City Government

Shake Up City Hall: Schaaf Wins Re-election but Loses Two Council Allies

Published

8 years ago

November 8, 2018

Mayor Libby Schaaf easily won reelection this week, while the victory of three new representatives to the City Council could mean a shift in power dynamics in Oakland city politics.

Nikki Bas

The results are subject to change, especially in close races. One-hundred percent of the precincts have reported the votes that were cast, but thousands of mail ballots have yet to be counted.
As of early Wednesday morning, Mayor Schaaf won with 55.98 percent of the vote.
Activist, journalist and actor Cat Brooks came in second with 22.78 percent, and civil rights attorney Pamela Price was third with 12.62 percent.
Community activist Nikki Fortunato Bas defeated District 2 incumbent Abel Guillén, a close Schaaf ally. Bas won 51.04 percent of the vote, while Guillén received 42.42 percent, and Kenzie Donte Smith came in third with 6.3 percent.
Councilmember Rebecca Kaplan’s chief of staff Sheng Thao won in District 4 with 53.59 percent of the ranked-choice votes. Pam Harris, a nonprofit executive, who was backed by Mayor Schaaf, came in second with 46.41 percent, and Nayeli Maxson was in third place.
Schaaf lost a reliable ally when District 4 Councilmember Annie Campbell Washington chose not to seek reelection. The mayor originally backed Charlie Michelson, who dropped out in mid-campaign but still remained on the ballot, receiving 13.66 percent of the vote.

In the closely watched District 6 race, Loren Taylor beat 16-year veteran Councilmember Desley Brooks with 61.51 percent of the vote to Brooks’ 38.49 percent.
Targeted by Mayor Schaaf and her allies, Brooks faced opponents and PACs that outspent her by nearly 5 to 1.
In the District 4 school board race, retired Oakland school administrator and former school board member Gary Yee won with 62.21 percent over parent activist Clarissa Doutherd’s 37.62 percent.

Loren Taylor.

Doutherd was backed by the Oakland teachers’ union while Yee had the support and financial backing of the local pro-charter school organization, GO Public Schools.
School boardmembers Aimee Eng in District 2 and Shanthi Gonzales in District 6 won reelection, with no opponents on the ballot.
Courtney Ruby, a former city auditor, won the race for city auditor with 61.93 percent of the vote, defeating incumbent Brenda Roberts, who received 37.75 percent.
Mayor Schaaf’s education initiative, Measure AA, was the only local measure that lost. It needed a two-thirds majority to win but fell short with 61.79 percent of the vote.
The cannabis tax break, Measure V, won with 78.22 percent.
The vacant property tax, Measure W, won with 68.65 percent.
Real estate transfer tax Measure X won with 66.54 percent.
Measure Y just cause renter protections won with 56.06 percent.
Measure Z, hotel worker pay and protections, won with a 74.6 percent yes vote.
In a statewide race that received national attention, Jovanka Beckles lost to Buffy Wicks in Assembly District 15, garnering 44 percent to Wicks’ 56 percent.
State superintendent of public instruction candidate Tony Thurmond is trailing Marshall Tuck, 49.4 percent to 50.6 percent. The California Teachers Association backed Thurmond, while charter school organizations and billionaires supported Tuck.
District 13 Congresswoman Barbara Lee was overwhelmingly reelected with 87.7 percent of the vote versus Green Party candidate Laura Wells, who received 12.3 percent.
Proposition 8, which would have regulated kidney dialysis treatment charges, was defeated 61.6 percent to 38.4 percent.
Proposition 10, which would have repealed a state law that restricts cities’ ability to pass rent control laws, was defeated 61.7 percent to 38.3 percent.
In Peralta Community College Board of Trustees race, Area Three representative Linda Handy won reelection with 54.26 percent. Cindi Reiss defeated William “Bill” Riley, 68.65 percent to 30.48 percent.
Two funding Peralta funding measures passed—Peralta Colleges Measure E, 81.03 percent to 18.97 percent, and Peralta Bond Measure G, 74.48 percent to 25.52 percent.

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Alameda County

The Marin City Flea Market Is Back

The Marin City Flea Market returns on May 23, offering arts, crafts, vintage items, and collectibles. The market aims to uplift local vendors and celebrate cultural diversity.

Published

2 days ago

May 15, 2026

Oakland Post

Customers shopping in Marin City Flea Market. Photo courtesy of marincityflea.org.

By Godfrey Lee

After a long absence, Marin City will once again hold its flea market. The market will have its grand opening on Saturday, May 23, from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the St. Andrew Presbyterian Church parking lot on 101 Donahue St. It will be held every fourth Saturday of the month

The market will be free to the public

There will be arts, crafts, vintage, collectibles, and other items on sale at the market. Interested vendors can contact info@marincityflea.org or text (415) 484-2984 for more information.

“The Marin City Flea Market’s mission is to uplift local vendors, celebrate cultural diversity, and provide an accessible community space where creativity, entrepreneurship, and connection can thrive,” says their website, marincityflea.org.

The flea market is sponsored and run by the Rotary Club of Marin City.

