CITY OF OAKLAND
CITY HALL • 1 FRANK H. OGAWA PLAZA • OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA 94612
Office of Carroll Fife PHONE (510) 238-7003 Councilmember – District 3 FAX (510) 238-6129 e-mail: [email protected] TDD: Relay: 711
BUDGET MEMORANDUM
DATE March 15th, 2023
TO: Mayor Sheng Thao, Oakland City Council, Interim City Administrator, and Finance Director
FROM: Councilmember, Carroll Fife, District 3
SUBJECT: Fiscal Year 2023- 2025 Budget Priorities
My deep love of community and desire to create equity for residents of who are typically devalued is what called me to public service. Transparency and public education are key to ensuring that our constituents are aware of possible solutions to the issues they face so we can build a stronger Oakland post COVID-19; one that does not return to ‘normal’ but transforms our city into one that cares for all.
I’d like the Administration to work collaboratively with elected Council Members to ensure our constituents' voices are heard and acted upon. To move Oakland forward and give people faith in this process, it is essential that they have access to information from their government and be allowed full participation in the decision-making process. The following is a list of personal priorities in addition to priorities lifted-up by constituents and community groups.
Tenant Protections
● Continued rent relief for struggling tenants including “bank tenants” ● Funding for Tenant Opportunities to Purchase Act (TOPA) feasibility study
Affordable Housing
● Fund the utilization of all vacant city property for transitional housing with case management sourced from culturally competent community housing advocates; this applies to County-owned spaces within the City of Oakland with no immediate plans for use or warehoused for sale. This utilization applies to buildings currently warehoused for purchase with no offer in process should be included.
● Creation of a Social Housing Department
Homelessness
● Establishing homeless navigation center
● Partner with the County of Alameda to utilize Program 8 properties (tax defaults over 6 years) to house critical populations
● Expedite the hiring of the homeless services coordinator and fully staff the department.
Public Safety
● Street paving and pothole maintenance with a focus on the flatlands in West Oakland ● Traffic Control/Street Calming with a focus on high traffic areas with frequent incidents of traffic injuries and fatalities.
● Increased investment in technology to support public safety with Privacy Council support and oversight.
● CEPTED for small business and areas hit most frequently with robberies and burglaries
City Services
● Prioritizing staffing citywide vacancies
● Bargaining for common good
● No more cuts to public works & increase service/prioritize services for high-needs neighborhoods; services need to be equitable
Economic Development
● Subsidies and supports to existing and attracting new small businesses ● Black New Deal: Education, Housing, Arts & Culture, Economy, Environment, Health ● Concretize the Black Arts Movement District.
Other
● Universal Basic Income
● Develop a Living Mural Fund, plant more trees and other greenery in West Oakland I am available for any questions. Thank you for your consideration.
Sincerely,
Oakland City Councilmember
Carroll Fife, District 3