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Agenda Item
3.1 27-0103 Subject: Ethical Investment Policy
From: Members Of The Public, Oakland Divest Committee
Recommendation: Adopt A Resolution Of The Oakland City Council (1) To Amend The City Of Oakland Investment Policy To Prohibit Investments Of City Funds Or Holding Any Investment Or Ownership Stake In Any Companies That Facilitate And Enable State Violence And Repression, War And Occupation, And/Or Severe Violations Of International Law And Human Rights. This Includes, But Is Not Limited To: (A) Mass Incarceration And Detention Industries, Including Those Which Use Prison Labor, (B) Security, Defense, And Military Industries, Including Transportation Of Goods, (C) Companies That Facilitate And Enable Violations Of International Law And Human Rights As Part Of The Israeli Occupation Of Palestinian And Syrian Lands And/Or As Part Of Israeli Apartheid;
(2) Directing The City Administrator Or His/Her Designee To Examine The City's Holdings And Future Investments To Assure That The City Complies With This Policy And Set Forth An Implementation Plan Shared At The First Finance Meeting In May 2027;
(3) Directing The City Administrator To Send A Copy Of The Resolution To Governmental Retirement Systems And Local Jurisdictions To Adopt A Similar Investment Policy; On The October 13, 2026 Finance And Management Committee Agenda
Hello, I write to you as an Oakland resident and person of Jewish heritage. I strongly support this policy as a means for the city to divest from human rights abuses. I urge the council to vote yes on this item.
I’m a Jewish resident born and raised in Oakland, and I strongly support this policy. It is common sense to me that in Oakland we would not have investments in companies that enable human rights violations. That is the bottom line of this policy- our local funds should not be invested in companies that violate international law. What we do with our city funds has real impact locally, nationally, and internationally, and I am counting on the Rules Committee to show leadership and agendize this issue at Finance Committee.
Some other commenters may claim that this policy impacts their safety as Jews in Oakland, saying that if our city has a policy of not investing in companies that support apartheid, that policy would single out Israel and make Jews less safe. I would like to be clear that Judaism is not the same as nationalism and support for the state of Israel, and that no state should be able to commit human rights violations with impunity. It makes me more safe at home to know that any company that enables human rights violations anywhere in the world should expect to face consequences in Oakland, because my city won’t stand by and passively support violence with our city funds.
My Name is Tim Drew, I have been a resident of Oakland District 2 since 1971. I am a retired SEIU 1000 member. I strongly support forwarding the Ethical Investment Policy to the finance committee. Furthermore, I support keeping this item on the rules committee agenda this morning. Oakland must stand in solidarity with oppressed people around the world. It is unconscionable that our city investment policy could allow investments in harmful industries, especially military industries that are currently being used by the Federal government for imperialist ends. Please forward to the finance committee.
I am a resident of district 1, and I strongly support divesting our tax dollars from genocide by amending Oakland’s investment policy to prohibit city investments in companies that enable war and human rights violations. We have an obligation to each other and to our global neighbors to stop senseless violence and killing. Oakland should not be complicit in such crimes against humanity. I urge the Councilmembers to uphold Oakland’s history as a city at the forefront of peace and divestment, and pass this policy. Thank you.
I am writing as a long-time Oakland resident, educator and Jewish American in support of passing an Ethical Investment Policy in Oakland. In so doing we will be joining cities such as Richmond, Sacramento, Dublin and Albany, and Alameda County as well as a worldwide movement to create investments for a sustainable future. I am appalled and upset that my tax dollars, so necessary for services in Oakland and across the United States, are being used to perpetuate militarism, war, ethnic cleansing and genocide. Divestment is a time-honored nonviolent strategy to create positive political change, as we saw in South Africa. Oakland community members, faith groups and unions have worked with Oakland city government in support of an Ethical Investment Policy. Passing such a policy is the will of the people. While our community members suffer in Oakland for a lack of services including housing, healthcare and education, over $6 million of Oaklander's tax dollars are going to corporations that foster militarism, war, surveillance and environmental degradation. If we want to create a sustainable future for ourselves and for the future, if we believe that international human rights policies such as the Geneva Conventions are critical for a just world, Oakland must stand up and assert that we believe in Ethical Investments. Human rights violations will not stop without our actions— decision to support an Ethical Investment Policy get caught up in bureaucratic processes.
