Councilmember Noel Gallo was appointed temporary council president, and Councilmember Kevin Jenkins was appointed interim mayor in an important and rather complicated day in Oakland’s civic life.
The three newest members of the city council, Ken Houston, Rowena Brown, and Zac Unger, were sworn in during a special meeting on Monday morning, shortly after which the chair-shuffle began.
Since the city charter states that the council president assumes mayoral responsibilities in the event of a vacancy, Jenkins was immediately elected mayor after being unanimously chosen president by his fellow members of the dais.
“There’s some serious issues in the city, but we’re only going to get past it working together, the residents of Oakland absolutely demand it,” Jenkins stated. “We want to get back to a place where we’re doing our basic services well, where we’re getting our unsheltered folks housed, where we’re filling our potholes, where our fire stations are open.”
“I’m sure that we will work together to get this figured out and make sure that we get the budget figured out and make sure that we provide a smooth transition for the next mayor,” added the mayor.
After Sheng Thao lost a recall election and resigned from office on December 17, Jenkins succeeds Nikki Fortunato Bas, who served as interim mayor and council president.
As she is going to accept her seat on the Alameda County Board of Supervisors, which she won in the Nov. 5 election by defeating Emeryville City Councilmember John Bauters to succeed retiring Supervisor Keith Carson, Bas was only mayor for a few weeks.
Gallo, who was chosen on Monday as president pro tempore—a role that the charter states temporarily acts as president while that office is vacant—takes over as council president since Jenkins is now acting as interim mayor.
In addition, the council decided on Monday to designate Rebecca Kaplan, a former at-large council member, to fill Bas’ district 2 seat until the special election on April 15 to select a permanent replacement.
Ryan Richardson, the recently elected and sworn-in city attorney, hinted that there might be a bright spot among all the stormy clouds that surround the city’s political landscape.
According to Richardson, “every crisis presents an opportunity.” “I don’t quite believe that — I’ve been through some crises that are nothing but a crisis but I do think this is one of those crises that is an opportunity.”
“I think that with the new folks that we have coming in, they have no choice but to jump right into the deep end,” he stated. “There is no choice but for them to roll up their sleeves and immediately get to work.”
He added that the city’s frequently contentious civic life would benefit from the new leadership.
“A lot of them literally don’t know the definition of business as usual in Oakland, which I think could be a good thing,” Richardson stated.
The April 15 ballot will include a mayoral election to succeed Thao in addition to the district 2 special election. According to a list released on the city’s website last Friday, 13 individuals have submitted documents indicating a possible run for Oakland mayor. Former Alameda County District 12 Representative Barbara Lee has been added to that number after submitting the necessary paperwork to enter the race on Monday.
Papers for the election must be submitted by January 17.
The city is currently facing a projected annual financial shortfall of between $130 million and $150 million, so whoever takes over as mayor will have their hands full.
To cover a $130 million gap in the current budget, Oakland citizens are already facing significant program and service cuts, including tens of millions of dollars in cuts to the budgets for the police and fire department.
Members of the firefighters’ union staged a press conference in front of City Hall prior to Monday’s City Council meeting, calling for the restoration of temporarily closed fire stations in order to assist reduce the budget deficit.
During a public comment time, Seth Olyer, the vice president of the union, conveyed the message to the city council.
“I would be remiss if I didn’t say that I’m deeply concerned about the safety of everyone in the city of Oakland,” Olyer stated. “Remember the basic functions of a city government are to provide for public safety and half of that effective today has been deeply affected.”
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Eliot Pierce is a dedicated writer for ChiefsFocus.com, covering local crime and finance news. With a keen eye for detail and a passion for storytelling, Eliot aims to provide his readers with clear and insightful analysis, helping them navigate the complexities of their financial lives while staying informed about important local events. His commitment to delivering accurate and engaging content makes him a valuable resource for the community.