OAKLAND, CA – Oakland At-Large Councilmember Rebecca Kaplan is the only Oakland councilember who sends out regular press releases, and Monday, April 9th is no exception. Kaplan reports that “on April 10, the Community and Economic Development Committee and the Life Enrichment Committee will hear Oakland City Councilmember At-Large Rebecca Kaplan’s Resolution to encourage the community development of expanded housing options in the City of Oakland. The Public Works Committee will hear Kaplan’s Resolution to add more crossing guards to Oakland schools.”
Kaplan’s resolution to expand housing solutions, which you can read here, directs the Oakland to support community based organizations – including faith-based organizations and other non-profits organizations – seeking to provide temporary shelter and sanitation services on their properties, identify funding sources and public land for these efforts, and ease requirements so more housing alternatives can be provided.
Councilmember Kaplan says: “As the City of Oakland struggles with a burgeoning housing and homelessness crisis, we must support both public and private efforts to increase shelter options, promote dignity, and minimize disease and suffering amongst all Oakland residents. That is why I have authored this Resolution to encourage and support the community development of expanded housing options, by ensuring that our City’s laws are being effectively utilized to create meaningful solutions and serve our most vulnerable populations.”
The Kaplan resolution will be heard at the April 10th Community and Economic Development Committee (Number 3 on the Agenda), which begins at 1:30 pm, and the Life Enrichment Committee (Number 9 on the Agenda), which begins at 4 pm, at Oakland City Hall.
The Resolution to increase school crossing guards, which can be read here, allocates $320,000 from Measure BB (transportation funding), which Alameda County voters approved on November 4, 2014, to add crossing guards at 16 additional schools in Oakland; where each Councilmember will be allowed to select two schools each to add crossing guards. Kaplan, who also serves on the Alameda County Transportation Commission, co-authored Measure BB, which provides funding for transportation improvements.
Kaplan says: “To encourage our young people to attend and succeed in school, and to make it safer to walk or bike to school, we need to provide crossing guards to help protect our students. The voters of our community overwhelmingly approved Measure BB, and these funds should be used in a timely way to benefit our community. This proposal is an important and cost-effective way to improve the safety of our youth and reduce traffic congestion around our schools. I encourage my colleagues to vote yes.”
The Resolution will be heard at the April 10th Public Works Committee (Number 4 on the Agenda), which begins at 11:30 am, at Oakland City Hall.
Kaplan is also authoring a funding plan for homeless solutions – a vacant property tax. Click here to read that report.