City Council Candidates

Oakland Youth Commission CITY OF OAKLAND 2014 GUIDE Voter Election Guide  Ranked Choice OAKLAND, CA ELECTION NOVEMBER 4T H Voting

 Mayoral Youth Commission Candidates  City Council 2014 Voter Guide Candidates

 OUSD School

Board Candi- dates Mayoral Candidates 2014 Ken Houston  Ballot Bryan Parker

Measures Charles Williams Recommen- Hon. Libby Schaaf dations Hon. Courtney Ruby  Proposition Mayor Jean Quan Recommen- dations Hon . Dan Siegal Nancy Sidebotham

Eric Wilson Patrick McMcullough

CONTENTS Jason Anderson Peter Y. Liu

Joe Tuman Guides 3 Hon. Rebecca Kaplan Contents Saied Karamooz Ranked 4 Choice Voting

Measures 6 and Propositions City Council Candidates

District 2 District 4 District 6 Mayoral 12 Candidates Hon. Abel Guillen Hon. Annie Campbell Hon. Desley Brooks Andrew Park Washington James Moore City Council 26 Dana King Jill Broadhurst Michael Johnson Candidates Ken Maxey Paul Lim Shereda Nosakhare School Board 41 Kevin Blackburn Candidates Oakland Youth Commission 2014 Voter Election Guide

OAKLAND, CA ELECTION NOVEMBER 4T H Youth Commission 2014 Voter Guide

Oakland Ballot Measures

Measure N Measure DD

Measure Z Measure EE

Measure CC Measure FF

Alameda County Measure BB

School Board Candidates

District 2 District 4 District 6

Aimee Eng Hon. Annie Campbell Hon. Desley Brooks William Ghirardelli Washington James Moore Jill Broadhurst Michael Johnson Paul Lim Shereda Nosakhare

P A G E 3 Youth Commission Voter Guide 2014

October

October 2014,

Dear Oakland Residents,

The Youth Commission would like to present this voter guide to you in an effort to inform youth and youth advocates about the candidates and the Oakland Youth electoral process in this election. The Youth Commission would like to Commission thank all candidates who forwarded responses to our questionnaire. It is a true testament to their commitment to young people and lets us know they 150 Frank H Ogawa value the youth and our voice in this city. We have also included infor- Plaza, Oakland, CA 94612 mation explaining the Ranked Choice Voting process. Additionally, we included various civic engagement organizations and labor recommendations 510-238-3245 for the Oakland and Alameda County Ballot measures and California State propositions. Facebook: Oakland Youth Commission When your are voting, the Commission would like you to keep youth in the

forefront of your mind. How will the candidates, propositions and measures youthcommission@ you vote for affect children and youth in the city of Oakland? Although oaklandnet.com many of our city’s young people cannot vote, please make your vote count

for them by making a conscious vote that will protect our youth and ensure growth and prosperity for them.

Young people are our chief economic asset, immense human capital, our most valuable resource, and are key agents for social change, economic development and spontaneous innovation. The capacity for progress in our city is based, among other elements, on our capacity to incorporate the contribution of youth in the building of our city and by our ability to include them in the decision making process to whatever extent possible. This the Youth Commission’s contribution to the electoral process.

Thank you,

Oakland Youth Commission

OAKLAND YOUTH COMMIS S I O N P A G E 4 Ranked Choice Voting

What is Ranked-Choice Voting or Instant- Runoff Voting?

Ranked-Choice Voting or "Instant Run-Off Voting," allows voters to rank up to three candidates, in order of preference, when marking their ballots. Ranked-choice voting eliminates the need for run-off elections, and is approved for use in Berkeley, Oakland and San Leandro.

How are Ranked-Choice votes counted?

With Ranked-Choice Voting, if a candidate receives a majority (50%+1) of the first-choice votes cast for that office, that candidate will be elected. However, if no candidate receives a majority of the first-choice votes cast, an elimination process begins. The candidate who received the fewest first-choice votes is eliminated. Next, each vote cast for that candidate will be transferred to the voter's next-ranked choice among the remaining candidates. This elimination process will continue until one candidate receives a majority and is deemed the winner.

If I really want my first-choice candidate to win, should I rank the candidate as my first, second and third choice?

No. Ranking a candidate more than once does not benefit the candidate. If a voter ranks one candidate as the voter's first, second and third choice, it is the same as if the voter leaves the second or third choice blank. In other words, if the candidate is eliminated that candidate is no longer eligible to receive second or third choice votes.

OAKLAND YOUTH COMMIS S I O N P A G E 5 Ranked Choice Voting

The Process

The threshold needed to win is 5,001 votes (10,000/2 + 1 vote)

Round 1 The first choice votes are counted. No candidate has received a majority of the votes cast

Round 2 Because no candidate reached the threshold, the candidate with the fewest votes - Candidate E - is eliminated and the votes cast for this candidate are reallocated to the voters' second choice candidates.

The votes for Candidate E are redistributed and go to Candidate A and B in accordance with the voters' second choices. No candidate has a majority of the votes.

Round 3 Candidate D now has the fewest votes and so is eliminated. Candidate D's ballots are redistributed, but 200 of the ballots did not have a next choice marked on the ballot and are set aside as `exhausted'. The other 1,200 votes get redistributed to the continuing candidates in accordance with the voters' next preferences.

Candidate A now has a majority of the votes and so is the winner.

League of Women Voters: http://www.lwvoakland.org/rankedexample.html

OAKLAND YOUTH COMMIS S I O N P A G E 6 Ballot Measure Endorsements

Alameda Alameda Oakland East Bay County County Youth Young Democratic Republican League of Women Measures Commission Democrats Party Party Voters of Oakland BB (Alameda) No Position Yes No Yes N No Position Yes Yes Yes Z Yes Yes Yes CC No Position Yes Yes Yes DD No Position Yes Yes EE No Position Yes Yes FF Yes Yes No Position

National Women's Political Metropolitan Greater IFPTE Local SEIU Caucus Oakland Democratic Measures 21 1021 California Oakland Rising Club

BB (Alameda) Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes N Yes Yes Yes No Position Z Yes Yes Yes No CC Yes Yes Yes DD No Yes Yes EE Yes Yes Yes FF Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes

OAKLAND YOUTH COMMIS S I O N P A G E 7 State Proposition Endorsements

Oakland East Bay California California Youth Young Democratic Republican Propositions Commission Democrats Party Party 1 No Position Yes Yes 2 No Position Yes Yes 45 No Position Yes No 46 No Position Neutral No 47 Yes Yes Yes No 48 No Position Yes

Metropolitan Alameda League of Greater County Women Oakland Democratic Voters of Oakland Democratic Propositions Party California Rising Club 1 Neutral Neutral No 2 Yes No Yes 45 Yes Yes 46 No No No Position 47 Yes Yes Yes Yes 48 Yes No

OAKLAND YOUTH COMMIS S I O N P A G E 8 Ballot Measures

Measure Description

BB Alameda County Transportation Commission Sales Tax, Measure BB If approved, Measure BB implements a 30 year Transportation Expenditure Plan. The measure would renew the 0.5 percent transportation sales tax approved in 2000 and increase the tax by 0.5 percent. This would result in a 1 percent sales tax in the county dedicated to transportation expenses alone, which would expire in 2045 without voter renewal. The tax revenue from this tax is controlled by the Alameda County Transportation Commission. The 30 year plan proposes $7.8 billion in spending to improve and maintain transportation infrastructure and systems in the county. The two largest portions of the spending consist of $3.7 billion for public transit and para-transit and $2.34 billion for street repair. A somewhat controversial expenditure of $400 million would be earmarked for a BART extension to Liv- ermore. The priorities of the tax are to: expand mass transit, improve highway infrastructure, improve local streets and roads, improve bicycle and pedestrian safety, and expand special transportation for seniors and people with disabilities. A 2/3rds supermajority vote is required N Oakland Unified School District Parcel Tax, Measure N

If approved, Measure N authorizes the district to impose for ten years an annual parcel tax of $120 per unit of property. The tax revenue would be earmarked for adding school programs designed to prepare students for colleges and real-world jobs and reduced dropout rates.

A 2/3rds supermajority vote is required Z City of Oakland Parcel Tax and Parking Tax, Measure Z A 2/3rds supermajority vote is required for the approval of Measure Z.

