2.14 21-0537 Subject: City Planning Commission Appointment
From: Office Of The Mayor
Recommendation: Adopt A Resolution Confirming The Mayor's Appointment Of Jennifer Renk To The City Planning Commission
I oppose the appointment of Jennifer Renk to the City Planning Commission. Ms. Renk currently advises clients on how to navigate CEQA and other regulatory hurdles in order to get projects approved throughout the Bay Area, including Oakland. While that certainly gives her expertise, it also is a conflict of interest and puts another developer-friendly, anti-regulation person on our Planning Commission. I believe we should have a planning commission made up of people who want to increase equity and prevent displacement in Oakland, and Ms. Renk would not fit the bill there. Please do not just confirm Mayor Schaaf's appointments without careful review. Without Council's oversight, these unelected positions have a ton of power to push the Mayor's agenda and make a lot of harm for Oakland.
I oppose the appointment of Jennifer Renk to the City Planning Commission. Ms. Renk currently advises clients on how to navigate CEQA and other regulatory hurdles in order to get projects approved throughout the Bay Area, including Oakland. While that certainly gives her expertise, it also is a conflict of interest and puts another developer-friendly, anti-regulation person on our Planning Commission. I believe we should have a planning commission made up of people who want to increase equity and prevent displacement in Oakland, and Ms. Renk would not fit the bill there. Please do not just confirm Mayor Schaaf's appointments without careful review. Without Council's oversight, these unelected positions have a ton of power to push the Mayor's agenda and make a lot of harm for Oakland.