All Rights Reserved.Site by Value-Centered Solutions. A member of the Democratic Party, she previously served on the Oakland City Council. In South African townships oppressed because of unemployment, crime, drugs and violence, and where many of the population are suffering from HIV and Aids, this inspiring feature-length documentary follows the journey of six people who transform themselves through yoga, and documents the impact that yoga has on their families, and communities. Despite the unrelenting challenges of these times, we made historic accomplishments together. Two sports teams left the city and a third, the Oakland As, has threatened to leave if their proposed multi-billion dollar waterfront ballpark and surrounding development doesnt move forward. Libby Schaaf is an American politician and member of the Democratic Party. Schaaf presided over a city that has gone through a complete transformation, from a housing boom to exploding homelessness. Demonstrators met at Frank Ogawa Plaza before sunset for a rally. long hours and understaffing during tense contract negotiations, Which Bay Area city has best quality of life? Executive director of EveryOne Home Chelsea Andrews (left) and Oakland Mayor Libby Schaaf walk together as they count homeless people around Lake Merritt in February. 31. Oakland Mayor Libby Schaaf got on her knees for Black Lives Matter amidst the Floyd riots last year and scolded all white police officers as evil racists and oppressors of innocent black people before wholeheartedly embracing the "Defund the Police" movement. a widely lauded program called Keep Oakland Housed, changed zoning codes to allow for different types. She is the co-founder of the firm. There are those on the left who also respect the financial realities, such as Schaaf and Loren Taylor, the self-described pragmatic progressive councilmember who ran unsuccessfully to succeed her. When it came to the mayoral race this year, Schaafs popularity was so tarnished that business leaders who shared her concern about a labor takeover of city government failed to unify behind a candidate, and some dismissed Taylors candidacy because he was endorsed by Schaaf. That is the only pathway to a safe and healthy Oakland where all of us can thrive. They will now be fully in charge and accountable. By clicking Accept, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies. Some political experts say Oakland is a tough city to be in charge of balancing the different interests of residents. Before starting her political career, Schaaf was an attorney in Oakland at the law firm of Reed Smith LLP. Get Morning Report and other email newsletters. The programs success is mixed. We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. Her political allies on the council when she became mayor were all eventually ousted or opted not to seek reelection. Which Bay Area city is best for you? Officers say theyre overwhelmed by call volume, and data shows the majority of these calls are for noncriminal events such as issues related to homelessness and mental health. Its Schaafs job to make sure the police respond in a timely manner to emergency calls, but all she has done is throw money at an agency that is already grossly inefficient. By nearly every metric, she has decreased community safety and increased human suffering of those already most. She equipped an entire generation of children with college savings accounts and universal preschool. They are literally the antithesis of everything we say we stand for. Unless the two groups can somehow coalesce, labor leaders will continue to fill the political vacuum. In 2016, Schaaf wrote a voter-approved $600 million bond measure that helped fund street improvements. My general sense is if Libby cant do it, boy, its going to be hard for anybody because she really had the experience, the skills and the general chops to be able to do it.. Oakland Mayor Libby Schaaf and City Administrator Ed Reiskin today released a two-year Proposed Policy Budget for fiscal years 2021-2023. The department is tantalizing close to ending nearly 20 years under federal oversight in May, if it can continue to comply with court-mandated reforms. Most famously, she sparred with former President Trump after alerting residents that U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement could conduct a raid. Even the United Nations condemned Schaafs treatment of the unhoused, saying it constitutes cruel and inhuman treatment and is a violation of multiple human rights, including the rights to life, housing, health and water and sanitation.. Official Website for the City of Oakland | Mayor Sheng Thao. In any big city, the key to successful policymaking begins with effective politicking. An Oakland Chamber of Commerce poll released in October shows that voters are largely dissatisfied with the city 64% of the polls respondents said they felt the city was headed in the wrong direction. As Schaaf prepares to leave office on Jan. 2, still keeping her next move quiet, political experts say her tenure and her success as the citys leader is mostly mixed. Your email address will not be published. Some of the highest vacancy rates are in key city functions about 30% of jobs in the building department and nearly a third of positions in the transportation department are open. Learn how your comment data is processed. The numbers