For more information, contact info@marincityflea.org. Or text to (415) 484-2984

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Amsterdam News

School District Extends Supt. Dr. Denise Saddler’s Contract for a Second Year

The Oakland Board of Education has extended Superintendent Denise Saddler’s contract through June 2027, promoting her from interim to permanent superintendent with a salary of $367,765.45 per year.

Published

2 days ago

May 15, 2026

Oakland Post

Supt. Dr. Denise Saddler. File photo.

By Post Staff

The Oakland Board of Education voted this week to extend Superintendent Denise Saddler’s contract for another year, from July 1, 2026, to June 30, 2027.

Under the new agreement, Saddler’s job title will become “superintendent”; she will no longer be called “interim.”

Along with the new title, she will receive full superintendent benefits and salary at $367,765.45 per year, according to the employment agreement.

The vote to approve the new contract passed 5-2 at Wednesday night’s board meeting.

Saddler’s original interim contract was for one year. The school board was planning to select a permanent superintendent by the fall but earlier this year decided to delay the search.

The new contract reflects the Board of Education’s “determination that continuity in executive leadership is in the best interests of the district as Oakland Unified continues implementation of its fiscal stabilization strategies, academic priorities, labor relations initiatives, and operational improvements,” the employment agreement reads.

In November, the board approved a $150,000 contract with a consulting firm to carry out that search, but Board President Jennifer Brouhard told KQED last month that the process never got off the ground.

“No work was done, no money has been paid for the work (to) the search firm for the superintendent search,” Brouhard said. “Hopefully, we’ll be resuming that in the early part of the fall.”

Dr. Saddler was born and raised in Oakland, attended local schools, and has dedicated more than 45 years of her career to serving Oakland students and families.

She began her career in 1979 as a teacher of students with disabilities. Over the years, she has served as a teacher, principal, district leader, and teachers’ union president.

While working in OUSD, she has served as principal at Chabot Elementary, area auperintendent, and executive leader for Community Engagement and Educational Transitions. She has also supported schools as a principal coach and substitute principal and taught at UC Berkeley’s Graduate School of Education.

Dr. Saddler holds a Doctorate in Educational Leadership from Mills College and master’s degrees in special education and in Staff Development and Administration.

Oakland Post

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Activism

Mayor Barbara Lee Joins National Public Safety Leaders to Advance Proven Violence Reduction Strategies

Oakland Mayor Barbara Lee attends a two-day meeting with other mayors and public safety leaders to discuss violence reduction strategies; Oakland has seen a 39% drop in homicides.

Published

2 days ago

May 15, 2026

Oakland Post

Oakland was one of four cities participating in a public safety convening. Courtesy image.

By Post Staff

Mayor Barbara Lee this week joined Baltimore Mayor Brandon Scott, Philadelphia Mayor Cherelle Parker and public safety leaders from Oakland for a two-day meeting focused on advancing cutting-edge public safety strategies, including focused deterrence and violence reduction.

The meeting brought together civic and public safety leaders from Oakland and Indianapolis to locations in Baltimore and Philadelphia to share lessons learned and identify innovative approaches to crime prevention, intervention, and enforcement.

The participating cities are widely recognized for pioneering community-centered public safety models that prioritize prevention, accountability, and sustained investment in neighborhood-based solutions

Oakland’s delegation included Department of Violence Prevention (DVP) Chief Holly Joshi, Oakland Police Department Assistant Chief Casey Johnson, and Ceasefire Director Annette Jointer.

Oakland’s participation underscores its continued leadership in advancing evidence-based violence reduction strategies and building a public safety system that integrates law enforcement with community intervention and prevention programs.

Oakland continues to see historic reductions in violence, reflecting coordinated efforts across the Department of Violence Prevention, Oakland Police Department, Ceasefire, and community-based partners, including:

Violent crime down 22%
Homicides down 39%
Lowest homicide total in nearly 60 years

These gains reflect sustained investment in focused deterrence strategies, real-time intervention, and expanded community violence interruption programs.

“Public safety is not achieved by any one agency alone—it requires coordination, trust, and a shared commitment to prevention and accountability,” said Lee. “We are proud to stand alongside cities like Baltimore, Philadelphia, and Indianapolis that are proving what works. We are seeing real progress in reducing violence in our communities, and we remain committed to building on that momentum through strategies that center prevention, intervention, and strong partnerships with residents.”

“Oakland’s progress shows what is possible when cities invest in focused deterrence and wraparound supports that reach people most at risk,” said Joshi. “Our work is grounded in building trust, responding quickly to emerging conflicts, and connecting individuals to services that interrupt cycles of violence. This convening was an opportunity to strengthen that work through shared learning with peers who are advancing similar strategies nationwide.”

Said Johnson, “Effective public safety requires a balanced approach that combines accountability with deep collaboration across agencies and communities.”

“We are seeing meaningful reductions in violent crime because of strong partnerships between law enforcement, DVP, Ceasefire, and community organizations,” said Johnson. “Engaging with peer cities allows us to refine and improve the strategies that are making Oakland safer.”