If approved, Measure Z authorizes the city to renew for ten years a parcel tax ranging between $51.09 and $99.77 per property unit depending on the type of parcel. It would also authorize the city to continue to impose a parking tax of 8.5 percent for ten years. These taxes are accompanied by certain police staffing requirements that, if not met, compromise the city's authority to levy the taxes. The projected revenue from these two taxes combined over the ten-year life of Measure Z was estimated by city officials to be $277.2 million. Not counting the 3 percent required for oversight and evaluation and $2 million for fire services, the revenue from this tax will be split 60-40, with the larger portion going to police staffing, programs and services and the smaller portion going to community violence prevention/intervention programs. These taxes were originally approved in 2004 under Measure Y. Measure Y was amended in 2010 when Oakland voters approved Measure BB.

OAKLAND YOUTH COMMIS S I O N P A G E 9 Ballot Measures

Measure Description CC City of Oakland Ethics Commission Authority Increase Charter Amendment If approved, this measure would amend the Oakland City Charter to grant significantly more authority to the city's Ethics Commission, an independent entity responsible for inves- tigating and bringing to light any questionable or corrupt actions by elected officials. The measure also seeks to set aside an annual $500,000 in additional funding for the commission in order to hire more staff members and investigate elected officials in a more rigorous and thorough fashion. Prior to this measure, the commission was granted funding for an execu- tive director and two staff members. DD City of Oakland and Oakland Unified School District Redistricting Commission If approved, this measure would amend the city charter to establish a 13-member commission to oversee the redistricting for city council elections and Oakland Unified School Dis- trict elections. Without Measure DD, the city council would retain this power. While serving on the redistricting commission and for four years afterwards, commissioners would be ineligible to: hold appointive office for the City of Oakland or the School Board, serve as paid staff or consultants to the City Council or any member of City Council or the Oakland School Board, receive a non-competitive contract with the City, or act or register as a local government lobbyist. Measure DD also prevents a commissioner from holding elected office in the city or school district for ten years after serving on the commission and would impose strict rules about the qualifications of candidates for the commission to eliminate the possibility of any con- flicts in interest. The city council is required to go through a redistricting process every ten years. Under Measure DD, the new redistricting commission would also go through its redistricting process for both the city council and school election districts every ten years. The commission's first act of redistricting would occur in 2021. EE City of Oakland Municipal Retirement System Termination, Measure EE If approved, Measure EE would authorize the city council to approve, given a 4/5 majority vote, the elimination of the Oakland Municipal Employee's Retirement System (OMERS). The city would be responsible for purchasing annuities from a top-rated insurance company to continue paying the same retirement benefits to the remaining retirees in the OMERS system. The Oakland Municipal Employees Retirement System (OMERS) fund was created in 1939 to provide retirement benefits to non-public safety city employees. In 1970, the fund was made unavailable for new hires, as the city chose to contract with CalPERS for its retirement system. As of June 2014, the fund was fully funded and provided benefits to 22 remaining retirees and beneficiaries, which had an average age of ninety-one years old. The plan had total assets equaling $4.8 million.

The system's seven-member board recommended that the city terminate OMERS by contracting with a private insurance company. The board's actuary estimated that to wind down the OMERS system would cost about $2.8 million, including payment of remaining retirement benefits and administration costs. It was estimated, on the other hand, that the city could purchase a group annuity from a top-rated private insurance company to pay the same retirement benefits to the same retirees for about $1.9 million.

OAKLAND YOUTH COMMIS S I O N P A G E 10 Ballot Measures

Measure Description FF City of Oakland Minimum Wage Increase Initiative A group called Lift up Oakland is behind the initiative that seeks to raise the minimum wage in the city to $12.25 per hour and require employers to offer at least five days of sick leave to all employees, with larger businesses required to provide nine days of sick leave. The measure also has provisions designed to allow hospitality workers to keep all of their wages and tips. Several city councils across California have already raised low-wage pay, and initiatives seeking minimum wage increases were started in the cities of Richmond, San Francisco and Berkeley, but Shum Preston, spokesperson for SEIU 1021, said that, as of May 23, 2014, the Oakland effort had been “the most well-developed and broadly-supported." Minimum wage increase proponents submitted more than enough signatures to qualify their initiative for the November ballot.

Berkeley Mayor Tom Bates, who proposed an area-wide minimum wage increase, said, “Oakland is the place where we would look. If the voters approve the ballot measure, that will set a standard. It makes it much more pal- atable to people because they are not at a competitive disadvantage.” Thus, with a lot more than the minimum wage of workers in Oakland on the line, critics and supporters of a $12.25 per hour minimum wage will battle to win over voters before they decide in November the question that could have a very significant impact on the lives of workers and the entire economy of Oakland. In order to avoid punishing cities that approve a higher minimum wage with a competitive disadvantage in the job market, Berkeley Mayor Tom Bates proposed a wage increase for the entire East Bay area.

OAKLAND YOUTH COMMIS S I O N P A G E 11 State Propositions

California State Propositions

Proposition Type Description

1 Bonds $7.12 billion bond for California's water system

Increase amount of potential savings in the state 2 Gov't Finances 'rainy day' fund from 5% to 10% of the General Fund

Public notice required for insurance company rates 45 Insurance initiative

Increase the cap on damages that can be assessed in 46 Healthcare medical negligence lawsuits to over $1 million

Reduces the classification of most nonviolent crimes 47 Criminal Trials from a felony to a misdemeanor

Ratification of gaming compacts with the North Fork 48 Gambling Rancheria of Mono Indians and the Wiyot Tribe

OAKLAND YOUTH COMMIS S I O N P A G E 12 Commissioner Bryan Parker

1. What have you done in the past to support or serve youth?

In the past I have mentored youth through both my fraternity, Alphi Phi Alpha and as a member of 100 Black Men, East Bay Chap- ter, where I also helped raise more than $250,000 in scholarship funding. As Chair of the Workforce Investment Board, I advocated for and funded youth service providers

I continue to mentor youth and support them regarding their educational needs and provide guidance and positive influence.

I also support my nephew who suffered the loss of his mother at a very young age (my sister) due to a violent crime. Oakland Mayoral 2. Here are a few issues negatively impacting young people in the Candidate city: public safety and the criminal justice system, low-income families are increasingly being pushed out of the city because of skyrocketing rents, and immigration reform and deportations. How do you plan to address these issues if you are elected Campaign Headquarters : Mayor?

4881 Telegraph Ave. 94609 The city’s crime rate and its reputation of being one of the crime (510) 529-5015 capitals in the nation. That stigma alone is what cripples this city economically. We have to change our story and not allow others Email: [email protected] define this city’s potential and its beauty. Oakland is a diverse cul- turally, racially and even its economic development where both Web: bryanparker.org small and large businesses can co-exist.

Facebook: The destruction that the downtown area endures each and every Bryan Parker for Mayor of Oakland time there is a protest sends messages to outsiders not come to our city and challenges our already overworked police force and poten- Twitter: tial discourages future recruits from wanting to serve and protect @bryanparker2014 Oakland.

OAKLAND YOUTH COMMIS S I O N OAKLAND, CA P A G E 13 Commissioner Bryan Parker

This needs to change and it will change under my leadership. I would do the following:  Work with OPD to expand community policing and obtain targeted training on best practices to handle protests  Promote economic growth to fund increasing the level of police officers to 800  Promote public-private partnerships for job training and linked learning programs to steer people away from criminal activities  Streamline business permitting and licensing processes  Improve positive marketing and branding of the City

Housing costs and gentrification concerns must be addressed by City Hall leaders with thoughtful regulation and zoning – the local government has a few tools we can use to both stimulate and guide the economy. I’m going to develop a holistic view of the priorities of our city and put in place policies which, where needed spark growth, and in other places keep economic inflation in check. It’s the same set of challenges at the Federal level as it is for Oakland – growth vs. inflation. Let’s thoughtfully develop Oakland’s economic base in a way which reaches all parts of the city, and at a pace we can absorb. For more, please read

http://bryanparker.org/a-better-oakland-not-a-different-oakland/.

Education is also major concern and this is one of my 3 key priorities.

As Mayor, I would work closely with the OUSD Board and Superintendent to align our priorities and those of the many stakeholders throughout the education and non-profit world; agree on the metrics for accountability and improvement; and act with urgency to properly serve every young person and parent in Oakland. To really move the needle in giving our young people the education they need and deserve all stakeholders must work harmony with relentless drive toward the same objectives.

