A recent State Supreme Court ruling will enable the State of California to eliminate redevelopment on February 1^st.  This will have immediate, serious impacts on the City of Oakland’s budget. The City will re-open its budget with a new $25 million+ deficit that could affect every City service from park maintenance, to libraries, to senior centers.  

On January 23^rd, the City Administrator/Mayor will release their proposed budget.  The City Council will hear their budget two days later on January 25^th. Then, the City Council will have to make its decisions a week later on January 31^st at a special City Council meeting.  The City anticipates eliminating $20 million in staffing currently paid for by redevelopment.  This is equivalent to 159 positions. 

While it is true that redevelopment funding is primarily used for economic development activities in the City of Oakland, redevelopment funding pays for staff and services in the Police Department (17 police officer), Public Works, Department of Human services, City Administration, Elected Offices and more.  Therefore these decisions will impact all City services not just redevelopment. 

I am having a special North Oakland meeting to discuss how these proposed cuts will affect North Oakland and the whole City.  Please join me for this important meeting:

            What:                           Emergency North Oakland Budget Meeting

Date & Time:                January 24^th, 7:00 – 9:00 p.m.

Location:                     North Oakland Senior Center, 5714 Martin Luther King Jr. Way

Yours,

Jane Brunner

City Councilmember, North Oakland