speak for themselves. Grab all the details about Jane Pauley, her net worth, and married life, Diane Sawyers Massive Net Worth from ABC Network. Invest in our communities to ensure housing as a human right, good jobs to support Oakland families, mental health care and youth programs, safe roads and clean streets. That first year, 24% of likely voters said the city was on the wrong track and 61% said it was headed in the right direction, according to the Chamber of Commerce annual poll. She serves on the Leadership Council at Kiva, a non-profit organization that allows people to lend money via the Internet to low-income entrepreneurs and students in over 80 countries. We invite you to use our commenting platform to engage in insightful conversations about issues in our community. And the business community must decide whether it wants to unify to be a potent force in the citys electoral politics or become irrelevant. We created Oakland's first Rainy Day Fund, adopted stronger fiscal practices, and grew the economy leading to Oakland's highest credit rating on record. S.F.s Golden Gate Park has a new feature after storms: more lakes. Office chairs and a blue bird statue: Heres everything you can bid on Woman found dead near tree limb at Golden Gate Park identified as San S.F. In addition to that, she's a former member of the Oakland City Council. . The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary". We made PROMISES to our children, by leaving transformative new resources for the next generation of Oaklanders, including: The Oakland Promise, nationally recognized as the most comprehensive cradle-to-career initiative of its kind, will provide all OUSD students with scholarships, college access and completion support. There is no treatment. In the citys housing element from 2015 to 2023, which lays out how a city will plan for new homes, Oakland reached 174% of its goal for above-moderate-rate housing. In the business community, there were a lot of people concerned about Loren initially based upon his support from Libby, said Greg McConnell, who spearheaded an independent expenditure effort for former Councilmember Ignacio De La Fuente. Duluth Boy Scout has slept outside for 1,000 days and counting, Italian film legend Gina Lollobrigida dubbed the most beautiful woman in the world dies at age 95, Pain and prison, then peace: How a Denver shooter and victim reconciled two decades after the shot was fired, RBonney Gabriels Miss Universe win dogged by rigging allegations, Lisa Marie Presley leaves behind a lucrative Graceland and a complicated financial legacy, Do Not Sell/Share My Personal Information. Sarah Ravani is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Let's learn more about her in today's article. Oakland Police Officers' Association He pointed out the citys facing the highest levels of crime and violence in a decade, a huge increase in homelessness, a potential financial collapse and the loss of more than a third of Oaklands Black population. Schaaf said the biggest challenges from her time in office are the problems she inherited from previous administrations from deteriorating roads with no plans to fix them to a non-existent. But Schaaf, attempting to placate the Left, failed to alert her public to the extent she could and should have. She added that the city has 2,200 affordable homes in the pipeline ready to be built. As a politician, she needs to maintain a healthy image in the crowd. Schaaf spent her entire first day as mayor in 2015 at the Oakland Police Department, demonstrating tone-deafness to the people at a time when thousands of Oaklanders were in the streets protesting OPD shootings of Black folks. When the ranked-choice balloting was completed, he lost to Thao, a union-stalwart, by just 677 votes. But, as Schaaf stood by passively, Oakland labor leaders over the past eight years built a potent campaign organization that financially and organizationally dominated the 2022 election. Bas said council members regularly hear from residents about their frustration with the lack of services trash, illegal dumping and sanitation and said its been a significant problem. gallery owner who sprayed homeless woman in viral video apologizes. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. Previously, she covered breaking news and crime for The Chronicle. I'm a Black woman and a co-founder of the Anti Police-Terror Project. var year = today.getFullYear(); At best, her tenure has been mixed, said Jim Ross, a political consultant based in Oakland. December 21, 2022 / 6:55 PM In the citys housing element from 2015 to 2023, which lays out how a city will plan for new homes, Oakland reached 174% of its goal for above-moderate-rate housing. We achieved OPD's long-sought compliance with court-ordered reforms with our new Police Commission. De La Fuentes entry into the campaign, the division in the business community and the lack of a potent Schaaf-backed political operation cost Taylor the race. And respondents were overwhelmingly concerned with gun violence 97% said its an extremely or very serious problem, and 88% said the same about crime. She led Oakland through not easy times.. Email: sravani@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @SarRavani. Her style was that of a practical progressive; vocal on social justice issues, but also determined to deal with real-world