For example, I would rally strong support for the College and Career Pathways/Linked Learning programs so that all students may have access to them. Pathways programs have shown graduation rates 31% higher than traditional high school programs. In further support of Linked Learning, I would help bring together businesses, trades, and community- based organizations to better equip our young people for the world of work. P A G E 14 Commissioner Bryan Parker

I would be a catalyst for new and mutually beneficial partnerships between K-12 educators, health service providers, youth development organizations, museums and cultural institutions, colleges and universities, businesses, and law enforcement agencies. Schools should be at the center of a wheel of youth support with spokes going out to connect to vital resources. Many parts of the Oakland community have viable roles to play in supporting our youth to be successful, thriving citizens.

I would bring colleges and universities with programs in Oakland schools together to share and build upon their research topics and findings, and to cross-inform and magnify each other’s achievement of outreach missions and goals. I would bring the police department together with social services agencies to discuss the ways to best engage our youth and to understand

both their needs and strengths. Lastly, bridging the digital divide starts with Oakland Mayoral strong technology infrastructure and education, such as coding academies in Candidate our grade schools.

Poverty is a very serious concern of mine. The homelessness is a problem for the city of Oakland, but clearly there are people who are dire need of Campaign Headquarters : help. There are mental health concerns. We need more outreach programs and more shelters to be able to accommodate this population. There are con- 4881 Telegraph Ave. cerns for safety and health, which need to be addressed. I would work with 94609 (510) 529-5015 public agencies, community and private organizations to alleviate. We have only 18% beds on any given night for our homeless. This must change. Email: [email protected] 3. If you are elected Mayor, will you work with the Youth Commission Web: and in what capacity? bryanparker.org

Facebook: Absolutely. It is imperative to hear from the youth and those who act on Bryan Parker for Mayor of Oakland their behalf to fully comprehend the first-hand experiences and determine solutions together. Twitter:

@bryanparker2014 I have previously stated that my first 100 days are key in the first term as mayor and what happens under my leadership will dictate the remaining years of how to positively impact the city and moving it in the right

OAKLAND YOUTH COMMIS S I O N OAKLAND, CA P A G E 15 Commissioner Bryan Parker

direction. I have previously stated that my first 100 days are key in the first term as mayor and what happens under my leadership will dictate the remaining years of how to positively impact the city and moving it in the right direction. I intend to have youth at the table as relevant decisions affect them and their future. I certainly welcome input from the Youth Commission. In fact, I encourage members of the Youth Commission to meet prior to the election and if allowed, I would be open to attending a commission meeting.

4. If you can accomplish one thing in office as it relates to youth, what would that be?

That our youth are protected and educated in a city they would consider safe to move back to once they have graduated and acquired jobs and careers. Additionally, that we'd be doing more around early childhood education and creating after school programs and meaningful summer jobs for our youth.

P A G E 16 Mayor Jean Quan

1. What have you done in the past to support or serve youth?

 Worked to save music, arts, and libraries in the schools  Passed the first school bonds in over 20 years for more equal facilities esp for the flatlands, to modernize all schools and win the first funding for earthquake seismic safety.  Championed high school academy internships and raised money to fund over 2100 summer jobs for high school students.  Worked to provide thousands of computers to school and fight national to local funding  Got funding to establish school based clinics  Worked nationally to save school lunches and add school breakfasts and snacks Oakland  National advocate for immigrant student rights Mayoral  Helped write and pass Kids First afterschool programs and Measure Y/Z Candidate for violence prevention programs Incumbent  Fought for to save libraries, passed Measure Q, built the 81st Ave Library and library Teen Zones.

2. Here are a few issues negatively impacting young people in the city: public safety and the criminal justice system, low-income families are in- Campaign creasingly being pushed out of the city because of skyrocketing rents, and Headquarters : immigration reform and deportations. How do you plan to address these 2201 Broadway issues if you are elected Mayor? (510) 545-2502

 Built 1700 affordable housing units Email: organize@jeanquanforo  25% of the next 11K will be affordable; led fights for funding in City, akland.org state, and regional government  Leading advocate for Sexually Exploited Minors Restorative justice pro- Web: grams for youth jeanquanforoakland.org/  Just passed funds to protect Central American Youth refugees legal Facebook: rights Jean Quan for Oakland  Supports workshop for Dreamers and national advocacy for Immigra- Mayor 2014 tion Reform

Twitter: @jeanquan 3. If you are elected Mayor, will you work with the Youth Commission and in what capacity?

I have already met with the Commission and asked them to recruit others that would include more diversity and at least one representative

OAKLAND YOUTH COMMIS S I O N OAKLAND, CA P A G E 17 Mayor Jean Quan

from each major high school. I would like to work with Commissioners and the All City Council from OUSD on the two year budget process to set up priorities on the city’s budget, improving jobs for youth and publice safety and on major issues that they would like to discuss.

4. If you can accomplish one thing in office as it relates to youth, what would that be?

To provide an internship or apprenticeship to every high school student. My first year as Mayor, Congress cut the Mayor’s Summer Job Program. I have regrown the program to 2156 jobs this summer. I hope to increase the job opportunities to every student who ap- plies, that would be over 3000 next year. I also want to make more of the internships extend to year round opportunities and link them to community college programs.

P A G E 18 Ken Houston

1. What have you done in the past to support or serve youth?

From giving school children (ages 5 to 13) exposure to life changing events at the Coliseum and Oracle Area, to being part of the Community Advisory Board, to building parks with the Oakland Unified School District so that underserved children have a place to play, to training and developing the skillsets of young individuals, I have embraced the youth of Oakland. As mayor my mission will be to put the youth in positions where they can build their skillsets and grow and become productive members of society. I will also ensure that opportunities are opened up to younger people that deserve it. Win or lose, I will continue my activities to give opportunity and hope to the youth of Oakland.

2. Here are a few issues negatively impacting young people in the city: public safety and the criminal justice system, low-income families are increasingly being pushed out of the city because of skyrocketing Oakland rents, and immigration reform and deportations. How do you plan to Mayoral address these issues if you are elected mayor? Public safety and crimi- Candidate nal justice.

Our children are being affected in certain demographics because they have Phone: no after-school/activity programs that are socially needed. As mayor I will (510) 606-2545 make that happen. I have been a part of an organization that for the last 14 years has been giving young individuals that make mistakes a second Email: chance by teaching them skillsets and giving them life skills. Immigration info@kenhouston4mayo reform. Every child needs opportunity whether they are “legal” or “illegal.” r.org; If they are “illegal.” they need to be represented and supported in the proper Web: http:// way so they have a chance to become successful citizens. Currently I am kenhouston4mayor.org/ helping two individuals to get their GED and paperwork so they can become a productive members of society. Skyrocketing rents is part of the gentrifi- Facebook: Ken Houston 4 Mayor cation that needs to be stopped. I would find a way to ensure that the people who were here in the bad times, when Oakland was a ghost town, will not Twitter: be forced out. One of the ways to do that is to create affordable housing and @KHouston4Mayor affordable homeownership for those individuals.

OAKLAND YOUTH COMMIS S I O N OAKLAND, CA P A G E 19 Ken Houston

3. If you are elected Mayor, will you work with the Youth Commission and in what capacity?

I will work with the Oakland Youth Advisory Committee, win or lose, and bring the skillsets and training to the youth so as to positively move their agenda forward.

4. If you can accomplish one thing in office as it relates to youth, what would that be?

Among many things, mayor or not, I will continue to give opportunities to the youths and families that have been unjustly excluded for many years. Since you are asking for one accomplishment, my top priority would be to give the youth in our City hope. P A G E 20 Patrick McCullough

1. What have you done in the past to support or serve youth? When I was a young teenager in Chicago I helped bridge relations between White and Black youthful activists and adults by producing essays, artwork, making speeches and casual conversation. As the president of my high school’s largest club in a time of turmoil – when window-breaking riots and tear gas were almost part of the curriculum, I united all the disparate school organizations to work together in the effort to replace the school administration. That effort succeeded after I was kicked out and transferred to a reform school where I continued writing and liaising. These activities supported the racial and societal integration of youth that is crucial to our progress.

