What We're Fighting For
Our mission is a thriving Oakland for everyone — safe streets, great schools, a government that works, and an economy where families and businesses can grow.
Our 2026 Focus
These issues are all connected, and they all matter. Right now, we're focusing our energy where Oakland needs the most urgent progress.
Public Safety
Oakland's violent crime rate remains roughly five times the national average. The city has fewer police officers per reported crime than any other major American city. Robbery rates have more than doubled since pre-pandemic levels. Car theft has more than tripled. Traffic enforcement has effectively collapsed. Meanwhile, 911 response times remain unacceptable, and 21 years of federal oversight under the Negotiated Settlement Agreement have constrained OPD's ability to adapt to today's crisis. Oaklanders are clear about what they want: a city where they feel safe in their homes, on their streets, and in their neighborhoods. The tone at City Hall has improved, but Oakland still lacks the bold leadership needed to close the gap.
- Fully staff OPD and 911 dispatch to meet the scale of the crisis — violent crime, theft, carjackings, and home invasions demand adequate resources.
- Hold officers accountable for misconduct while ending the 21-year federal oversight that has limited OPD's operational flexibility. The NSA served an important purpose; it's time for Oakland to own its policing future.
- Deploy modern technology — automated license plate readers, data-driven patrol strategies — to help police work smarter and catch criminals faster.
- Invest in proven prevention programs. Expand Oakland's Ceasefire initiative and coordinate strategies across the Department of Violence Prevention, MACRO, Ceasefire, and OPD to reduce violence community by community.
Public Schools
Oakland's public schools are at a crossroads. OUSD faces a deep structural deficit that threatens the stability of every school in the district. Budget decisions have been driven by political pressure rather than fiscal reality. Hard decisions are deferred if they negatively impact powerful interest groups. Oakland families deserve schools that prepare their kids for the future. Instead, too many students are falling behind in math and literacy while the district struggles to keep the lights on. If we want Oakland to be a city where families stay and thrive, we have to fix our schools. With multiple school board seats on the 2026 ballot, this is the moment to change direction.
- Elect school board leaders who are pragmatic, financially literate, and willing to make tough decisions about OUSD's future given fiscal realities.
- Implement best practices in financial management, budgeting, and oversight. The district needs transparent, sustainable finances — not one-time fixes and political compromises.
- Increase accountability for schools that are failing to meet grade-level proficiency in core subjects. Every Oakland student deserves a path to success.
- Offer both career training and advanced academics so OUSD can compete with neighboring districts and private schools that provide stronger opportunities. Families shouldn't have to leave Oakland to get a good education.
Fiscal Accountability
Oakland operates a $2 billion annual budget — the highest per capita of any city in California — and residents aren't getting what they're paying for. Years of irresponsible budgeting, over-reliance on emergency funds, and shortsighted policy decisions have created a deep fiscal hole. The current administration has brought more professionalism to City Hall, but hasn't yet tackled the structural problems. Instead, the mayor's office and city council bet in their most recent budget that they could get Oaklanders to vote again for higher taxes. This isn't just an accounting problem. When the city can't manage its money, potholes don't get fixed, services get cut, and residents lose faith that their government is working for them. Oakland needs a fundamental reset in how it manages public resources.
- Address the structural deficit by reducing debt service, pension obligations, and recurring expenses where possible, while shifting to stable revenue sources that can withstand economic downturns.
- Establish an independent Office of the City Controller as the single source of truth on the city's finances — with authority to vet legislation for fiscal impact before it's introduced and to force balanced budgets.
- Implement a performance management system that tracks outcomes for all contracts, grants, and initiatives. Taxpayers should be able to see what they're getting for their money.
- Overhaul contracting and payment processes so that contracts are awarded ethically and efficiently, and local vendors are paid on time.
Our Broader Agenda
These issues are also central to Oakland's future. While our primary focus in 2026 is on public safety, schools, and fiscal accountability, we remain committed to addressing all these issues.
Tackle Homelessness
Oakland's homelessness crisis has overwhelmed public spaces and parks while city officials have been slow to deliver effective, compassionate solutions. No one in our community should be forced to live on the street when alternatives are within reach. We support full implementation of Oakland's Encampment Management Policy, increasing the supply of housing and emergency shelter at all income levels, and expanding supportive services including mental health care, financial assistance, and legal aid — with real accountability to ensure these programs are working.
Build More Housing
Too many Oaklanders are being displaced or forced onto the streets because housing costs have outpaced what the city has built. The root causes are clear: insufficient construction at all income levels, a weak affordable housing pipeline, and permitting processes that are slow, expensive, and unpredictable. We support working with both affordable and market-rate developers to build more housing, reforming zoning codes to reduce red tape, partnering with labor organizations to ensure fair workplaces and job training, and pursuing innovative approaches like converting vacant office buildings and expanding manufactured housing.
Strengthen Oakland's Economy and Small Businesses
Oakland's businesses are the city's heart and soul, but rising crime, blight, excessive fees, and regulatory burden are forcing too many to close or leave. Established companies have relocated headquarters out of Oakland, taking thousands of jobs with them. We need to cut red tape, audit the impact of business taxes, revitalize commercial corridors, and dedicate real resources to recruiting businesses and jobs back to Oakland.
Clean Up Blight and Improve Street Safety
Oakland lost 33 pedestrians and cyclists last year. Illegal dumping is rampant and rarely enforced, creating unsanitary conditions and draining millions from the city budget. Potholes go unfixed for months. We support expanding bulk pickup services, blocking known dumping hotspots, quick-build street safety improvements through OakDOT, and solving the contracting bottlenecks that delay basic street maintenance.
Independent Analysis on the Issues That Matter Most to Oakland
Our newsletter covers City Hall, the school board, and Oakland elections — with the context and analysis you won't find anywhere else.
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