problems. Schaaf also built and ran the first centralized volunteer program for Oakland public schools at theMarcus Foster Institute. She is Jewish. The mayor cannot press an agenda without the votes on the council. Some leaders have pointed to Schaafs tenuous relationships with city unions, who have protested long hours and understaffing during tense contract negotiations, as a reason for the vacancies. Weve had to respond to the crisis while building a whole new system that did not exist in City Hall just six years ago.. The chambers poll also found that 97% of respondents said homelessness is either an extreme or very serious problem. For the first time in recent history, Oakland will have a progressive mayor and a progressive-majority City Council the outcome of the November election, which Ross called a repudiation of Schaafs time in office. But the reticence was reinforced by Schaafs lack of a political organization to support campaigns. When I became the mayor, it wasnt a top concern. Is that fair for an overall eight year period? The number of units the city was supposed to build is greater than the number of unhoused people, while the Town spends 10 times as much on police as it does on housing. She holds a B.A. Libby Schaaf is an American politician and member of the Democratic Party. We did not have a structure in place to deal with it. We blew our chance to use it. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience. However, she doesnt only do social works to gain peoples trust. In addition to repaving, Schaaf created a Department of Transportation and a 311 system that residents can call to report potholes and damaged roads. Further, she is the mayor of Oakland, California, as of 2020. After 22 years with the City of Oakland, I believe more than ever in the power and promise of local government. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. That is understandable because that is what developers want to build, but thats not necessarily what Oakland needs.. She repaved 161 miles of the citys crumbling roadways, but residents complain about the amount of trash on city streets in the span of one year, enough garbage landed on city streets to cover the length of 13 football fields. Oaklands next mayor is eager to hit the ground running. As Schaaf exits on Jan. 2, she leaves behind a crime-ridden city with inadequate police staffing, unfunded retirement liabilities that have grown from about $2.4 billion a decade ago to $3. Libby Schaaf's Tweets. This tool lets you decide, Two major shifts sparked mental health crisis for California's LGBTQ youth, Heres everything you can bid on as the Twitter auction begins, Your Privacy Choices (Opt Out of Sale/Targeted Ads). document.write(sentence); But, some say, the last few years of her administration, particularly throughout the pandemic, were less successful. I have seen true heroism in the public servants who Ive had the honor of serving with and learning from -- especially those magical, brilliant professionals who made up the Mayors Office, aka Team MLS. $5 million for each longtime Black resident? She is the mayor of Oakland, California and a former member of the Oakland City Council. Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting. But the city reached 43% of its very-low-income housing goals, 26% of its low-income housing and 3% of its moderate-income housing goals. The persistent level of vacancies that Oakland has had in key departments, like public works, planning and building, has really impacted Oaklands ability to provide the basic services, Bas said. Elizabeth Beckman Schaaf (born November 12, 1965) is an American politician who has been Mayor of Oakland, California since 2015. The amount of money that was spent on Ignacio was a waste, said Tramutola. During her administration, Schaaf capitalized on public private partnerships, using fundraising to launch city programs. Police officers told them to keep to the sidewalks, and cited California Vehicle Code Section 2800, making it an arrestable offense not to comply with the police order. In addition toOakland Cares, Schaaf is also active as the Leadership Council atKiva, another non-profit organization. Schaaf said the biggest challenges from her time in office are the problems she inherited from previous administrations from deteriorating roads with no plans to fix them to a non-existent response to homelessness. A Bay Area native, he holds masters degrees in public policy and journalism from University of California, Berkeley. var today = new Date(); But she didnt galvanize that into a political force.. She instituted one of the nations largest guaranteed income programs for low-income residents and launched a widely lauded program called Keep Oakland Housed, which provides rent checks and legal representation for residents at risk of homelessness. Further, she is the mayor of Oakland, California, as of 2020. Moss said shes eager to see how Schaafs legacy will live on from her investments in education for Oakland children to implementing Ceasefire, the citys flagship anti-violence program. When I became the mayor, it wasnt a top concern. She referenced them as she looked back on her time in office. While nearly 20,000 new housing units have been built in her time, homelessness also grew by 131% since 2015. "And for me it was to fix the damn pot holes!" There are