At the age of 18, I joined the U.S. Navy. Until my Honorable Discharge, seven years later, I served our youth by helping to defend against our foreign enemies. I also shielded my gay friends from official intolerance and harass- Oakland ment by fellow sailors. Mayoral Upon our marriage my wife and I agreed that the dissolution and unpopu- Candidate larity of family structures that previous younger generations depended on was disastrous, and that we should establish and maintain our own family and live as an example for youth to follow. After we bought our home we became prominent anti-crime proponents, publicly showing the youth that we were not, and they should not be, intimidated by thugs and the “snitch Campaign culture”. Headquarters : P.O. Box 3802, Oakland I built cabinetry, did handyman work, played with the kids, bought them 94609 (510) 655-8013 food, supported athletic activities and served on advisory groups at my son’s schools. On my street I personally rebuilt a traffic barrier erected to stop drive by Email: shootings, after the city allowed it to deteriorate and began to remove it, and [email protected] sued the City of Oakland to stop them. Because of my efforts the city in-

Web: stalled a speed bump and permanent traffic barrier. I also helped plan the www.pat4oakland.com new Bushrod Park recreation center. My efforts have resulted in a huge re- duction of criminal activity that harmed the youth. Facebook: Patrick McCullough Providing this model of righteousness, perseverance and stability has been for Oakland Mayor 2014 my most important service. Twitter: @pat4oakland 2. Here are a few issues negatively impacting young people in the city: public safety and the criminal justice system, low-income families are increasingly being pushed out of the city because of skyrocketing rents, and immigration reform and deportations.

OAKLAND YOUTH COMMIS S I O N OAKLAND, CA P A G E 21 Patrick McCullough

How do you plan to address these issues if you are elected Mayor?

Addressing these issues begins with a critical analysis of exactly what it is that is presented as a problem and determining what is fact and what is mythology.

a. Public safety and the criminal justice system With my uniquely broad and deep experience as a guide for understanding this complex

b. Low income families pushed out

First, we must acknowledge that many low-income families have voluntarily left Oakland because of the crime, violence, lousy school system and the prospect of better opportunities elsewhere. Also, it must be understood that it is not the proper function of American government to attempt to equalize economic status among its residents. To the extent that skyrocketing rent has pushed some out, this is primarily caused by ineffec- tive legislators in city and state government who didn’t pass the rent-control laws that would have prevented this result. As Mayor I will lead the adoption of rent-control laws and other policies that help preserve the ability of the less-wealthy to live here.

c. Immigration reform and deportations

This is a federal government issue that demands action by federal officials. Local officials should refrain from endorsing policies and practices that sap the resources needed to serve legal residents to encourage or support illegal immigration.

3. If you are elected Mayor, will you work with the Youth Commission and in what capacity?

As Mayor, I’ll work with everyone willing to help.

4. If you can accomplish one thing in office as it relates to youth, what would that be?

I will change the way they view and relate to the police. I want to end the affinity for “snitch culture” rules, stop their carrying guns, get them to trust and appreciate the police, and get many to join the police department. I know this is possible due to my own background of hav- ing been shot at and befriended by police as a youth.

P A G E 22 Councilmember At-Large Rebecca Kaplan

1. What have you done in the past to support or serve youth?

Recently, I fought successfully to partner with the nonprofit Civicorps in the City’s selection of garbage and recycling providers – which provides job opportunities and training for at-risk youth, including ex-offenders looking for a second chance. I’m proud of this work, which was opposed by several of my colleagues.

Additionally, the crisis of illegal guns in our community is the greatest issue that harms the conditions and experience of our youth – and I am actively working currently, and will continue, to advance policies that will reduce gun violence and make our streets safer. I have opposed youth curfews because I believe that our po- Oakland lice should focus on gun violence instead of chasing kids around at night. I helped Mayoral to create the free Broadway Shuttle, which helps residents and workers get around Candidate downtown. And I’ve fought for economic stimulus packages with strong job- creation components such as the Oakland Army Base and Measure BB as this significant expansion in economic opportunity will help create hope and attainable employment for youth as they go through high school.

In helping to write Measure BB, I specifically and successfully fought to secure funding for a free bus pass for our youth.

Further, I have supported funding for youth programs, and cultural arts programs in the city budget, which often create an additional outlet for youth with a creative Campaign streak who desire opportunities to contribute to the cultural vibrancy of our city. Headquarters : 2131 Broadway Further, I recently identified over $1 million in additional grant funding available (510) 463-4WIN for the Oakland Fund for Children & Youth (OFCY) to distribute to community or-

ganizations that serve youth in Oakland. The previous funding did not include ade- Email: campaign@kaplanforoak quate support for LGBTQ youth, who often suffer disproportionate homelessness land.org and victimization. After I identified this key funding, the Oakland City Council joined me in passing a funding package for a 3-year grant cycle that is expected to Web: serve over 500 young people in Oakland per year. kaplanforoakland.org/ 2. Here are a few issues negatively impacting young people in the city: Facebook: Rebecca public safety and the criminal justice system, low-income families are in- Kaplan (Politician) creasingly being pushed out of the city because of skyrocketing rents, and Twitter: immigration reform and deportations. How do you plan to address these @Kaplan4Oakland issues if you are elected Mayor?

If elected mayor, I’ll continue a wide range of work important and beneficial to young people as I have during my first term. Reducing unemployment and implementing effective programs for local jobs has many benefits – one of those benefits is that it reduces crime. I have worked on efforts to expand

OAKLAND YOUTH COMMIS S I O N OAKLAND, CA P A G E 23 Councilmember At-Large Rebecca Kaplan

and create local jobs – and will continue to do so moving forward. Oakland is home to note- worthy successful violence prevention programs, such as the Measure Y Street Outreach Workers, the Youth Court diversion program and more. We must work to ensure that these programs continue and are strengthened. I helped to write and obtain support for a successful federal grant application, for example, to support the Street Outreach Workers program – and will continue this sort of advocacy.

Many of these critical violence prevention efforts are funded by Measure Y, which expires this year. So we must pass Measure Z and secure additional anti-violence funding going forward. We need to ensure that law enforcement targets serious violence – especially the deadly flood of illegal guns that are brought into Oakland. We need to strengthen community-police relations so that witnesses and police can communicate effectively – with trust – to be able to prevent and solve crime. This includes working to hire Oakland residents and those with an understanding of our communities.

Sometimes people have a stereotype that progressive policy goals do not go together with crime-fighting goals. But this is not true, and healing this split is necessary to Oakland’s healthy future. We need a community of justice, equality and safety - where police are able to successfully fight dangerous crime with the help and trust of the community. Our desire that law enforcement stop wasting time on things that actually don’t make us safer – like targeting people based on immigration status – is fully compatible with and supportive of our need for law enforcement to focus on serious crime and things like stopping illegal guns, which do make our communities safer.

Fundamentally, we must stop the growth of the prison industrial complex that dispropor- tionately affects young people of color. That’s why I support policies like “ban the box” and other re-entry efforts to ensure that we’re giving people second chances after incarceration. By focusing on fighting violent crime (rather than making non-violent drug arrests), we’ll make the community safer and grow trust between law enforcement and our youth.

Affordability of our community is also a top concern. With the loss of redevelopment funding, it is more important than ever that Oakland engage in creative strategies to maintain, restore, and provide affordable housing. This means working to seek state, regional and federal funds and advocate for state restoration of the affordable housing funding that was P A G E 24 At-Large City Councilmember Rebecca Kaplan

lost through redevelopment’s elimination. It also includes generating our own innovative strategies such as “height credits” and “reduced parking credits” – where a housing project can gain changes like increased height or density or reduced parking requirements in exchange for providing affordable housing. In addition, we should (and I have already begun to) work with regional agencies on upcoming funds such as the new MTC “One Bay Area Grant” program, and others, to support projects that include affordable housing in collaboration with non-profits and community based organizations. Further, one of the latest major threats to housing affordability has

been foreclosures and predatory adjustable-rate mortgages – and I have per- Oakland Mayoral sonally fought to crack down on unjust foreclosures also helps to sustain Candidate affordable housing. With significant numbers of buildings now being blighted and often vacant, our menu of affordable housing strategies should include, in addition to new construction, the acquisition and rehabilitation of blighted/abandoned properties. In last year’s budget process, I also successfully fought to secure funding set-asides for affordable housing development in Oakland.

