weber Pierson (D-San Diego) and Assemblymember Rhodesia Ransom (D-Stockton).

Usher has served in the leadership role since 2022.

“We are founded on sisterhood that is deeply rooted in scholarship, service, and social action,” said Weber Pierson, a member of the Gamma Alpha chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority.

“Today, we continue a legacy of empowering communities and upholding the high cultural, intellectual, and moral standards established by our founders over a century ago,” she added.

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Rep. Kamlager-Dove Introduces Bill to Protect Women in Custody After Reports Detailing Miscarriages and Neglect

The Pregnant Women in Custody Act would expand safeguards beyond the federal prison system to include women detained by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, U.S. Customs and Border Protection and the Office of Refugee Resettlement. The proposal follows reports of pregnant women being shackled, denied medical care and suffering miscarriages while in immigration detention.

Published

1 week ago

May 17, 2026

Oakland Post

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By Bo Tefu, California Black Media

Congresswoman Sydney Kamlager-Dove (D-CA-37) on May 7, reintroduced updated legislation aimed at strengthening protections and healthcare standards for pregnant and postpartum women held in federal custody, including in immigration detention facilities.

The Pregnant Women in Custody Act would expand safeguards beyond the federal prison system to include women detained by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, U.S. Customs and Border Protection and the Office of Refugee Resettlement. The proposal follows reports of pregnant women being shackled, denied medical care and suffering miscarriages while in immigration detention.

The legislation builds on a bipartisan version previously passed by the House during the 117th Congress. The updated bill includes new standards for healthcare access, mental health and substance use treatment, high-risk pregnancy care, family unity protections and increased federal oversight.

“Proper pregnancy care is a human right, regardless of your immigration or incarceration status,” Kamlager-Dove said in a statement. “It’s unacceptable that there are virtually no legal safeguards for pregnant women in federal custody.”

The bill would also limit the use of restraints and restrictive housing for pregnant women, improve data collection on maternal health in custody and require additional staff training and enforcement measures.

Supporters of the measure said the legislation is intended to address long-standing concerns about maternal healthcare and safety in detention settings, particularly for Black women and low-income women who are disproportionately impacted by incarceration and health disparities.

“Pregnant women in custody should never be subjected to dangerous and inhumane treatment that threatens their health, dignity, or the well-being of their babies,” said Patrice Willoughby, chief of policy and legislative affairs for the NAACP and a longtime public policy and government affairs strategist, in a statement.

A 2021 report estimated there are about 58,000 admissions of pregnant women into U.S. jails and prisons each year. Kamlager’s statement also cited a recent investigation by NBC News and Bloomberg Law that identified allegations of severe mistreatment or medical neglect involving at least 54 pregnant women or families in county jails between 2017 and 2024.

Federal policy under the Department of Homeland Security restricts the detention of pregnant, postpartum and nursing immigrants except in extreme cases. However, the agency reported that ICE deported 363 pregnant, postpartum or nursing women between January 2025 and February 2026, including 16 recorded miscarriages during that period.

The bill is cosponsored by several House Democrats and backed by organizations including the NAACP and the Vera Institute of Justice.