cities that have gone through big transformations when it was said it could never be done. Some leaders have pointed to Schaafs tenuous relationships with city unions, which have protested long hours and understaffing during tense contract negotiations, as a reason for the vacancies. Samantha Laurey, Visual Intern / The Chronicle. / CBS San Francisco. He has worked for the Times and its affiliated newspapers since 1980, including previous assignments as political editor, Sacramento bureau editor, projects editor and assistant metro editor. built in 1966 and renovated in 1996, has been plagued by noted sewage issues over recent years, lighting problems and low attendance. If Im looking at (her) legacy, I dont think she left her successor in a particularly great spot, Lindheim added. The Oakland Mayor Libby Schaaf Net Worth as of 2020 She could have given speeches decrying the "defund" movement as the lie it was, and calling out the likes of . The programs success is mixed. The housing shortage in California is at the root of the states biggest problems,said Oakland Mayor Libby Schaaf, who wants to expand the use of local bonds to promote more building in one of the countrys priciest areas for real estate. But later, as gun violence in the city swelled, Schaaf was stymied politically in her attempts to increase money for police. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. As Schaaf, a moderate, leaves office, the progressive Sheng Thao is preparing to take over. 2022-12-11 - Daniel Borenstein is editor of the East Bay Times opinion pages. I hope Im remembered as someone who fought for Oakland as we experienced this huge moment of growth, Schaaf said. Facts of This is out of control.. Published: Aug 26, 2022. Meanwhile, homelessness is worse. Outgoing Oakland Mayor Libby Schaaf reflects on trials and triumphs in office, Public File for KBCW-TV / KBCW 44 Cable 12. Since then, her support has only risen, according to polls. In October of this year, those numbers had flipped to 64% wrong track and 18% right direction. And there are moments of unbelievable tragedy and grief, like presiding over the Ghost Ship tragedy.". Oakland politics do not divide between Democrats and Republicans, or liberals and conservatives. Schaaf presided over a city that has gone through a complete transformation, from a housing boom to exploding homelessness. [2][3] Schaaf won re-election in 2018 with a 27% margin. I dont know whats fair, but my sense is that people are pretty unhappy at the moment with the state of issues in Oakland.. In addition to that, shes a former member of the Oakland City Council. Street paving plans are held up by a shortage of 63 staff positions in the Department of Transportation. Despite those advances, some city leaders criticized Schaafs administration for failing to deliver basic city services. People tend to be remembered by the end of their administration and if that Oakland Chamber of Commerce poll is any indication, shes not being well remembered, said Dan Lindheim, a former city administrator and current professor at UC Berkeleys Goldman School of Public Policy. Libby has Stargardt's Mascular Dystrophy disease, which is a deteriorating eye condition that has left the athlete with only slight peripheral vision in her left eye. Despite new property taxes championed by Schaaf and rapidly rising revenues, the city remains plagued with the same key problems present when Schaaf was elected mayor eight years ago. Is that fair for an overall eight year period? Other legal experts pointed to similar policies in cities like New York, which have been ruled constitutional. After the rally, demonstrators began to march onto the street. By October, that had plummeted to 35%. Show this thread. Thats what the people of Oakland expect and demand. It was fitting that her last press conference would be about a program for universal preschool access. In 2010, Schaaf was elected to represent her home district, District 4, on the Oakland City Council. As the town awakened that February morning and more people flocked to the lake for their daily jog or walk, a woman approached Schaaf. She has made good on the promise to invest in police: The Oakland Police Departments share of the Oakland General Fund ballooned from $194 million per year, in the last budget put forward by Schaaf's predecessor, to $353 million per year in 2022-23 an 80% increase in just eight years. Mayor of Oakland Libby Schaaf reacts after throwing out the ceremonial first pitch before the game between the San Francisco Giants and the Oakland Athletics at Oracle Park on June 25, 2021, in San Francisco. Eager to hit the ground running, changed zoning codes to allow for different types support campaigns Housed, zoning. Be fully in charge of balancing the different interests of residents and a co-founder of the Oakland city Council I. Beckman Schaaf ( born November 12, 1965 ) is an American politician and member of the Police-Terror. From a housing boom to exploding homelessness alert her public to the use of all the details about Jane,!, Berkeley shes a former member of the East Bay times opinion.!, another non-profit organization office, the progressive Sheng Thao is preparing to take.! Already most set by GDPR cookie consent plugin similar policies in cities like new York, Which have been in! 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