My name is Alejandro Diaz, I am an Oakland District 6 resident, homeowner, healthcare worker, and member of the community. Half of my family is Palestinian, so I have followed this issue closely.
My primary concern is transparency, accountability, and good-faith public process. I would like clear communication from the City regarding the status of this matter, the reasons for any delays, and the anticipated timeline for consideration. As a resident, I believe community members deserve timely updates and an opportunity to understand how decisions are being made.
I ask the committee and City leadership to place this matter on the 10/13 docket and allow it to move forward for public consideration.
As an Uber Driver, Palestinian, I support this legislation and agenda item. It is a matter of basic moral competency to not have our dollars going to murder my relatives and displace them from their land, where we have this money. We should put it to work for other things rather than for genocide and continuing the nakba.
On behalf of UAW Region 6 and UAW 2320, I lodge an unequivocal nod of support for this legislation and agenda item. It is a matter of common sense and moral decency that Oakland follow on its tradition of prohibiting investments in social harms such as a fossil fuels and tobacco and also prohibit investing our public funds to companies that profit or enable genocide, apartheid, and other war crimes in Palestine and elsewhere. Please respect the direct democratic process exercised by the countless individuals and organizations who believe in ethical investing, keep this item on today's agenda, and have it assigned to the appropriate committee (finance) so that it can go forward to a full council vote.
My name is Hannah Marr. I am an Oakland District 1 resident. I moved here in January, drawn to the sense of community I had heard so much about.
I support divesting our tax dollars from genocide by amending Oakland's investment policy to prohibit city investments in companies and financial institutions that enable state repression, war and human rights violations. This includes, but is not strictly limited to, companies that facilitate Israeli apartheid against the Palestinian people.
For the past years, I have felt helpless to watch while Palestinian children are indiscriminately killed by Israel forces. The least that any of us can do is ensure our tax dollars are not going towards companies that actively encourage this harm.
I urge the Councilmembers to pass this Ethical Investment Policy, as it will prevent the city of Oakland's investment in future supporters of human rights abuses. Thank you to the Councilmembers for their hard work and attention to this matter.
My name is Philemon Abraham. I was born in Oakland at Merritt hospital. I live in Oakland. I want to raise MY kids in Oakland. I love Oakland.
I don’t want to see the city I love investing my hard earned tax dollars in the genocide of the Palestinian or any other peoples.
It is a moral imperative as Oaklanders that we do everything we can to make sure we’re not complicit or, even worse, participating in, or profiting from, the killing, maiming, and torture of entire populations.
When presented with simple truths about where our money is being invested and its connection to horrendous human rights abuses we cannot remain silent. We must take action. I trust you will.
I implore this committee to forward this legislation to the October 13th Finance Committee meeting. It is honestly the least one could do.
My name is Justin Leonti, I'm an Oakland District 4 resident. At a time where state violence and oppression is on the rise, both domestically and abroad, it seems to be common sense to pass this. Our tax dollars going to the city of Oakland should *not* and should *never* go toward any organization or company that is committing human rights violations. Adopting this policy would ensure this - from now and into the future. I urge the committee to pass this and push this on to the next step so our money as Oakland residents can go toward ethical investments to support our community, not further oppressing or committing violence toward those most vulnerable.
My name is Leonard Blanche. I am a District 4 resident, and I chose to make Oakland my home almost 6 years ago after growing up in Italy; my family still carries the memories of state repression and violence it experienced in the 1920s-40s.
I support the city of Oakland adopting an Ethical Investment Policy prohibiting investment in companies and entities that facilitate and enable state violence, war, occupation, repression, or violations of international law and human rights, such as apartheid and genocide. This includes, but is not limited to, companies that facilitate and enable Israeli apartheid and occupation of the Palestinian people, the security and military industries, and industries of mass incarceration and detention.
The tax dollars I am contributing, together with the incredibly diverse community of workers in the city, should not contribute to violence. The people of Oakland support this legislation and want the city to be an example others can look up to.
Passing and implementing this legislation is urgent to ensure the City of Oakland is not complicit in human rights abuses. Please ensure it is forwarded to the October 13th Finance Committee Meeting. Thank you!
Why are you singling out Israel here? This is horrifically biased, and to accuse Israel (where all citizens of the State of Israel enjoy equal rights and where Arab parties have seats in the government and on the Supreme Court) of apartheid in an official proposal is ignorant and wrong. Please learn your history before singling out one state as uniquely evil.
