1) Lee “State of the City” Address Overshadowed by Labor and Public Safety Issues and Spending
Here's OO's coverage of Lee's state of the city address, overshadowed by the city's civilian unions, and bookended by the costs and failures of public safety
2) Praise for Newton Appointment to Planning Commission, but None for Long Time Political Operative and Harmeet Dhillon’s Previous Law Partner
At Rules Thursday, CMs heaped praised on one of the Mayor’s two appointees to the influential Planning Commission. David Newton, one of the Mayor's picks, is the nephew of Black Panther progenitor Huey Newton, an Oakland activist in his own right, is a long-time longshore workers advocate and local real estate broker. The assembled Rules members lauded Newton and his family and Newton spoke passionately about the history and experience of Black Oakland residents with a Planning Commission immersed in redlining and systemic racism. Newton recalled the famed installation of a stop sign after protests by the Black Panthers and how the Planning Commission stood in its way.
“[that installation] was denied by the planning commission, and [the Black Panthers] forced that it be approved. So to have a child of the Panther now as a Planning Commissioner for me is more than monumental,” Newton said.
The Rules members praised Newton, beginning with CM Janani Ramachandran.
“I am very excited to support Mr. Newton's appointment to the Planning Commission. Just like you mentioned, these commissions have played such a pivotal role in the ugly part of our city's history, and we are here to bring these commissions forward to have people like you with the background and perspectives that you hold to be able to change that narrative. And I'm very grateful for you and your entire family's service to the city, and we need people like you on commissions like this,” CM Janani Ramachandran said.
Rules member Rowena Brown echoed Ramachandran's statements.
“I’m really delighted to know that David Newton would be willing to serve on the Planning Commission. You bring just a true level of heart and care for all of Oakland, whether from east to west, and so to have your voice and your determination on that body, it's more our pleasure, to have you serving on that commission,” Brown said.
But there was another Mayoral Planning Commission appointee on the same agenda who received no praise at all, and hardly any comment—long-time Oakland political operative Harold Peter Smith. Despite Smith’s long professional career and public facing reputation, no CM remarked on either. But Smith’s participation in Oakland politics continues to reverberate in Oakland and even national politics. Smith was the plaintiff attorney for a suit brought by Phil Tagami’s Rotunda Partners to prevent Oakland from recouping millions in loans when Tagami’s company attempted to sell its stake in the city hall complex building, for example.
Smith was also a founder of one of the campaign finance instruments that collectively raised hundreds of thousands of dollars to unseat Desley Brooks in 2018, which he jumpstarted with his own funds, according to documents. The vehicle, Citizens for a United Oakland, Opposing Desley Brooks, raised over $30K in the effort from less than a dozen contributors.
Smith was also the previous law partner of Harmeet Dhillon, the controversial figure behind Trump’s topsy-turvy “civil rights” prosecution spectacles, before she went on to form her own firm. Smith has already been a member of the Planning Commission, from 1991 to 1996, serving apparently two consecutive terms—an ironic parallel to the claims made by Newton and others about previous era’s Commissions.
While CMs Brown, Ramachandran and Jenkins avoided discussing Smith [and visiting CM Ken Houston, who praised Newton from the dais, also avoided it], CM Carroll Fife asked direct questions of both appointees. Fife, who has become one of the only members to regularly use the body’s tools to vet mayoral appointees, also praised Newton, but was the only CM to ask significant questions of either appointee. Fife noted Smith’s previous term on the commission and questioned how he would handle issues around gentrification, especially as there appears to be a nascent tech expansion into the city.
“I want to know how you plan on engaging issues around the lack of affordable housing and displacement in your role, particularly because you've served on the Planning Commission before, understanding the push for a tech expansion into the city. I'm deeply interested in that, especially in how it's going to impact my district and West Oakland with the potential for displacement and gentrification,” Fife said.
Smith suggested inclusionary zoning and a focus on affordable housing, before positing as well that the role would not be one he regards as central to the Commission.
“It's just not necessarily part of our role, as I see it,” Smith ultimately said.
While all four CMs voted affirmatively for Newton, Fife abstained from the vote for Smith, which technically means it will be on the Non-Consent Calendar on October 20.
