The Oakland Observer

Sign in Subscribe

Jaime Omar Yassin

Jaime Omar Yassin

PLA Requirement for Measure U Funding Moves Forward; Judge Hastily Recuses on Thao Recall Subpoena Ruling; Modern OPD Records Management System Moves to Full Council Vote; City, AASEG Agree on Term Sheet

PLA Requirement for Measure U Funding Moves Forward; Judge Hastily Recuses on Thao Recall Subpoena Ruling; Modern OPD Records Management System Moves to Full Council Vote; City, AASEG Agree on Term Sheet

In Confused Vote, Committee Forwards PLA Question for Measure U Funding to Council A controversial plan to add a Project Labor Agreement [PLA] that would compel affordable housing developers into expansive union contracts in Measure U-funded projects passed a significant hurdle Tuesday. The four council members in the Community and

City Hall Security Guard Contract in Doubt; Elevator Ordinance for Disabled Tenants Passes Unanimously; Port Commission Appointment Proceeds on Political Lines

City Hall Security Guard Contract in Doubt; Elevator Ordinance for Disabled Tenants Passes Unanimously; Port Commission Appointment Proceeds on Political Lines

Fraught City-Wide Security Guard Contract Founders in Late Night Council Vote A failed bidding process for the City’s security guard contract was a focus late into the night at the City Council's Tuesday meeting, leading to an ultimately frustrated vote to extend the City's contract.

Public Ethics Strengthening Measure Headed to Ballot; Public Record Spotlight on Federal Subpoena

Public Ethics Strengthening Measure Headed to Ballot; Public Record Spotlight on Federal Subpoena

PEC Strengthening Measure on Ballot After Reintroduction and Passage at Council In a dramatic reversal, the City Council voted to put a new Public Ethics Commission [PEC] ballot measure before voters in November at a Special Meeting Tuesday. The same ballot measure legislation failed at a previous meeting during budget

A Note to Subscribers and Readers About Committees This Week

Hello subscribers and readers, Since the founding of this newsletter, its been practice and promise to give a broad analysis and preview of legislation hitting Council committees. The budget crunch and attendant fiascos of the months of June and July, however, combined with a seriously impacted and dense CED committee

Circuitous and Contested Budget Process Has Ramachandran and Reid Voting Against Their Own Budget Amendments

Circuitous and Contested Budget Process Has Ramachandran and Reid Voting Against Their Own Budget Amendments

What Happened? In a five hour budget meeting Tuesday, 8 council members struggled, often divisively, with concerns over the risk of budgeting an unconfirmed $63 MM worth of revenue from partial payment of the City’s Coliseum stake. The meeting had been continued from a budget deliberation on Friday. A

FY 24-25 Oakland Budget Amendment Deliberations Continue Amid Historic Deficit

FY 24-25 Oakland Budget Amendment Deliberations Continue Amid Historic Deficit

An unusual Friday afternoon budget meeting was at turns confusing and combative as Council members wrestled with options late into the night in the midst of a historic fiscal shortfall. What's Going on? The City is running late on passing mid-cycle budget amendments to the FY 24-25 budget.

Budget Contingency Added to City's FY 24-25 Budget Amendments: Updated, 6/27/2024

Budget Contingency Added to City's FY 24-25 Budget Amendments: Updated, 6/27/2024

The answer to the budget delay reported here days ago arrived yesterday: the City Administrator’s office has spent the last week or so since the amendments were pulled from the agenda preparing a back-up contingency plan. The contingency comes after requests by members of City Council and the public