Campaign Headquarters : Creating jobs and expanding the local economy with local hiring policies 2131 Broadway and focusing on growth sectors including health care, local food, transit- (510) 463-4WIN oriented development and trade and logistics. I will bring key businesses

Email: like grocery stores and banks to every neighborhood in Oakland by expand- campaign@kaplanforoak ing business attraction and retention efforts – and making sure that Oak- land.org land’s local businesses are included in new projects. I will continue fighting Web: for job training programs and policies that increase economic and profes- kaplanforoakland.org/ sional opportunities for unemployed workers, youth and ex-offenders, and

Facebook: Rebecca taking action to address the racial disparity in business contracting. Kaplan (Politician)

Twitter: I support the general legalization of immigrants currently living in this @Kaplan4Oakland country. The mistreatment and discrimination against immigrants is wrong and unjust. As the book Exodus says: “And you shall treat with justice the immigrant who lives in your midst, for you were strangers in the land of Egypt.”

OAKLAND YOUTH COMMIS S I O N OAKLAND, CA P A G E 25 At-Large City Councilmember Rebecca Kaplan

In addition to improving the job pipeline so that young people have a real benefit from stay- ing in school, I will work with you, our teachers and others to expand our efforts to attract and retain great teachers, such as student loan and homebuyer assistance programs. And I will work to ensure that we have after school programs at or near every school site so that our young people have a chance to get healthy activity and academic enrichment, which makes them more likely to be able to stay in school. I will also work with faith leaders, business leaders and others to spread a message about the value of education, while working to expand the kind of programs that make education attractive and worthwhile for our young people.

3. If you are elected Mayor, will you work with the Youth Commission and in what capacity?

Yes, absolutely. And I believe it is incredibly important to fully fund the youth commission – especially in light of cuts it’s experienced in recent years.

As a citywide elected official in Oakland for over a decade, it’s always been important to me to hear the needs of our youth and be in constant communication about how to improve the lives of young people. I am interested in cosponsoring special events that drill down into key issues that affect youth, and participate in listening sessions sponsored by the commission to hear directly from Oakland’s youth. I will also be open to regularly meeting with commissioners and discussing policy and budget issues. Finally, I will rely on the commission for input on my youth agenda.

4. If you can accomplish one thing in office as it relates to youth, what would that be?

As mayor, I will strengthen and expand the pipeline to job opportunities for young people. That’s why, for example, I fought to include Civicorps in the City’s garbage contract. Part of how we end the cycle of incarceration and violence is by making a real effort to provide job training and opportunities for our young people – not just for a short period of time during the summer, however. I will expand our City’s efforts to make sure that our young people, when given the hope or promise for long-term work, are actually provided those opportunities at the end of these programs.

P A G E 26 Peralta Community College Board President Abel Guillen

1. What have you done in the past to support or serve youth?

For the last 8 years I have served as a Trustee on the Peralta Community College District, there a majority of my constituency is youth and young adults seeking quality and accessible education. As a Trustee I have championed changes and programs that directly impact our students and work towards creating a positive learning environment. Two key examples high- light my commitment to youth; the creation of the AC Transit Easy Pass and the Peralta Wellness Center. With the AC Transit Easy Pass students can access a full bus pass for only $36 per semester, saving them more than $1000 per year. This is critical for many young and low income students who cannot afford a full priced bus pass. This pass allows students to get to school but also to work, home, and other essentials. The Peralta Wellness District 2 Center provides quality healthcare, ranging from mental health to acupunc- City Council ture and massage, to students for only $18 per semester. Even with the Candidate Affordable Care Act providing access to healthcare for millions, many students, especially youth and young adults still do not have access.

2. Here are a few issues negatively impacting young people in the city: public safety and the criminal justice system, low income families are increasingly being pushed out of the city because of skyrocketing rents, and immigration reform and deportations. How do you plan to address these issues if you are elected? Campaign Headquarters : I’m honored to be the only candidate endorsed by District 2 Neighborhood 600 International Blvd., Crime Prevention Council and Business Improvement District leaders, and Suite 103 (510) 454-8307 Oakland’s Police Officers and Firefighters. Safer streets and rapid 911 emer- (510) 417-4091 gency response are concerns for us all. I’ll expand walking, beat and bike patrols and equip our firefighters and police officers with the tools they need Email: to save lives. Adequate lighting and speed bumps also affect our safety. We [email protected] are rapidly approaching a situation where future generations of Oaklanders

Web: will be unable to afford a homein our City. www.abelforoakland.com As City Councilmember, I will champion efforts citywide to create more affordable Facebook: Abel J. Guillen housing options linked to public transit programs that bring neighbors and visitors alike into our thriving commercial districts. As the son of immigrants I know first Twitter: @Abel_Guillen hand the challenges faced by new families coming into our Country. As councilmember, I will work to institute policies that make Oakland a “safe city” for immigrants while working to ensure that we have adequate housing and services for new arrivals.

OAKLAND YOUTH COMMIS S I O N OAKLAND, CA P A G E 27 Peralta Community College Board President Abel Guillen

I will also continue to work with my colleagues at the County, State, and Federal level to champion policies that move comprehensive immigration reform in the right direction.

3. If you are elected, will you work with the Youth Commission and in what capacity?

YES. The Oakland Youth Advisory Commission was created to provide a youth voice directly with City Council. As your next council member I will look to the Youth Commission as a resource regarding youth issues, perspectives, and ideas. I would welcome the ideas, advice and counsel from the Commission and will consistently include the Commission on decisions that affect youth.

4. If you can accomplish one thing in office as it relates to youth, what would that be?

I understand that the Oakland City Council does not have direct control over the Oakland Unified School District but through partnerships and cooperation I hope to form long lasting relationships that ensure that our youth are served. I want to work with our Oakland Public Libraries and OUSD to make sure that all youth are reading at an age/grade appropriate level. The Boys Club was critical for me growing up so I will make sure that our recreation centers are kept open so that youth have a place to go outside of school hours. To answer the question in short, I will ensure that all of the government agencies across Oakland that serve youth are connected and working together towards the common goal of addressing the needs of our youth. P A G E 28 Andrew Park

1. Serving youth is my life calling. For the past 15 years, I have been serving youth through being friends with, mentoring, case managing, directing youth non-profits, church youth groups, and directing city resources such as Measure Y oversight committee appointment recommendations, and Com- munity Development Block Grant Funds. I am on the board of several non- profits and I run a youth based non-profit called Trybe that engages hard to employ and hard to engage youth from the neighborhood and local schools such as Dewey and Roosevelt Middle school.

2. I plan to address these issues by sharing power with youth so that the voice of youth has to not only be heard, but answered to. Youth need to be a part of every decision the city makes. In order to do that, youth must be engaged. In order to engage, you must have a message, a vision. The vision I have for Oakland is one of equity - that when Oakland gets better for every-

District 2 one, then Oakland will get better. Youth regularly come to our NCPC meet- City Council ing already. I have worked with youth on the Central city East Redevelop- Candidate ment committee. I counsel immigrant youth on how to support their families to stay in their homes. I support local measures such as the municipal ID card to help ease the fear of immigrant families. I am intensely fighting for better workforce development and career pathways because the best Campaign Headquarters : way for youth to stay out of the criminal justice system and stay IN Oakland and not be displace is through upwardly mobile jobs. Original Parkway Theater at 1840 Park Blvd., Oakland, CA 3. Yes. I will be sure that the Youth Commission is respected. Any commis- 94606 (510)379 -7104 sion but take itself seriously and respect itself to be respected. I would help build the self-respect by first showing the body respect. I would make sure Email: that youth from all across Oakland are a part of the commission, You and I [email protected] need to constantly hear the voice of youth and get used to answering it. om

Web: 4. My dream, my vision is to have youth feel like the city, and not just their www.andrewparkoakland.com friends, family or block/turf is their city. I want to connect youth to the rich cultural heritage of Oakland, places such as Chinatown, Defremery Park, Facebook: Andrew Park for San Antonio Park, Brookfield, etc. Youth need to feel like this city, this Oakland City Council - District 2 whole city is their city, where they can play, learn, grow, experience, give,

Twitter: @OakParkDrew serve, and build together.

