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Agenda Item
26-0904 2) A Resolution Rejecting The Police Commission Selection Panel's Slate Of Two Commissioners, Ricardo Garcia-Acosta And Joey Harrison, To Serve On The Oakland Police
Commission
As Council considers the upcoming Police Commission appointments, I encourage you to recognize that this is not simply a vote on individual candidates. It is a vote on the future direction of Oakland's civilian oversight system.
These appointments are one of the few meaningful accountability mechanisms available for an independent Commission. Once confirmed, commissioners have broad authority, but very limited external oversight.
Over the past several years, the Commission has increasingly focused on advocacy and policy positions while recurring governance concerns have remained unresolved. Council has witnessed disputes over Brown Act and Sunshine compliance, repeated conflicts with the Office of the City Attorney, questions about the Commission's authority under the Charter, and concerns regarding adherence to its own Code of Conduct. At the recent Public Ethics Commission meeting, commissioners acknowledged that Sunshine violations have very limited enforcement mechanisms, making Council's confirmation role all the more important.
As Oakland prepares to exit more than two decades of federal oversight, I encourage Council to evaluate candidates not only on their commitment to civilian oversight, but also on their demonstrated record of governance, accountability, sound judgment, and respect for the Charter. Strong civilian oversight requires strong governance. I respectfully ask you to consider both as you make these appointments.
As Council considers the upcoming Police Commission appointments, I encourage you to recognize that this is not simply a vote on individual candidates. It is a vote on the future direction of Oakland's civilian oversight system.
These appointments are one of the few meaningful accountability mechanisms available for an independent Commission. Once confirmed, commissioners have broad authority, but very limited external oversight.
Over the past several years, the Commission has increasingly focused on advocacy and policy positions while recurring governance concerns have remained unresolved. Council has witnessed disputes over Brown Act and Sunshine compliance, repeated conflicts with the Office of the City Attorney, questions about the Commission's authority under the Charter, and concerns regarding adherence to its own Code of Conduct. At the recent Public Ethics Commission meeting, commissioners acknowledged that Sunshine violations have very limited enforcement mechanisms, making Council's confirmation role all the more important.
As Oakland prepares to exit more than two decades of federal oversight, I encourage Council to evaluate candidates not only on their commitment to civilian oversight, but also on their demonstrated record of governance, accountability, sound judgment, and respect for the Charter. Strong civilian oversight requires strong governance. I respectfully ask you to consider both as you make these appointments.