As a resident of Oakland, a Jew, and a social justice advocate, I oppose this agenda item. The misinformation about Israel's actions is rampant and implementation of this policy will increase antisemitism, hatred, and discrimination towards Israelis and Jews.
As a previous commenter said, there are better ways to address human right violations than trying to implement this discriminatory policy in Oakland. Please oppose this measure and do not go down this path.
I wholly support a systematic review of whether Oakland’s investments are implicitlly supporting mass incarceration and deaths of civilians, in violation of international law. Schedule the legislation to the October 13th meeting of the Finance Committee and vote yes on our legislation at all Council meetings!
My name is Erin Anderson and I am an Oakland resident. I support divesting our tax dollars from genocide by amending Oakland’s investment policy to prohibit city investments in companies and financial institutions that enable state repression, war and human rights violations. Oakland is a city with the power to make national headlines. What we do in Oakland matters. What YOU do as city counselors matters on a global scale. Please do not use our tax dollars to support the death of innocent civilians. Please divest.
As a community member here in Oakland, I strongly support this resolution and urge the Committee to push forward this legislation. It is important that we see our tax dollars be used responsibly with scrutiny as to what those companies are involved in. If our money is invested in companies that profit off mass incarceration, killing innocent civilians in the Middle East, and violations of international law, then we are collectively complicit in harming others. I implore the Committee to think deeply about our responsibility to withhold our financial contributions from companies that are causing direct harm to families of Oakland's community.
I am a resident of D2 and person of Jewish heritage. My uncle survived that holocaust in Europe and sadly his sister did not. He was given a choice to go to Florida or Palestine, to a house where the previous owners dinner sat cold on the table after they fled Jewish violence. He lived and died in Florida. I live here. Everyday we choose to make this a just and safe world. Sometimes the choices are huge, sometimes small. You have a small choice in front of you today with huge consequences.
I was thus raised with the value "never again" which has inspired and driven me to seek pathways that prevent the horrors experienced by my family from happening to any other. An EIP for Oakland is this exact tool. It ensures the city I love and the money I trust it with is no longer complicit in the horrors abroad. I am saddened that Israel has forever failed to hold up the aspirations so many of us hold but I am more saddened that my country, this country, and my home, this city, has been so slow in taking every action necessary to stop the genocide they commit in the name of the Jewish identity.
This EIP is a moral good in both a general since and in direct application to the middle east. Never Again means Never Again. Never in Germany, Never in China, Rohingya, Never in Darfur, and YES Never Again in Palestine.
I'm a District 3 resident of Oakland. This ethical investment policy is common sense, and holds us to account for the principles that we attempt to uphold.
That includes making sure not to invest in companies that enable severe violations of international law and human rights.
Hello, I write to you as an Oakland resident and person of Jewish heritage. I strongly support this policy as a means for the city to divest from human rights abuses. I urge the council to vote yes on this item.
I’m a Jewish resident born and raised in Oakland, and I strongly support this policy. It is common sense to me that in Oakland we would not have investments in companies that enable human rights violations. That is the bottom line of this policy- our local funds should not be invested in companies that violate international law. What we do with our city funds has real impact locally, nationally, and internationally, and I am counting on the Rules Committee to show leadership and agendize this issue at Finance Committee.
Some other commenters may claim that this policy impacts their safety as Jews in Oakland, saying that if our city has a policy of not investing in companies that support apartheid, that policy would single out Israel and make Jews less safe. I would like to be clear that Judaism is not the same as nationalism and support for the state of Israel, and that no state should be able to commit human rights violations with impunity. It makes me more safe at home to know that any company that enables human rights violations anywhere in the world should expect to face consequences in Oakland, because my city won’t stand by and passively support violence with our city funds.
My Name is Tim Drew, I have been a resident of Oakland District 2 since 1971. I am a retired SEIU 1000 member. I strongly support forwarding the Ethical Investment Policy to the finance committee. Furthermore, I support keeping this item on the rules committee agenda this morning. Oakland must stand in solidarity with oppressed people around the world. It is unconscionable that our city investment policy could allow investments in harmful industries, especially military industries that are currently being used by the Federal government for imperialist ends. Please forward to the finance committee.
