Rebecca Kaplan 
OAKLAND, CA – On Tuesday, July 16th, Oakland City Council President Kaplan’s Face Recognition ban was passed unanimously by the full Oakland City Council. (Link to Item) Just as Oakland City Council President Kaplan introduced a ban on face recognition software in Oakland, the United Nations called for a moratorium on surveillance technology to end … Read more
OAKLAND, CA – Tuesday night, July 16th Council meeting, President Kaplan’s Face Recognition ban will be heard by the full Council. (Link to Item) Just as Council President Kaplan introduced a ban on face recognition software in Oakland, the United Nations called for a moratorium on surveillance technology to end abuses. Said David Kaye, United … Read more
Oakland City Council President calls for City Of Oakland to ban facial recognition technology. OAKLAND, CA – On Tuesday, June 25th, in the City Of Oakland Public Safety Committee Meeting beginning at 6:oo p.m. in the Council Chambers, the Committee will take up the issue of Face Recognition Technology. (Link to Agenda Item) A researcher … Read more
OAKLAND, CA – The City of Oakland’s budget policy (Link to Policy – Page 12) requires that, after the Mayor’s budget proposal is received, that the President of the City Council produce an amended budget, to serve the goals of the public and the City Council, and to ensure that vital needs are funded. This … Read more
OAKLAND, CA – In 2015, the Oakland City Council approved the proposal to reorganize city government to create a new ‘Oakland Department of Transportation’ or “OakDOT” for the City of Oakland. (Link to Ordinance) The Ordinance stated that: “The management and operation of the Department of Transportation shall be the responsibility of the Director of … Read more
OAKLAND, CA – The number one concern for Oaklanders in the Oakland budget survey was homelessness and our unsheltered community. The point in time homeless study in Alameda County (Link to Study) shows Oakland and Alameda County increased the unsheltered community by 43% over the last two years and clearly shows we are not doing … Read more
OAKLAND, CA – Writing a budget is about the numbers, and it is also about our values, our goals, and whether we take care of all of our community. I, Oakland City Council President Rebecca Kaplan, have taken input from throughout our community and worked to craft budget amendments as required by Oakland law (Link … Read more
COUNCIL PRESIDENT KAPLAN RELEASES HER BUDGET AMENDMENTS AND ANNOUNCES JUNE 10TH SPECIAL BUDGET MEETING OAKLAND, CA – Dear Colleagues and the People of Oakland, The City of Oakland’s budget policy requires that, after the Mayor’s budget proposal is received, that the President of the City Council produce an amended budget, to serve the goals of … Read more
OAKLAND, CA – Tomorrow, May 7th there will be a Special Oakland City Council Budget Meeting for the Mayor to present her proposed budget (Link to Agenda) which begins at 4:00PM. There will also be a Council Meeting beginning at 5:30PM. (Link to Agenda) On the agenda for the 5:30PM Council Meeting President Kaplan has … Read more
Oakland Measure AA and the Oakland Police Commission are the primary focus of Council President Kaplan’s actions this week. OAKLAND, CA – Tomorrow, Tuesday April 30th the Special Council Meeting will begin at 4:00PM to accommodate the Special Concurrent Meeting with the Community Policing Advisory Board (CPAB), Public Safety Services Oversight Commission, and the Oakland … Read more
Oakland City Councilmembers Rebecca Kaplan (At-Large), Nikki Bas (District Two), Noll Gallo (District Five), And Sheng Thao (District Four) Funding Resolution For OUSD Programs to be introduced at Oakland City Council April 16th, 2019. Oakland, CA – On March 4th, 2019, the Oakland Unified School District (OUSD) made $21.75 million in budgetary cuts to meet … Read more
Oakland, CA – In the Oakland Community and Economic Development Committee on Tuesday, Oakland City Council President Rebecca Kaplan’s ordinance amendment to lower ceiling height requirements to the State standard of 7 feet passed unanimously and will heard at the Tuesday, May 7th Council Meeting. (Link to Item) The new ordinance covers units for one- … Read more
Oakland, CA – On March 26th 2019, Oakland City Council President Kaplan called on Berkeley to refocus on identifying viable alternative sites for RVs, rather than immediately adopting a vote on a ban at today’s council meeting. Kaplan is calling for increased regional collaboration on homeless solutions, and is helping to seek applicants to operate … Read more
