Last week, I was very disappointed by the Council’s rush to approve a budget without transparency. However, after spending the weekend in the community with neighbors and grassroots organizations, I have renewed hope about reimagining community safety. See the first section below for more.

In this newsletter you’ll find:

• Updates on our city budget process and community safety efforts
• Updates on community wins for our students to experience police-free schools
• Preview of this week’s important City Council activities, including tenant and worker protections and directives to undertake a thorough review of 911 and non-emergency police calls for service towards shifting to alternative responder models
• An invitation to join a Community Town Hall to discuss my proposal to modernize Oakland’s business tax and make it more fair
• Call to action to support Oakland's LGBTQ Community Center

It’s been just a few days since we celebrated Juneteenth. I’m hopeful that our Black brothers, sisters, ancestors, and all Oaklanders felt the abundance, joy, and power of community.

With recent news of alleged nooses and fake bodies at Lake Merritt, we must stand together with zero tolerance and community care. I’m inspired by how the Town responded immediately -- from the emergence of people-powered Community Patrol to artist-leaders like Kev Choice, DJ Lady Ryan and many more organizing healing efforts. This outpouring of love is what the real Oakland stands for.

If you have information, contact investigators at (510) 238- 3728 or the OPD Hate Crime Hotline at (510) 637-4283. You can remain anonymous. Meanwhile, we’ve called on City leaders to investigate and have been informed that there will be a full, thorough investigation. The City has also notified the FBI.

I also want to inform and ask for your support to spread the word about two important things happening soon:

• An update on my efforts to improve community safety & redirect OPD funds during our city budgeting process 
• My proposal to modernize Oakland’s business tax structure & benefit our small businesses.

To our Black brothers and sisters who are grieving and demanding change, I see and stand with you. To our community who has protested, testified at meetings, and sent thousands of messages to me and City leaders, I hear your calls for police accountability and for transformation of a system beyond reform.

I’m inspired by how Oaklanders are staying strong, showing love and solidarity with the movement to support our Black brothers and sisters, continuing to shelter in place, and coming together to help our small businesses. 

In case you missed it, see my recent message on honoring George Floyd + Black Lives and working towards police accountability.

In this newsletter, you’ll find:

• How my office, the City & community are helping small biz post-demonstrations
• COVID-19 biz updates & resources for re-opening
• Preview of Tuesday’s Council meeting

We’ve reached 3 months sheltering in place. As Black Lives Matter demonstrations continue nationwide, as we face an unprecedented health pandemic and economic recession, here in Oakland we must close a $120M budget gap.

I’ve heard loud and clear from hundreds of you: we must invest in visionary solutions that reimagine community safety and prosperity as the housing, jobs, and services we all need. 

The choices Oakland makes now about how to recover should focus NOT on “getting back to normal” but on moving towards a more just, fair, and equitable future, so that our children can live and thrive in our beloved Town, safely, affordably, and sustainably for years to come.

With protests in our community over the last few days, what’s heavy on my mind and heart is the pain people are feeling because another Black brother / sister had their life unjustly taken. People across the country are saying his name: George Floyd. 

George was killed last Monday by the Minneapolis Police Department and it wasn’t until last Friday that one of the officers involved was arrested. People are protesting because they demand justice - that all four officers be arrested and charged. Until that happens we should expect more protests.

Heading into our 11th week sheltering in place, I'm inspired by recent wins for our community, such as the extension of my emergency eviction moratorium and a fall ballot initiative to provide Oakland youth with more political power!

In this newsletter you’ll find:

• Updates on Oakland’s eviction moratorium extension
• Efforts to grant youth voting power in school board elections
• Local Health Emergency for Oakland’s Black Residents
• COVID-19 Shelter in Place updates, moving to “Phase 2”
• A preview of Tuesday’s Council meeting

As we enter our 10th week of sheltering in place, know that we are all helping to stop the spread. COVID-19 cases are still rising, and we need to stay vigilant, continuing to stay home unless it’s for essential business, covering our faces out in public, washing our hands often, staying 6 feet apart, and avoiding group gatherings. Oakland, together we can #BeatCOVID19!

In this newsletter, you’ll find: 

• COVID-19 Updates on Sick Leave, Testing, Resources and More
• City Parks Update
• A Preview of Tuesday’s Council Meeting

May -- Asian Pacific American Heritage Month -- is a time that means a lot to me. And May is also a time to celebrate mothers. Happy Mother’s Day! 

In this newsletter, you’ll find: 

• Celebrating Mothers
• Ways to support our APA Community & Report Anti-Asian Hate
• Parks Ambassadors, Lake Merritt and 510 Day
• A Preview of Tuesday’s Special Council Meeting

Like you, I’m grateful for the chance to enjoy the sun lately. I hope the weather has been helpful to your mental and physical health as we continue to stay at home. This update includes:

• Safety changes at Lake Merritt starting this weekend
• Free COVID-19 testing
• A recap of my first virtual community forum
• A preview of key items at next week’s Council meetings