I am a resident of district 1, and I strongly support divesting our tax dollars from genocide by amending Oakland’s investment policy to prohibit city investments in companies that enable war and human rights violations. We have an obligation to each other and to our global neighbors to stop senseless violence and killing. Oakland should not be complicit in such crimes against humanity. I urge the Councilmembers to uphold Oakland’s history as a city at the forefront of peace and divestment, and pass this policy. Thank you.
I am writing as a long-time Oakland resident, educator and Jewish American in support of passing an Ethical Investment Policy in Oakland. In so doing we will be joining cities such as Richmond, Sacramento, Dublin and Albany, and Alameda County as well as a worldwide movement to create investments for a sustainable future. I am appalled and upset that my tax dollars, so necessary for services in Oakland and across the United States, are being used to perpetuate militarism, war, ethnic cleansing and genocide. Divestment is a time-honored nonviolent strategy to create positive political change, as we saw in South Africa. Oakland community members, faith groups and unions have worked with Oakland city government in support of an Ethical Investment Policy. Passing such a policy is the will of the people. While our community members suffer in Oakland for a lack of services including housing, healthcare and education, over $6 million of Oaklander's tax dollars are going to corporations that foster militarism, war, surveillance and environmental degradation. If we want to create a sustainable future for ourselves and for the future, if we believe that international human rights policies such as the Geneva Conventions are critical for a just world, Oakland must stand up and assert that we believe in Ethical Investments. Human rights violations will not stop without our actions— decision to support an Ethical Investment Policy get caught up in bureaucratic processes.
My name is Alejandro Diaz, I am an Oakland District 6 resident, homeowner, healthcare worker, and member of the community. Half of my family is Palestinian, so I have followed this issue closely.
My primary concern is transparency, accountability, and good-faith public process. I would like clear communication from the City regarding the status of this matter, the reasons for any delays, and the anticipated timeline for consideration. As a resident, I believe community members deserve timely updates and an opportunity to understand how decisions are being made.
I ask the committee and City leadership to place this matter on the 10/13 docket and allow it to move forward for public consideration.
As an Uber Driver, Palestinian, I support this legislation and agenda item. It is a matter of basic moral competency to not have our dollars going to murder my relatives and displace them from their land, where we have this money. We should put it to work for other things rather than for genocide and continuing the nakba.
On behalf of UAW Region 6 and UAW 2320, I lodge an unequivocal nod of support for this legislation and agenda item. It is a matter of common sense and moral decency that Oakland follow on its tradition of prohibiting investments in social harms such as a fossil fuels and tobacco and also prohibit investing our public funds to companies that profit or enable genocide, apartheid, and other war crimes in Palestine and elsewhere. Please respect the direct democratic process exercised by the countless individuals and organizations who believe in ethical investing, keep this item on today's agenda, and have it assigned to the appropriate committee (finance) so that it can go forward to a full council vote.
My name is Hannah Marr. I am an Oakland District 1 resident. I moved here in January, drawn to the sense of community I had heard so much about.
I support divesting our tax dollars from genocide by amending Oakland's investment policy to prohibit city investments in companies and financial institutions that enable state repression, war and human rights violations. This includes, but is not strictly limited to, companies that facilitate Israeli apartheid against the Palestinian people.
For the past years, I have felt helpless to watch while Palestinian children are indiscriminately killed by Israel forces. The least that any of us can do is ensure our tax dollars are not going towards companies that actively encourage this harm.
I urge the Councilmembers to pass this Ethical Investment Policy, as it will prevent the city of Oakland's investment in future supporters of human rights abuses. Thank you to the Councilmembers for their hard work and attention to this matter.
My name is Philemon Abraham. I was born in Oakland at Merritt hospital. I live in Oakland. I want to raise MY kids in Oakland. I love Oakland.
I don’t want to see the city I love investing my hard earned tax dollars in the genocide of the Palestinian or any other peoples.
It is a moral imperative as Oaklanders that we do everything we can to make sure we’re not complicit or, even worse, participating in, or profiting from, the killing, maiming, and torture of entire populations.
When presented with simple truths about where our money is being invested and its connection to horrendous human rights abuses we cannot remain silent. We must take action. I trust you will.
I implore this committee to forward this legislation to the October 13th Finance Committee meeting. It is honestly the least one could do.
