Change is the central theme of the upcoming November election in Oakland, with three City Council seats open, a race to succeed the retiring City Attorney and a recall of Mayor Sheng Thao sparking a battle over the city’s political fate.
In the midst of that, two council members want to prove they’ve done enough to warrant fresh four-year terms in office.
Carroll Fife, who represents District 3, and Noel Gallo, the council member in District 5, oversaw Oakland’s policies and finances across numerous crises, including a spike in crime during the pandemic and an ongoing budget deficit. They’ll look to convince voters that the city is headed on the right track.
Vying to replace Fife are Warren Logan, a government affairs consultant who served under Mayor Libby Schaaf; Shan Hirsch, a longtime West Oakland resident; Baba Afolabi, an entrepreneur; Meron Semedar, who owns a garment business; and Michelle Hailey, a community housing assistant.
In line to contest Gallo are Dominic Prado, who owns the temporarily closed eatery Tacos El Ultimo Baile on 12th Street, and Erin Armstrong, the senior policy advisor to Alameda County Supervisor Nate Miley.
Here’s a look at the races:
District 3
Even as outside pressure led her colleagues to shift political direction, Fife has remained one of City Hall’s most progressive voices in her time representing District 3, which spans West Oakland and the city’s uptown, part of its downtown and a sliver of Adams Point north of Lake Merritt.
When the city saw a crime spike in 2021, Fife’s fellow council members abandoned plans to reconsider the role of police in public safety, and called instead for more cops on the street. Fife didn’t budge from her skepticism toward law enforcement.
The housing crisis has galvanized Bay Area officials around promoting development — even market-rate units — under the mantra that increasing the overall supply of homes could ultimately bring down costs.
Fife still holds deep reservations about whether new high-rises could displace legacy Oaklanders, even amid a personal falling out between her and other organizers of Moms 4 Housing — the prominent activist group she was previously affiliated with.
Fife has, however, changed her tune on not seeking re-election, deciding to run for a second term after saying over the last couple years that she wouldn’t.
“The moment hasn’t changed — the needs of Oaklanders have not changed,” Fife said in an interview.
Most around town believe Fife’s strongest threat politically will be Logan, a former policy director under Mayor Schaaf with hefty experience in urban planning.
Logan worked on the city’s Slow Streets program that closed off vehicle traffic during the pandemic, and he touts the resulting safety improvements as policy work he can replicate on the council.
He has accused Fife of being openly hostile to new housing, telling supporters that the councilmember hates the idea of people moving to Oakland to buy homes.
In a flashpoint of their dispute, Logan says Fife shut down plans to build hundreds of housing units …read more
Source:: The Mercury News – Entertainment
