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 At-Large Councilmember Rebecca Kaplan, Mayor of Berkeley, Jesse Arreguin, Vice Mayor of Berkeley Cheryl Davila and Councilmember of Richmond, Jovanka Beckles will be holding a press conference Tuesday, August 21, 2018, 10:30am on the steps of Oakland City Hall. One Frank H. Ogawa Plaza, Oakland. The press conference is to call on California Governor … Read more
Today not only the Bay Area but also the world lost a former Oakland Mayor, US Congressman and social justice giant Ron Dellums. Congressman Dellums was a tireless fighter for what he believed in and established the roadmap that, to this day, public servants in Oakland and beyond follow. His passion and commitment made a … Read more
Oakland City Council puts vacant property tax on November 2018 ballot. Late Tuesday night, Oakland City Council voted to place the vacant property tax proposal on the November 2018 ballot. The ballot measure, authored by Councilmembers Kaplan, Guillen, and Kalb, would fund solutions to homelessness and illegal dumping, to the tune of $10 million annually. … Read more
Today, Oakland City Council voted to move forward a proposed Ordinance to establish regulations and permits for dockless scooter sharing programs, co-authored by Councilmember Kaplan, Gallo, and McElhaney and staff. The second and final approval will take place in September. Kaplan says, “This Ordinance will provide responsible guidelines for scooter companies as they do business … Read more
Oakland City Council to take up dockless scooter law. The Oakland City Council Public Works Committee approved a proposed Ordinance to establish regulations and new permits for dockless scooter sharing programs, co-authored by Oakland At-Large Councilmember Rebecca Kaplan, and Oakland Councilmembers Noel Gallo (District Five) , and Lynette Gibson McElhaney (District Three), on Tuesday. This … Read more
The Oakland City Council made important progress at tonight’s July 11th full City Council Meeting, on independent community oversight of the police department, and supporting unions in the wake of the Supreme Court’s Janus decision. The City Council passed the Oakland Police Commission implementation Ordinance, which Councilmember Kaplan amended to address community concerns about its … Read more
Oakland Councilmember Rebecca Kaplan (At-Large) has Co- Authored an Ordinance with fellow Oakland Councilmembers Lynette McElhaney (District Three) and Noel Gallo (District Five) to establish new regulations and permits for dockless bike and scooter sharing programs. Councilmember Kaplan says, “The proposed ordinance will provide responsible guidelines for scooter and dockless bike companies as they do … Read more
The Oakland City Council’s Community and Economic Development Committee voted to advance an an ordinance to help tenant relocations last Tuesday, June 30 2018, and on to the full City Council for final passage July 10 2018. Under the ordinance proposed by Oakland Councilmember Lynette Gibson McElhaney (District 3) and Oakland Councilmember Rebecca Kaplan, (At … Read more
Rebecca Kaplan, the Oakland At-Large Councilmember, would not have taken time to have a neat logo made that reads “Rebecca Kaplan for Mayor of Oakland” if she had no intention of running in the Oakland Mayoral Election for 2018. Originally, and about four weeks ago, Councilmember Kaplan was to have a kind of joint … Read more
The City of Oakland Rules and Legislation Committee of the Oakland City Council will hear two important items this Thursday, June 29: a resolution urging the Oakland City Administration to continue to work with public labor unions post a Janus decision, and a proposal to tax Transportation Network Company (TNC), such as Uber and Lyft … Read more
Thanks to a tip from a viewer via Facebook, Matt McDuh, this blogger learned that Henry William Sintay AKA “Jogger Joe” was released from jail in Oakland early this morning. A check of the Alameda County Inmate Database reads that the name “Henry Sintay” is not there, whereas it appeared there after he was … Read more
Given the success of Uber and Lyft ride-share tech companies (or what are called “transportation network companies”) more and more cities, towns, and municipalities have looked for ways to extract tax dollars from them. Now, Oakland is set to consider a way to earn revenue from riders using Uber, Lyft, or any other transportation network … Read more
Rebecca Kaplan’s doing what Oakland Mayoral Election Candidate Nancy Sidebotham said the Oakland At-Large Councilmember was going to do earlier this week: announcing she’s running for Mayor Of Oakland. She’s even got a logo saying so (look below). Plus, she’s teaming with Oakland Activist Cat Brooks. In an email announcing her decision and sent to … Read more
Oakland At-Large Councilmember Rebecca Kaplan is expected to announce she is running for Mayor of Oakland this week, if not within the next two weeks, according to three conversations this author had with sources: two with the Oakland tax consultant and candidate for mayor herself Nancy Sidebotham, and another with a well-known former Oakland elected … Read more
