Support for funding for Lake Merritt! The Park has become heavily used and is showing decline. Anything the Council can do to improve the Park would be very beneficial!
Thank You

Hello, My name is Joevonte Kelly and i am a renter/parent and a resident in District 2. May i speak with the council to support a people budget that works for ALL of Oakland that address root causes of violence, Homelessness, Robbery, and housing insecurity. We're asking council-members to stand with our coalition an reject any amendments to the current budget proposal that cut existing city staff/services. We're asking that you don't redirect funds away from vital services and programs towards OPD already bloated, sworn officer budget. We're asking the council to reject any increase funds for overtime for sworn officers WITHOUT accountability and transparency as well as reject the OPD grant position. The Oakland Police department receives over $350m per year. We should not commit any additional resources to this department at the expense of our communities. We're asking the council members to stand with us in support of violence prevention programs, support for the unhoused, affordable housing, city services-like proactive trash pickup and parks and recreation, art and culture, and protecting frontline workers

Thank you.

My name is Jessie, I am D2 Resident and Restorative Economics Organizer with the REAL People's Fund. On behalf of the REAL People’s Fund and Oakland’s BIPOC businesses and co-ops, I support the Council President’s amendments for Good Jobs & Vibrant Economy. We also ask the city to consider the following:

1. Prioritize funding for community and grassroots-led safety ambassadors in areas that are not already represented by BIDs or associations
2. Implement holistic strategies for small business public safety that do not over rely on security cameras, which we know lead to increased criminalization and surveillance of us and our neighbors. Oakland’s businesses desperately need more funding for Facade improvements like roll-up doors, window repairs, storefronts gates and lighting that would revitalize our economic corridors — not more police or tech-backed surveillance.
3. Please consider earmarking and reinvesting 5-10% of revenue generated from the Progressive Business Tax into funding for BIPOC businesses and co-ops.

Lastly, we ask council members to support a People’s Budget that works for ALL of Oakland, and invests violence prevention programs, support for unhoused, essential city services, democracy dollars and protecting arts & culture in Oakland. Thank you.

I am a District 1 renter in support of President Bas' amendments. We achieve public safety by getting and keeping people housed and supporting the proven work of violence interrupters. I would like to single out Democracy Dollars pilot funding for attention: while implementing a new program might seem like a luxury at a time of economic shortfall, this campaign finance reform pilot will help voters who have been priced out of participation show what is most important to them. Finally, I ask that 5-10% of revenue generated from the Progressive Business Tax be earmarked for programming and support dedicated to BIPOC-owned businesses.

Hello Councilmembers. My name is nell scott and I am a longtime D4 resident. I support City Council President Bas’ amendments. The budget must reject cuts to programs critical to our public safety. Please support a People’s Budget that works for ALL of Oakland annd addresses root causes of violence, homelessness, and housing insecurity. We will not be safe until every tenant is protected from abusive landlords, every resident is housed, and the arts and other proven violence prevention initiatives are supported.

We also need a budget that empowers regular Oaklanders by investing in our democracy. Without funding for Democracy Dollars, public funding for fair elections in Oakland will be completely erased. With Democracy Dollars, working Oaklanders will have more power over decisions that impact our communities—things such as affordable housing, community safety, access to healthcare and quality schools.

Lastly, we ask the city to earmark and reinvest 5-10% of revenue generated from the Progressive Business Tax into programming and funding for BIPOC businesses. I ask that you center the needs of the People by funding these programs. Thank you for your time.

Hello Councilmembers. My name is Alizarin, and I am renter and a District 2 resident. I support City Council President Bas’ amendments. The budget must reject cuts to programs critical to our public safety. We will not be safe until every tenant is protected from abusive landlords, every resident is housed, and the arts and other proven violence prevention initiatives are supported.

We also need a budget that empowers regular Oaklanders by investing in our democracy. Without funding for Democracy Dollars, public funding for fair elections in Oakland will be completely erased. With Democracy Dollars, working Oaklanders will have more power over decisions that impact our communities—things such as affordable housing, community safety, and quality schools.

Lastly, we ask the city to earmark and reinvest 5-10% of revenue generated from the Progressive Business Tax into programming and funding for BIPOC businesses. I ask that you center the needs of the People by funding these programs. Thank you for your time.

I support Council President Bas' budget proposal allocations for Lake Merritt. This plan will ensure that the Lake is an accessible, safe, and healthy place for Oakland residents, the environment, and the thousands of visitors who come from all over No. California to enjoy the Jewel of Oakland. This plan supports and continues to build on proven measures implemented in the last several years.

The Oakland Parks and Recreation Foundation is Oakland’s premier organization focusing on parks and recreation advocacy, park activation, community partners and youth scholarships. Every Oaklander and every Oakland community should have access to the transformative experiences that can only happen in parks. As the City engages in its Fiscal Year 2023-25 Budgeting process, I would like to strongly advocate that you maintain and potentially increase funding for the Office of Parks, Recreation and Youth Development as well as parks-related funding of the Public Works.

As the City embarks on a consolidation of City Departments, I hope you will preserve “Parks” and “Recreation” as well, in the title of any new department that is formed, as a show of support for the critical infrastructure that is a well-maintained parks system. I also request that the community, including OPRF be invited into the conversation about any potential reorganization to assure that the outcomes serve the residents and business that use the Parks and Recreation resources in an improved and high performing way.

I understand the financial challenges that face our City, and encourage you to consider the importance of this ongoing investment and in collaboration with these other funding sources. I urge you to continue funding parks and recreation at current levels and fill vacant positions so the funded work can be performed.

-Sarah Dunn, Board President, OPRF

Hello, my name is Cynthia and I am a renter and a resident in District 3.

I am urging our councilmembers to support a People’s Budget that works for ALL of Oakland that addresses root causes of violence, homelessness, and housing insecurity.

We’re asking the Councilmember to stand with our coalition and reject any amendments to the current Budget proposal that:
1. Cut existing city staff;
2. Redirect funds away from vital services and programs towards OPD’s already bloated, sworn officer budget;
3. Increases funds for overtime for sworn officers WITHOUT accountability and transparency;
4. Establishes an OPD Grant Writer position.

The Oakland Police Department receives over $350m per year. We should not commit any additional resources to this department at the expense of our communities.

We’re asking the Councilmember to stand with us in support of violence prevention programs, support for the unhoused, affordable housing, city services—like proactive trash pickup and parks and rec–, arts and culture, and protecting frontline workers.

Thank you

With rampant crime of all kinds in all districts the highest priority of the city council is to pass both adequate funding and require hiring of OPD officers to 800 level. In addition, the dispatch department needs to be funded and require hiring for the 911 system to meet state standards for response times, as committed to in the Alameda County Grand Jury responses. BOTH budgeting and actual hiring need to be accomplished. With no public safety, the rest of the city's goals and programs are worthless.

Carjackings and Armed Robberies are becoming more frequent in Dan Kalb's District. According to a 2020 report in the Chronicle, " a majority of Oakland voters still want the number of officers to stay the same or even increase — support that includes 70% of the city’s African American voters, I don't know if anyone's taken a poll recently but I would assume, since crime is increasing, the results would be similar. I suspect funds from Measure Z are not being used to maintain the number of officers it requires. Give the police dept. more money so it can do its job.