OAKLAND YOUTH COMMIS S I O N P A G E 29 Dana King

1. What have you done in the past to support or serve youth?

I have spent nearly three decades serving youth in a variety of volunteer capacities. Much of the work involves equity in education, healthcare, juvenile justice and developmentally disabled youth. I participate in a weekly program at the Alameda Juvenile Justice Center helping youth with non- verbal and verbal communication issues and will be involved in "Fruitvale, Florida, Ferguson, and Beyond: A Summit about Ending Mass Criminaliza- tion in Oakland.” It will take place Saturday, November 15, 9 a.m. - 3:30 p.m. at the Laney College Forum. For the last 6 years, I have been part of an equity in education effort that will culminate in a ballot measure in 2016 to provide pre-k for all children. For the last 8 or so years, I have volunteered District 2 for Sunnyhills Services on behalf of developmentally challenged children City Council and young people. My volunteer service began in the late 1980s when I be- Candidate came involved with a start-up non-profit called the World Children's Trans- plant Fund. Our goal was to provide quality medical access, care and support for children in developing nations.

2. Here are a few issues negatively impacting young people in the city: public safety and the criminal justice system, low-income families are increasingly being pushed out of the city because of skyrocketing rents, and immigration reform and deportations. How do you plan to address these issues if you are elected to City Council?

Campaign Headquarters : None of the these issues are easy to fix but I truly believe that putting 510-610-3020 children/youth first in everything we do will have a greater impact on how decisions are made by city officials. What I mean by that is simply that we Email: ask ourselves, no matter what the issue before us is about, "How will this [email protected] effect the children?" By asking that question, we will be forced to make deci-

Web: sions based on the wellbeing and safety of Oakland's next generations. True www.danakingforoakland.com change will occur when we take into account the weight our actions will have on those too young to decide the outcome. To lead, one must have vi- Facebook: Dana King for Oakland sion and an attachment to an outcome that he/she may never live to experi- City Council ence…a vision of a future that helps make life better for everyone. Twitter: @danaking60 3. If you are elected, will you work with the Youth Commission and in what capacity?

Yes. I will work with the Youth Commission In whatever capacity necessary. I am fully committed to the goal of uplifting Oakland's youth.

OAKLAND YOUTH COMMIS S I O N OAKLAND, CA P A G E 30 Dana King

4. If you can accomplish one thing in office as it relates to youth, what would that be?

My goal in office is to see sentencing guidelines change for juveniles. Some of the young people I meet at the Alameda Juvenile Justice Center are court ordered to complete their sentences in prison. I feel there are few crimes that require such harsh punishment for youth. The system was previously designed for all detention to occur in a facility housing only juveniles and once the detention was fulfilled, the juvenile's record was expunged. That is happening less often and the school-to-prison pipeline is becoming more of a permanent path for young people of color. I find the criminalization of our youth completely unacceptable and will work with others to change the juvenile justice system.

P A G E 31 Kevin Blackburn

1. What have you done in the past to support or serve youth?

As a proud father and mentor in Oakland, I can say working with our youth has been the most gratifying part of my public service. As a baseball coach in the Oakland Metropolitan Babe Ruth Leagues from 1998-2010, I taught our players teamwork and leadership skills. I worked with the other coach- es to develop a college program for 22 of our boys- taking them on college tours and helping with their applications. While baseball was the game, we always reinforced that education came first, and felt we had to do more to get this message across so we fundraised for the college tour program. 18 of those players are in college- with 2 attending Ivy League schools- and the others in local public and community colleges. District 2

City Council I also served on the Board of Directors at the San Francisco Christian Center Candidate (SFCC) from 1993-1999 where we help found Our Kids First a 501(C)3 that operates an after school tutoring program serving hot meals during the school year to approximately 125 youth in grades K-5. During the summer months it is day camp. SFCC provided annual subsidies to support the program.

2. Here are a few issues negatively impacting young people in the city: public safety and the criminal justice system, low-income families are in- Campaign Headquarters : creasingly being pushed out of the city because of skyrocketing rents, and

484 Lake Park Avenue #604 immigration reform and deportations. How do you plan to address these (510) 408-7631 issues if you are elected to the City Council?

Email: As a volunteer in our community, coaching sports and helping city kids kevin@kevinblackburnforoakland gain life skills and attend college, I understand that we must break the cycle .com of violence by intervening early and often to support every child. By creat- Web: ing safe pathways to school, safe and supportive homework centers, and kevinblackburnforoakland.com combating gun violence, we will be able to keep the next generation on the right path – a path that will lead to a stronger economy, a safer city and an Facebook: Get Kevin Blackburn Elected to O Oakland that’s better for everyone. akland City Council, District 2 On the city council, I’ll work to make sure Oakland does all it can to end the cycle of violence once and for all. I will support programs like Operation Twitter: @kevin4oakland Ceasefire to offer former or likely offenders another option to crime; I will push for fair and equitable housing programs starting with a 20-year comprehensive housing plan for Oakland with a 15% affordable housing threshold on new developments; and I will work with state and local officials

OAKLAND YOUTH COMMIS S I O N OAKLAND, CA P A G E 32 Kevin Blackburn

encourage linked learning that leads to job readiness skills and creates clear pathways to college. I will also encourage all high school students in Oakland to take advantage of UniversityNow at Patton College which allows OUSD students to take college classes for FREE and potentially earn an AA degree while in high school.

3. If you are elected, will you work with the Youth Commission and in what capacity?

I plan to work with the Youth Commission and other governmental organizations like the Oakland Unified School District to make sure that our kids are getting the opportunities they deserve. I know first hand from my work with children in the community that early intervention will help children succeed in school and in life. I believe the Youth Commission is a critical liaison between youth and city government, to provide recommendations for improving our youth related policies and services. I will work to not only preserve, but also increase funding for the commission to work on strategic initiatives related to reducing youth incarceration, youth homelessness, and immigration reform.

4. If you can accomplish one thing in office as it relates to youth, what would that be?

I would focus on crime prevention, and specifically decreasing the rate of first time offenders. According to the Oakland Youth Indicator Report published by the Oakland Fund for Youth and Children, in Oakland homicide is the leading cause for death in youth ages 1-24 (36.1%). We must decrease that figure by 10% every year, so that youth have the opportunity to grow up and grow into their communities. To do this, we need smart community policing strategies that engage youth to be proud of rather than fear the police. I would review those practices in my first year of office, as well as partner with after school programming, workforce development, and other initiatives to keep kids off the streets and active. Finally, I would work to expand the overall economy of Oakland because I believe the best crime prevention measure we can provide is a job. P A G E 33 Paul Lim

1. What have you done in the past to support or serve youth?

I believe I have made an impact where I can. I donate to my college Alumni association which provides scholarships. I have also mentored and coached in the past. I even consider myself still a member of the youth.

Public safety and the criminal justice system has historically wrongfully tar- District 4 geted the younger segment of the demographics. Many people talk about City Council how to address public safety but really have never felt the tragic violence of Candidate the streets of Oakland. I have felt the violence. All the crime and violence that people talk about, the effects are shouldered by the youth. Young, mostly males, are being killed all the time on the streets. 2 of my former football teammates were shot dead in the past two years. I know the violence and I want to tackle it in a multifaceted approach. Heavier enforcement is not the solution. Increasing a police force with untrustworthy bi- ased people only makes the problem worse. Yes there does need to be an enforcement component to the solution. I propose an increase of civilian support staff to handle administrative and office functions. Lets get our officers doing what they were trained to do, law enforcement. This frees up officers to be a bigger presence to deter acts of ruin. The second facet is to develop and foster good relations amongst people. To do this recreation funding needs to be reconsolidated and focused in developing an all city league after school sports league. Growing up I played basketball for the F.M. Smith team. I learned many essential life lessons simply being on a team and playing basketball together in a league format. Teammates defend each other and don't commit crimes against each other. Team Oakland. As an enhancer the league will use school facilities and police officers will be required as part of their regular duties to participate in the league for example as a coach. When you grow up along side the police and get to know them there is less fear and hate.

Housing issues can be solved by allowing more development of housing to balance out the market's supply and demand curve. I will also setup rebate incentives for home owners that are residents of their owned property.

OAKLAND YOUTH COMMIS S I O N OAKLAND, CA P A G E 34 Paul Lim

Increasing housing balances the market and offers more options for housing. This is another subject I am very familiar with. I am part of the new norm called return nesters. We can't afford to live on our own so we live with our parents. I deep down wish housing prices were affordable enough so I could purchase and live on my own.

