THE
HONORABLE
SHENG
THAO
•
MAYOR
OF
OAKLAND
CITY
HALL
•
1 FRANK
H.
OGAWA
PLAZA
•
OAKLAND,
CALIFORNIA
94612
•
(510)
238-3141
•
[email protected]
Letter of Appointment
October3,2023
DearPresidentBasandmembersoftheCityCouncil:
PursuanttoCityCharterSection601,theMayorhasappointedthefollowingpersonsasmembersofthefollowingboardorcommission,subjecttoCityCouncilconfirmation:
CommissiononPersonswithDisabilities
BenjaminBartu,toserveathree-yeartermbeginningonSeptember3,2021andendingSeptember2,2024,fillingavacantseatpreviouslyheldbyErinHattersly.
Thankyouforyourassistanceinthismatter.
Sincerely,
MayorShengThao
Sunaura Taylor’s forthcoming Disabled Ecologies.
Interim Editor-in-Chief, Palette Poetry — 03/19-
Present
*Read over 2,000 submissions of poetry every year in a
fast-paced digital office and answer email inquiries.
*Coordinate digital events with attendances of up to 100 people.
*Spearhead Palette’s Annual National Fair Housing Month Fundraiser, which I created three years ago. Oversaw
project growth of over 200% in our 3rd year. The fundraiser is dedicated to generating donations for housing-insecure people and unsheltered persons. I run it via our social media channels and website.
Teacher & Administrator, Mentoring Academy,
Berkeley — 08/20-07/22
* Driven to action by Covid-19’s negative impacts on
our education system, I spent two years making a positive difference upon the lives of young people in my
community. I taught 4 diverse classes of 15 students for 2 years in Oakland, with subjects ranging from Methods of Critical Thinking in English to Political Theory.
* Researched the development of Covid-19 legislation
and policy at a state and federal level in collaboration with staff members to implement policies that kept our
community safe. We oversaw the implementation of 7
changes to school policy, and I personally saw to the
Covid testing of more than 110 students.
Research Assistant, Columbia University — 03/20-
07/21
* Performed intensive research into US political
history, legislation, and policy about land use and civil rights over the course of the last 200 years . During my tenure I drafted a dozen literature reviews, acquired rare international archival files, & wrote over 40 pages of analytical research contributions.
*Edited & copyedited Dr. Mamdani’s NYT bestseller
“Neither Settler Nor Native”.
* Drafted more than 30 weekly memos for Dr.
Mamdani, coordinated over 20 digital events, & tracked
& logged almost 100 invoices in sums of over $4,000.
APPROVED AS TO FORM AND LEGALITY
________________________
CITY ATTORNEY’S OFFICE
OAKLAND CITY COUNCIL
RESOLUTION NO. ______________ C.M.S.
INTRODUCED BY
MAYOR SHENG THAO
A RESOLUTION CONFIRMING THE MAYOR’S APPOINTMENT OF
BENJAMIN BARTU TO THE COMMISSION ON PERSONS WITH
DISABILITIES
WHEREAS, Section 601 of the City Charter provides that members of City boards and commissions shall be appointed by the Mayor subject to confi rmation by the affirmative vote of five members of the City Council; and
WHEREAS, Ordinance No. 9968 C.M.S., adopted August 5, 1980, and amended by Ordinance No. 11864 C.M.S., adopted March 12, 1996 and then by Ordinance No. 13334 C.M.S., adopted October 20, 2015, created the Commission on Persons with Disabilities to address issues germane to accessibility, services and civil rights for persons with disabilities; and WHEREAS, the Commission on Persons with Disabilities consists of eleven (11) members, serving three-year staggered terms with no more than two consecutive terms; and WHEREAS, at least a majority of the Commission members appointed must be persons with disabilities; and
WHEREAS, the Honorable Mayor Sheng Thao has appointed Benjamin Bartu to the Commission on Persons with Disabilities, subject to confirmation by the City Council; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED: That pursuant to City Charter Section 601, the City Council hereby confirms the Mayor’s appointment to the Commission on Persons with Disabilities:
Benjamin Bartu, to serve the remainder of a three-year term that began on September 3, 2021 and ends September 2, 2024, filling a seat previously held by Erin Hattersley.
IN COUNCIL, OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA,
PASSED BY THE FOLLOWING VOTE:
AYES - FIFE, GALLO, JENKINS, KALB, KAPLAN, RAMACHANDRAN, REID AND
PRESIDENT FORTUNATO BAS
NOES –
ABSENT –
ABSTENTION –
ATTEST:
ASHA REED
City Clerk and Clerk of the Council of the
City of Oakland, California
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