In Oakland, California, voters are preparing to fill the position of mayor following the recall of their previous mayor last November. The recall was primarily due to concerns about crime, homelessness, and alleged corruption. Among the candidates is former U.S. Representative Barbara Lee, recognized for her progressive stance and as a significant figure in politics, who represented the city in Congress for over 20 years. The election is set for April 15, and Lee is considered the leading contender, despite the challenge of her progressive politics in a state where such views have recently seen reduced support due to perceptions of leniency on crime.
The last mayor, Sheng Thao, was removed from office less than two years into her term. Alameda County District Attorney Pamela Price was also recalled in November, while Los Angeles County voters kept progressive DA George Gascón from obtaining a second term. The main competitor to Lee is Loren Taylor, a 47-year-old former Oakland City Council member who advocates for employing drones and surveillance technologies to combat crime. With ballots already mailed, the voting process is underway.
Lee is attempting to balance her stance on public safety in a city like Oakland, which, much like other Democratic cities in California, is increasingly demanding strict measures against criminal activities due to growing frustrations over dirty streets and vacant stores. According to James Taylor, a political science professor at the University of San Francisco, Lee cannot lead on public safety issues solely from a progressive or liberal viewpoint, as that approach has been rejected across California and almost nationwide. Consequently, Lee needs a skilled team to assist in finding a harmonious balance between community, neighborhood, individual rights, and public safety because residents desire safer streets.
Oakland has traditionally been a liberal and culturally diverse counterpart to San Francisco, famous as the Black Panther Party’s birthplace and the home claimed by former Vice President Kamala Harris. However, the city grapples with tent encampments, public drug use, illegal activities, gun violence, and audacious robberies, leading to the closure of In-N-Out Burger’s first location last year. Gov. Gavin Newsom has dispatched California Highway Patrol officers to address the troubling crime rates. Oakland is also struggling with funding shortages for public services.
During her campaign, Lee emphasizes community service expansion alongside increasing police presence. She aims to remove guns from streets and boost funds for crime prevention. Economic development, job creation, and ensuring essential city services, such as functional fire hydrants, are also on her agenda. She’s resistant to the notion that her progressivism clashes with Oakland’s ethos, asserting that her values align with those of the city.
Lee, known for her lone dissenting vote against the 2001 military force authorization following the September 11 attacks, was first elected to the U.S. House in 1998. She unsuccessfully ran for the U.S. Senate last year. On the other hand, Taylor argues that Oakland requires a pragmatic mayor familiar with city governance, casting doubt on Lee’s suitability. He believes the consensus-building abilities from Congress do not always correspond to executive municipal roles, citing Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass’s challenges amidst deadly wildfires as an example.
When addressing police capacity, both candidates agree that the Oakland Police Department should have 800 officers, an increase from its current number of just under 700. Taylor aims to achieve this in three years, while Lee views it as a difficult goal. Lee also supports a guaranteed basic income trial for the homeless and criticized a Supreme Court decision that facilitates encampment clearances. Conversely, Taylor has opposed police defunding post-George Floyd’s death, advocates clearing homeless encampments, and favors technological measures like drones and cameras to catch offenders.
Regarding the recall’s impact, Taylor, who served on Oakland’s City Council from 2019 to 2023, endorsed the recall, contrasting with Lee’s opposition. Brenda Harbin-Forte, a retired judge involved in the recall, hopes voters won’t be swayed solely by Lee’s prominence, wishing for genuine results instead of “Sheng Thao 2.0.” Meanwhile, Carl Chan, a Chinatown community leader, believes both candidates will prioritize budget management, public safety, and economic renewal. He remains optimistic that the elected individual will work collaboratively regardless of the outcome, as solving the city’s problems will require time.