Oakland, CA – The Tuesday, April 2nd Oakland City Council meeting will begin early at 4:30PM in Council chambers. Also planned is a special tribute in honor of Victor McElhaney, son of Councilmember Lynette McElhaney, who was shot in Los Angeles on March 10th. There will be poetry from Paradise the Poet and a musical … Read more
Oakland, CA – A special Oakland City Council Meeting for Thursday, March 21st beginning at 10:30AM has been called. Council President Kaplan has moved the agenda from the cancelled March 12th Council meeting to Thursday morning. (Link to Agenda) President Kaplan also has five items on the agenda. Agenda Item 7.8 asks the Council to … Read more
Oakland, CA – Monday morning, March 18th, at Williams Chapel Baptist Church the interfaith effort to create safe spaces for our homeless, unsheltered residents to park and feel safe overnight was launched. This action is one of the steps outlined in legislation authored by Oakland City Council President Rebecca Kaplan. (Link to Legislation) Said President … Read more
Oakland, CA – OAKLAND, CA – Yesterday we learned Councilmember McElhaney’s son Victor McElhaney was fatally shot in Southern California. Victor was a Senior at USC Thornton School of Music and was not far from campus when the tragedy occurred. Said President Kaplan: “I am deeply saddened by this senseless act of violence. My prayers … Read more
Oakland, CA – Today, Tuesday March 5th, at the City of Oakland Public Works Committee meeting Oakland City Council President Kaplan’s Resolution (found here) she authored to request the City Administrator to prioritize a pro-active “Block By Block” Zone Based system to address blight and illegal dumping was passed. Previously in an article (found here) … Read more
Oakland, CA – Addressing how we deal with trash, illegal dumping and blight in Oakland — so that we all live in a clean and healthy city — is one of the fundamental tasks of local government. As can be seen by anyone who tours Oakland, the current, complaint-based efforts are failing, and particular neighborhoods … Read more
Oakland, CA – Oakland City Council President Rebecca Kaplan’s recommendation of Mr. Kenzie Smith to the City of Oakland Parks and Recreation Advisory Commission (PRAC) was approved at tonight’s, February 26th, City Council meeting. At the time of the nomination, President Kaplan stated: “I am writing to recommend and nominate Mr. Kenzie Smith to the … Read more
Oakland, CA – Last week, Council President Rebecca Kaplan sent a letter to Governor Gavin Newsom requesting Oakland Unified School District’s (OUSD) Emergency Loan be waived. Governor Newsom’s directive to our State Superintendent of Public Instruction, Tony Thurmond, to form a panel of experts to determine the impact of charter schools is applauded by President … Read more
Oakland, CA – Today, February 14th, at the BART Board meeting, Council President Rebecca Kaplan’s request through a resolution she co-authored with former Councilmember Desley Brooks for BART to name the unnamed road at the Fruitvale BART Station “Oscar Grant III Way” was passed unanimously. Oscar Grant III was a 22-year-old African-American man who was … Read more
Oakland, CA – Today, Tuesday February 5th, the Oakland City Council meeting will begin at 5:00pm. (Link to Agenda). This will be the second meeting overseen by new Oakland City Council President Rebecca Kaplan, and she is keeping to her promise to limit ceremonial items on the agenda, and holding council members to time limits … Read more
Oakland City Council President Rebecca Kaplan’s resolution to give an unnamed road next to Fruitvale BART Station a name: “Oscar Grant Way” passed City Council tonight. Oakland, CA – Today at the Oakland City Council meeting (Link to Agenda) Council President Rebecca Kaplan’s Resolution (Link to Agenda Item S7.14) she co-authored with Former Councilmember Desley … Read more
Oakland, CA – Today in the Life Enrichment Committee the Resolution introduced by former Councilmember Desley Brooks, and co-authored by Council President Kaplan, to rename the unnamed road adjacent to the West side of the Fruitvale BART Station between 33rd to 35th Avenues to “Oscar Grant Way” was passed. At the meeting Councilmember Lynette McElhaney … Read more
OAKLAND, CA – last week, in a unanimous vote, Councilmember At Large Rebecca Kaplan was elected Oakland City Council President. Kaplan is the first openly LGBT+ Council President in Oakland’s history. The new Oakland City Council President opened her statements with 1 Kings 3:9 “Give Thy servant therefore an understanding heart to judge Thy people, … Read more