On the issue of immigration reform I support a pathway to naturalization. There has to be clear options to obtaining citizenship for honest people and their families. If you put into the system you should get the benefits of it. I would like to see the return of the naturalization program that was conducted during all high school graduations.

3. If you are elected, will you work with the Youth Commission and in what capacity?

Youth Commission is a direct line into the concerns of the youth. The youth segment is increasing and is the future of the city. I also still consider myself close enough in age to be well versed enough with the life of the youth. My generation shouldered a lot of the follies of our elders. I believe our elders did a good job raising us right but it is our time to take the reins of responsibility. We have to stop allowing our parents to make all of our decisions. We have to decide for ourselves and take the responsibility of those decisions. I am currently one of the youngest candidates on the ballot.

4. If you can accomplish one thing in office as it relates to youth, what would that be?

Creation and provision of the above all city sports league.

P A G E 35 Councilmember Desley Brooks

1. What have you done in the past to support or serve youth?

When the commission staff was at risk of being cut in the budget process I worked to make sure the position was funded part-time and then restored to a full-time position. Since coming on the Coun- cil I have consistently considered the impact of legislation on young people and sought to correct thoughts and policies that portray young people in a negative light. I host annual events that are specifically for young people– Easter Egg Hunt, Schools Out Resource Fair, 3 on 3 Basketball competition; Holiday Party; and Food distri- bution program. I also founded and funded the only operational District 6 City funded Teen Center in the City – the Digital Arts & Culinary City Council Academy (DACA). Candidate Incumbent 2. Here are a few issues negatively impacting young people in the city: public safety and the criminal justice system, low-income families are increasingly being pushed out of the city because of skyrocketing rents, and immigration reform and deportations. How do you plan to address these issues if you are elected?

I would continue the work I’ve begun to build better relationships

between youth and the police; I would continue to ask for accountability measures from our police department. I would advocate for Web: policies like the City of Richmond where prior to hiring their officers www.democracy.com/ Desley-Brooks/ they want to know that that officer has been actively engaged in default.aspx their community; or their rent relief program that actually gives

Facebook: officers a rent waiver to live in the community. Desley Brooks I have provided leadership on the Council to address housing issues Twitter: in the City. I advocated for the Community Land Trust which pro- @desleyb vides permanently affordable home ownership opportunities; I wrote the legislation to hold banks accountable on foreclosed properties; I continue to work with staff to develop strategies to address the displacement crisis.

I voted with the Finance Committee to grant money to Centro Legal to provide legal representation for young people threatened with deportation.

OAKLAND YOUTH COMMIS S I O N OAKLAND, CA P A G E 36 Councilmember Desley Brooks

3. If you are elected, will you work with the Youth Commission and in what capacity?

Absolutely, I will work with the Youth Commission. As I have in the past, I will continue to meet with the Commission; find areas where we can work together; support projects of the commission; and continue to make referrals for appointments to the commission. I worked with the Commission when they did the stop the violence bill- board campaign.

4. If you can accomplish one thing in office as it relates to youth, what would that be?

I would like to elevate the status of young people in this City and make youth a priority. If we do this, as a community, we would make sure that we had schools that actually teach our kids; public facilities such as parks and recreational facilities that are beau- tiful and provide kids a safe place to play; activities that just allowed kids to be kids; an environment where youth felt protected, safe, supported in pursuing their dreams, and where all youth felt loved. P A G E 37 James Moore

1. What have you done in the past to support or serve youth?

I am a father of four successful young adults. In the past, I have sponsored and coached baseball in the Oakland Babe Ruth Baseball League for over 5 years.

For 25 consecutive years I produced Oakland’s annual Holiday Kwanzaa and Christmas Gift Show. For that event, I made sure to feature youth enter- tainment and we sponsored a youth retail business booth. I also hired youth to promote and market the event.

Lastly, I personally mentored many neighborhood youth in my community who didn’t have fathers at home. Some of these youth were friends of my

children. District 6 City Council 2. Here are a few issues negatively impacting young people in the city: Candidate public safety and the criminal justice system, low-income families are increasingly being pushed out of the city because of skyrocketing rents, and immigration reform and deportation. How do you plan to address these issues if elected?

A lot of youth are either involved in or victims of crime negatively impacting public safety. As a result, I highly recommend the all youth organiza- Campaign Headquarters: tions have quarterly meetings inviting as many youth as possible to have on P. O. Box 4231, Oakland, CA going discussions on the following: 94614  Social etiquette (510) 866-4685  Managing peer pressure Email:  Managing time james@jamesmoore4district6.  How to choose friends com  How to survive in school to graduate

Web:  Youth entrepreneurism jamesmoore4district6.com/  Expanding our thinking about parenting  How to deal with police Facebook: James Moore for  What happens when and if you go to jail? City Councilmember District 6  What happens when you get out of jail?

Regarding low-income families, I am a landlord of two Section 8 families. Each family has a combination of seniors, youth and disable people. These families have lived on my property for up to 10 years. Therefore, I am well

OAKLAND YOUTH COMMIS S I O N OAKLAND, CA P A G E 38 James Moore

aware of the needs to have and maintain quality affordable housing for all sectors of our community. As the councilperson, I would champion building more low-income housing for this sector of our community.

Oakland needs a sensible immigration policy that decimalizes undocumented people and reduces deportation unless it’s a case of criminal behavior. I would work to write legislation to see that it happens.

3. If elected, will you work with the Youth Commission and in what capacity?

As I recommended, the Youth Commission should have regular meetings inviting all the Oak- land non-profit organizations to the table for quarterly meetings. These meetings should be designed to allow interaction between different members of each organization to share the goals and objections of each organization and find ways for cross pollination of each group. As the councilperson I would take an active role in seeing that these quarterly meetings are action oriented with meaningful goals and objectives to eradicate issues concerning violence, gangs, homelessness, school dropout, lack of social etiquette, lack of employment and business opportunities and general health and well being.

4. If you can accomplish one thing in office as it relates to youth, what would that be?

One of many things I would want to accomplish would be to empower all of our youth. I want to instill in our youth to care about their life and community by gaining respect, success and power to be a leader in their family and community. P A G E 39 Shereda Nosakhare

1. What have you done in the past to support or serve youth?

I have mentored young men and women each year at City Hall that were not sure if they were interested in government and helped them understand the importance of government and being at the decision making table. Each young person left City Hall understanding how government works and I have continued to remain in contact with them as they decide what they want to do with their future. They have all gone on to bigger and better things and have said that their experience at City Hall helped shape them. I will continue to be a role model for youth and help them realize their voice and ability to move Oakland and their

communities forward. District 6 City Council Candidate 2. Here are a few issues negatively impacting young people in the city: public safety and the criminal justice system, low-income families are increasingly being pushed out of the city because of skyrocketing rents, and immigration reform and deportations. How do you plan to address these issues if you are elected to the Phone: 510-379-9385 City Council?

Email: Sheredaforoakland@gmail When elected I will: .com Revitalize our local economy: East Oakland is littered with vacant, blighted

property. We must fill these unused and wasted spaces with thriving small Web: www.sheredaforoakland.c businesses and new job opportunities. District Four addressed a similar om/ challenge by offering brokerage tours to increase awareness about vacant properties. Together, we too can create a clear path for local businesses and Facebook: Shereda For restaurants to renovate run-down buildings and provide good, high paying Oakland City Council 2014 jobs for local residents. Twitter: Improve our schools: The Oakland Unified School District (OUSD) is at risk @Shereda4Oakland of losing preschool seats in its Child Development Center programs because it’s not filled to capacity. Meanwhile, the City's Head Start program has a waiting list. Both serve similar populations yet the two don't communicate. I

want to bridge that gap. I will be a fierce advocate on the City Council for the OUSD and its initiative to get all kids reading at grade level by 3rd grade. Increase public safety: Our community needs to be able to trust that police will come when we call them and treat us respectfully when they do.

OAKLAND YOUTH COMMIS S I O N OAKLAND, CA P A G E 40 Shereda Nosakhare

We must start building stronger working relationships between police, community leaders and neighborhood residents. Once we do that, we can start preventing crimes from ever happening, rather than just reacting to them after they’ve been committed.

