Oakland Mayoral Candidates all Support Police Funding Measure

Oakland’s top mayoral candidates may not agree on many things, but today they all agreed that they support a measure on the November ballot that would extend a parcel tax that primarily funds more police officers and community violence prevention programs. Speaking at a news conference at Measure Z’s headquarters, City Councilwoman Libby Schaaf warned that a “no” vote on the measure would “roll back public safety” because the city would lose funding for 50 officers next year.

“Oakland cannot afford to get less safe but it can afford to support this measure,” Schaaf said. Measure Z, which needs a two-thirds majority to win approval, would continue a current $100-a-year parcel tax and an 8.5 percent parking tax that raises about $24 million a year for 10 years.

In addition to paying for police officers and violence programs, the measure would continue to help fund firefighting and other emergency response services. The Oakland Police Department had 837 officers six years ago but dropped to the low 600s earlier this year and now has about 700 officers. Measure Z would call for Oakland to maintain a minimum of at least 678 police officers.

City Councilwoman Rebecca Kaplan said Measure Z “doesn’t increase taxes and preserves vital services.” Kaplan said if the measure fails, the impact on the city would be “devastating” and there would be “a serious increase in crime.”

Summing up the feeling of all of the mayoral candidates who spoke in favor of the measure today, Oakland Mayor Jean Quan said, “We all agree on Measure Z.” College professor and political commentator Joe Tuman said he supports the measure but he wishes that it guaranteed more than 678 officers.

Tuman said that number is “regrettable” and “I wish it were more.” Kaplan said, “We understand this measure isn’t perfect” and city leaders “need to do even more” to hire more police officers. Former business executive and Port of Oakland commissioner Bryan Parker said he agrees that Oakland needs more than 678 officers and said if he’s elected, he would enact an economic growth program that would allow the city to fund at least 800 officers.

Oakland attorney and community activist Dan Siegel, another mayoral candidate, didn’t attend the news conference today but Measure Z officials said he also supports the measure. Measure Z supporters Bruce Nye of the grassroots group Make Oakland Better said the level of 678 police officers that’s called for in the measure is “only the floor” and supporters would like the city to eventually have about 925 officers.

Measure Z opponents say in their ballot statement that the measure “does not fund guarantee a single additional officer” and “will do nothing to improve public safety.” They also said, “This measure is yet another blank check to irresponsible and dishonest city leaders.” Nye admitted that there are exceptions in the ballot measure’s language that would allow the city not to hire more police officers but he said those would come into play only under unlikely circumstances, such as “a complete financial collapse.”

By Bay City News

Photo via Shutterstock.