OAKLAND, CA – Rebecca Kaplan is Oakland City Council President. Monday, in a unanimous vote, Councilmember At Large Rebecca Kaplan was elected Oakland City Council President. Kaplan is the first openly LGBT+ Council President in Oakland’s history. The new President opened her statements with 1 Kings 3:9 “Give Thy servant therefore an understanding heart to … Read more
The Oakland Raiders play on Monday Night Football tonight and what some say is the last game in Oakland. But is it? Oakland’s At-Large Councilmember Rebecca Kaplan has this to say. OAKLAND, CA – Oakland’s citywide Councilmember Rebecca Kaplan has been keeping up with the news about the Raiders deliberations about where to play in … Read more
Rebecca Kaplan motioned to send OPD Probation Search Policy to Oakland Police Commission for review. OAKLAND, CA – Today at the continued Oakland City Council meeting, the controversial issue of OPD’s policy of searching people on Parole and Probation was on the agenda. Many community members and members of the Police Commission spoke out and … Read more
Oakland, CA – Today, November 27, 2018, is the 40th anniversary of the assassination of San Francisco Supervisor Harvey Milk, a leader in the LGBT movement and and first openly-gay American be elected to public office. At tonight’s City Council meeting, Oakland’s at-large Council member Rebecca Kaplan, Oakland’s first openly-lesbian Council member, will offer an … Read more
Oakland, CA – Following the elections, the Oakland City Council will have three new members. Rebecca Kaplan, the only city-wide elected member of the Oakland City Council (At-Large), reached out to all three Councilmembers-elect, and welcomed them all to the Oakland City Council. Kaplan, who was re-elected city-wide in 2016, was not on the ballot … Read more
Oakland, CA – Tomorrow, Oakland City Staff will report back on the implementation of Councilmember Rebecca Kaplan’s Resolution expanding solutions to address the growing homelessness crisis, which City Council passed in April. Oakland City Council meeting will take place on Tuesday, 10/30, at 5:30pm at Oakland City Hall, 3rd Floor. Click here for Councilmember Kaplan’s … Read more
Oakland, CA- Tonight, Oakland City Council voted to extend the moratorium on the substantial rehabilitation exemption to rent control. The moratorium, authored by Councilmembers Kaplan and Kalb, seeks to minimize the displacement of tenants unable to afford the higher rents that owners charge after units are removed from the rent control program through the substantial … Read more
Oakland, CA- Today Oakland Councilmember At-Large Rebecca Kaplan, released the following statement on the future of public banking in Oakland and the region: The public banking feasibility study on the agenda today marks an important step in the process of investigating public banking for the City of Oakland and larger region. By creating a bank … Read more
OAKLAND, CA – Monday, The Oakland City Council passed the second reading of the Ordinance to establish regulations and permits for dockless scooter sharing programs, co-authored by Councilmembers Kaplan, Gallo, and Department of Transportation Staff. Kaplan says, “This Ordinance will provide responsible guidelines for scooter companies as they do business in Oakland.” Councilmember Kaplan also … Read more
OAKLAND, CA – Monday, The Oakland City Council passed Councilmember Kaplan’s Resolution calling on Congress to abolish the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Agency. ICE was recently created in 2003, under the Bush Administration, to prevent acts of terrorism and criminal activity. However, ICE’s work has dramatically shifted from its mission of preventing terrorism, to … Read more
37 Oaklanders were displaced after a fire at The Village Homeless Encampment Monday night. Crews searching for victims, hotspots. Very difficult work, several makeshift structures and tents involved. pic.twitter.com/RTzoWMmK1O — Oakland Firefighters (@OaklandFireLive) September 11, 2018 Oakland At-Large Councilmember Rebecca Kaplan released this statement: “Dear Friends, As you may have heard, there was a fire … Read more
Oakland, CA – Due to recent media stories about potential legal claims by the city of Oakland, against the NFL for the relocation of the Raiders, we have received numerous requests for comment on this issue. Therefore, Oakland City Councilmember At-Large Rebecca Kaplan today releases the following statement: “We have been told by the Oakland … Read more
Oakland Councilmember At-Large Rebecca Kaplan calls on Oakland Mayor Libby Schaaf and Oakland Police Chief Anne Kirkpatrick to drop all charges against bicycle advocate Najari Smith. On August 3rd, Najari Smith, a leader of the Richmond community cycling organization Rich City Rides, was arrested during a peaceful group bike ride in Oakland. While the ride … Read more