God bless
My name is Justin Leonti, I'm an Oakland District 4 resident. At a time where state violence and oppression is on the rise, both domestically and abroad, it seems to be common sense to pass this. Our tax dollars going to the city of Oakland should *not* and should *never* go toward any organization or company that is committing human rights violations. Adopting this policy would ensure this - from now and into the future. I urge the committee to pass this and push this on to the next step so our money as Oakland residents can go toward ethical investments to support our community, not further oppressing or committing violence toward those most vulnerable.
At a time when antisemitism is at an all-time high, this bill will harm Jews in Oakland. Do not pass this.
My name is Leonard Blanche. I am a District 4 resident, and I chose to make Oakland my home almost 6 years ago after growing up in Italy; my family still carries the memories of state repression and violence it experienced in the 1920s-40s.
I support the city of Oakland adopting an Ethical Investment Policy prohibiting investment in companies and entities that facilitate and enable state violence, war, occupation, repression, or violations of international law and human rights, such as apartheid and genocide. This includes, but is not limited to, companies that facilitate and enable Israeli apartheid and occupation of the Palestinian people, the security and military industries, and industries of mass incarceration and detention.
The tax dollars I am contributing, together with the incredibly diverse community of workers in the city, should not contribute to violence. The people of Oakland support this legislation and want the city to be an example others can look up to.
Passing and implementing this legislation is urgent to ensure the City of Oakland is not complicit in human rights abuses. Please ensure it is forwarded to the October 13th Finance Committee Meeting. Thank you!
Why are you singling out Israel here? This is horrifically biased, and to accuse Israel (where all citizens of the State of Israel enjoy equal rights and where Arab parties have seats in the government and on the Supreme Court) of apartheid in an official proposal is ignorant and wrong. Please learn your history before singling out one state as uniquely evil.
As a resident of Oakland, a Jew, and a social justice advocate, I oppose this agenda item. The misinformation about Israel's actions is rampant and implementation of this policy will increase antisemitism, hatred, and discrimination towards Israelis and Jews.
As a previous commenter said, there are better ways to address human right violations than trying to implement this discriminatory policy in Oakland. Please oppose this measure and do not go down this path.
I wholly support a systematic review of whether Oakland’s investments are implicitlly supporting mass incarceration and deaths of civilians, in violation of international law. Schedule the legislation to the October 13th meeting of the Finance Committee and vote yes on our legislation at all Council meetings!
My name is Erin Anderson and I am an Oakland resident. I support divesting our tax dollars from genocide by amending Oakland’s investment policy to prohibit city investments in companies and financial institutions that enable state repression, war and human rights violations. Oakland is a city with the power to make national headlines. What we do in Oakland matters. What YOU do as city counselors matters on a global scale. Please do not use our tax dollars to support the death of innocent civilians. Please divest.
As a community member here in Oakland, I strongly support this resolution and urge the Committee to push forward this legislation. It is important that we see our tax dollars be used responsibly with scrutiny as to what those companies are involved in. If our money is invested in companies that profit off mass incarceration, killing innocent civilians in the Middle East, and violations of international law, then we are collectively complicit in harming others. I implore the Committee to think deeply about our responsibility to withhold our financial contributions from companies that are causing direct harm to families of Oakland's community.
I am a resident of D2 and person of Jewish heritage. My uncle survived that holocaust in Europe and sadly his sister did not. He was given a choice to go to Florida or Palestine, to a house where the previous owners dinner sat cold on the table after they fled Jewish violence. He lived and died in Florida. I live here. Everyday we choose to make this a just and safe world. Sometimes the choices are huge, sometimes small. You have a small choice in front of you today with huge consequences.
I was thus raised with the value "never again" which has inspired and driven me to seek pathways that prevent the horrors experienced by my family from happening to any other. An EIP for Oakland is this exact tool. It ensures the city I love and the money I trust it with is no longer complicit in the horrors abroad. I am saddened that Israel has forever failed to hold up the aspirations so many of us hold but I am more saddened that my country, this country, and my home, this city, has been so slow in taking every action necessary to stop the genocide they commit in the name of the Jewish identity.
This EIP is a moral good in both a general since and in direct application to the middle east. Never Again means Never Again. Never in Germany, Never in China, Rohingya, Never in Darfur, and YES Never Again in Palestine.
I'm a District 3 resident of Oakland. This ethical investment policy is common sense, and holds us to account for the principles that we attempt to uphold.
That includes making sure not to invest in companies that enable severe violations of international law and human rights.