3) “Truth Always Catches Up to a Lie”: Unanimous Praise for Outgoing Police Commissioner Omar Farmer, Amid Criticism for Public Officials Who Marginalized Him
Oakland Police Commissioners bid a fond farewell to outgoing Police Commissioner Omar Farmer at Thursday night's meeting. The Commission presented Farmer with an honorary resolution and title of Commissioner Emeritus followed by personal recollections and praise on his tenure from Commissioners Angela Jackson-Castain, Vice Chair Shawana Booker, Evelio Grillo and Chair Ricardo Garcia-Acosta. Prefacing the commemoration, Commission Chair Garcia-Acosta cited the level of antagonism and smears Farmer has endured over the last year.
“This is a thankless position, and sometimes when you do your job too good, people go after you, and so that certainly was the case here. So we wanted to make sure that we recognize you for your service and provide you with applause…" Garcia Acosta said. Garcia Acosta later told Farmer that his "handprints" were all over the accomplishments in the 2025 commission annual report, which was discussed later in the meeting.
Vice Chair Shawana Booker noted that one of the reasons Farmer was a focus of oversight opponents is that he didn’t shy away from disagreements, a role that ultimately illuminated issues more fully.
“You were always well studied and well prepared and well organized and understood in your mind, by memory, a lot of details about everything and it continues to be inspirational. And even when I disagreed with you, I was like, "Well, hell, let me go and make sure I know what I'm talking about, so we can disagree appropriately.” And I think that matters, and I think standing on that matters,” Booker said.
Grillo, who has clashed with Farmer [and others] in his short time on the body, agreed.
“Agree or disagree, you always contributed to the quality of the debate being higher…you'd get me thinking, and I'd come back and have a different perspective. And one of the high points I remember is we were putting together the NSA statement and we all rolled up our sleeves, and we worked on it in public with the public, watching the work that we did. And I was proud that moment happened. And you, my friend, are the one that caused that to happen. And I thank you,” Grillo said.
While Commissioner Jackson-Castain also lauded Farmer on his “innumerable” contributions and “the big shoes he’s left to fill” she was the most outspoken in criticizing officials and members of the public who dogged Farmer with false rumors and created a controversy at City Council which OPOA-aligned Council members used to marginalize his candidacy for the role.
“I think it's an absolute disgrace how things have unfolded. I think that city officials and members of the public, particularly those with significant campaign donations, chose to politicize his role rather than base it on skills and competency, and [Farmer’s] unyielding desire to just see Oakland do better. I think this undermines the basic tenet of what this commission is about, which is independence.” Jackson-Castain said.
Farmer previously served on the “Public Safety And Services Violence Prevention Oversight Commission, the body that oversaw Measure Z spending before he became a Selection Panel candidate and was confirmed by City Council for his first term as an alternate Commissioner. By all accounts, Farmer, who also served on several ad hoc bodies at the OPC, was an exemplary commissioner. When he applied again for a permanent role in 2025, several officials recommended him for the role, including Nate Miley and Nikki Fortunato Bas.
According to the East Bay Times, the Oakland Police Officer’s Association [OPOA] opposed Farmer’s reappointment and they were joined by an ostensible community organization that aligned with the police union. Rules Chair Kevin Jenkins aided the controversy by improperly delaying the appointment of Farmer [and Garcia Acosta], using his powers as Chair to take the item off the scheduling agenda, despite having no charter-allowed role to do so. Subsequent Commission scheduling items have come with a printed admonition outlining the responsibilities and roles of the Rules committee since.
OPOA ally CM Ken Houston also vocally opposed Farmer. Other CMs were less vocal about their opposition, and couched their refusal to re-seat the Commissioner in questions of process, which had upstream effects on the composition and stewardship of the Selection Panel. After Farmer was denied the role, he volunteered to continue to serve as a “hold over”, the only way that the Commission could have continued to meet regularly given quorum issues caused by the Council action.
When Farmer again applied for the same role, he did not receive the backing of any Selection Panelists, likely because of the repercussions for those who did call out the visibly improper Council process—including being removed from the body.
Here’s Farmer’s address to the body on receiving the honor:
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