3. If you are elected, will you work with the Youth Commission and in what capacity?

Yes, I will be strong advocate for the Youth Commission and ensure that the Commission’s voice is heard on the Council.

4. If you can accomplish one thing in office as it relates to youth, what would that be?

I will partner with the School Board member to ensure that our youth have quality neighborhood schools to attend and have a clear path to college or a job after they have graduated from High School. P A G E 41 Karl Debro

1. What have you done in the past to support or serve youth?

I have been a teacher for more than 25 years. I started “Children of Color” in the mid-80s to help middle school youth deal with a racially charge environment in San Leandro, the first “Gay Straight Alliance” in the Bay Area to help LGBTQ youth and their allies find safety, respect and support at San Leandro High. I won a fight with SLUSD that brought anti-bullying, anti- homophobia, anti-racism training for staff and student k-12. I build the best AVID program in the Bay Area, 300 students, 95% college admission rate for low income, first generation to college, immigrant, English Learners, Black and Brown youth. Currently I direct the Gateway to College program at

Contra Costa College. High school dropouts and push-outs are recruited in- District 4 School Board to my program, provided support services, take college classes and earn Candidate their high school diplomas as they become legitimate college students.

Many of these issues are a function of the quality of the schools in Oakland. Phone: My work with high school dropouts gives me a lot of knowledge about how 510.379.8952 to support struggling students, keep them in school, and help them succeed,

no matter their circumstances. Email: [email protected] 3. If you are elected, will you work with the Youth Commission and in Web: what capacity? democracy.com/karldebro/

Facebook: I am very interested in working with the Youth Commission, particularly as Karl Debro for Oakland School a means of setting up mutually beneficial structures around work and Board school. I’d also be interested in hearing the Commission’s concerns and ide- Twitter: @debro4schools as about how to improve our schools.

OAKLAND YOUTH COMMIS S I O N OAKLAND, CA P A G E 42 Karl Debro

4. If you can accomplish one thing in office as it relates to youth, what would that be?

My primary goal is to dramatically improve secondary education in OUSD. This involves turn- ing back the tide of dropouts, boosting college readiness, and attracting and keeping the best teachers.

P A G E 43 Saleem Gilmore

1. What have you done in the past to support or serve youth?

I started serving youth while I was still a youth. At 19 years old, I was a science teacher in the after school program at Whittier Elemen- tary. It was important for me to work in the community that I came from. I went on to teach in Oakland and San Francisco for ten years. I went from teaching in the classroom to teaching in youth organizations. I led youth programs like Homeless Employment Labor Pro- ject (HELP), Oakland Freedom Schools (OFS), and Camp Akili. I am a founding member of Concerned Black Men of Oakland, a community based organization that provides mentoring in Oakland schools. District 4 I am still a youth advocate. I sit in meetings, listening with a youth School Board Candidate ear and watching with a youth eye. When necessary, I attempt to represent youth voice where it is absent.

2. Here are a few issues negatively impacting young people in the city: public safety and the criminal justice system, low-income families are increasingly being pushed out of the city because of Campaign Headquarters : skyrocketing rents, and immigration reform and deportations. How do you plan to address these issues if you are elected? 2525 Alida St 94602 (510) 400-7899 As a school district, we can do a lot to address these issues. As a

Email: school board member, I would work to ensure that our schools pro- shakir.gilmore4oakland@gmail vided a high quality education to all students. With strong schools, .com we could attract businesses and new families. With a highly educated city, salaries will go up. Quality schools will be a safe haven for Web: www.shakir- children. They will not be on the street where they can become vic- gilmore4oakland.com tims of crime. This is vision that demands a long term plan imple- mented by a committed group of caring adults. Facebook: Saleem Shakir- Gilmore for Oakland School Board, District 4

Twitter: Vote Shakir-Gilmore @ShakirGilmore

OAKLAND YOUTH COMMIS S I O N OAKLAND, CA P A G E 44 Saleem Gilmore

3. If you are elected, will you work with the Youth Commission and in what capacity? If elected I would like to work with the Youth commission on two projects:

 I would like to do survey of OUSD students about their ideas to improve Oakland schools  I would like to partner with the Youth commission to convene a group to strategize ways that the city and the school district can work together on educational goals.

4. If you can accomplish one thing in office as it relates to youth, what would that be?

I would be a part of a group effort to get our graduation rate above 80% within four years. P A G E 45 Renato Almamzor

1. What have you done in the past to support or serve youth? For the purposes of this question, I am defining youth as aged 0 – 24 years old.  I was the served on the Planning and Oversight Committee for the Oak- land Fund for Children and Youth for 8 years from 2004 – 2012  Co-chaired three years  Chaired three of the most recent strategic planning subcommittees.  After I went of the POC, I was asked to come back to facilitate the commission’s retreat to 1) foster stronger relationships among the commissioners, 2) learn about the roles and responsibilities of the commission and 3) set some agreements on how to have greater participation among the youth members. District 6  I chaired on my son’s School Site Council at his elementary, middle and School Board high schools. Candidate  I served on the Board of Directors for Oakland Asian Student Education-

al Services for 8 years, three years as president and two years as vice president.  I coached principals, as well as teacher, student and parent leaders toward designing more effective and equitable small schools at  Castlemont, Fremont and McClymonds from 2002 – 2007.  I worked off and on at UC Berkeley from 1990– 2000 working in the resi- dence halls, College of Letters and Science as a Dean’s representative/ Campaign Headquarters : college advisor, and Dean of Students Office as Associate Director. 2836 Modesto Ave 94619  I taught GED classes to the youth who were a part of the San Francisco

Email: Conservation Corps from 1996 – 1998. [email protected]  I coached little league baseball, youth soccer, and Pop Warner football. m 2. Here are a few issues negatively impacting young people in the Web: www.renato4schoolboard.com city: public safety and the criminal justice systems, low-income families are increasingly being pushed out of the city because of Facebook: skyrocketing rents, and immigration reform and deportations. Renato P. Almanzor for School How do you plan to address these issues if you are elected? Board

Twitter: @RenatoAlmanzor My commitment to addressing these issues and developing a powerful community to support all of our citizens, especially our youth are three-fold, what I characterize as the ABC’s:  Amazing Schools. We must ensure that every 3rd grader is reading at grade level, every 6th grader is using mathematical expressions and equations,

OAKLAND YOUTH COMMIS S I O N OAKLAND, CA P A G E 46 Renato Almanzor

and every graduate is prepared for college, career and community.  Building a beloved community together. While focusing on students, we must also ensure that teachers are supported to be effective and equitable, parents and families are wel- comed and seen as partners, and school neighbors are invited and expected to contribute to a beloved community.  Civic and community engagement. It isn’t enough to have a caring community; we must have a powerful community – one that deeply engages with leaders at all levels, where we hold each other accountable to the high expectations we should have for each other on behalf of our kids.

Educational justice is much more than just education. Getting to better educational outcomes not only means improving our schools, but it also means moving policies, practices, and power dynamics to improve environmental, health, social and economic outcomes. These "upstream" social determinants of education - like income, health, and neighborhood conditions - are often at the root of poor education and education disparities. I believe working together on all of these systemic elements will more holistically address the negative issues affecting our youth.

3. If you are elected will you work with the Youth Commission and in what capacity?

I will work with the Youth Commission if elected. If elected, my promise is that my leadership style is much more about working with other as opposed to working for others. Specifically, that means we will need to understand the extent to which our vision for a powerful and lov- ing Oakland is aligned around educational priorities, youth interests, and community capacity. I assume that that one of the clear partnerships that will need to exist is that of the Youth Com- mission with the All City Council of student leadership representatives. A lot of my background has been in assisting different groups not only find common ground, but create common agendas. I would be honored to facilitate such a process between the two groups whether I’m elected or not.

4. If you can accomplish one thing in office as it relates to youth, what would that be?

We have a three tier “reality” in Oakland in that we have some Tier I schools that are doing well/great, Tier II schools that need some improvement and Tier III schools that need significant interventions. If I could accomplish one thing it’s changing the three tier “reality” to a two tier reality in that we have a greater number of Tier I schools, fewer Tier II schools, and no Tier III schools. Youth Commission City of Oakland

City of Oakland

150 Frank H Ogawa Plaza Oakland, CA 94612

Phone: 510-238-3245 Fax: 510-238-3320

[email protected]

Vote November 4, 2014