The Action Committee’s goal is to make democracy work in Oakland. It functions as the League’s “eyes on government” in Oakland and Alameda County. In addition to this oversight role, the Committee advocates for specific changes to governmental procedures and policy in line with League positions and holds elected officials accountable when they fail to follow the procedures and policies already established in Oakland’s Charter and Code. The Action Committee monitors the meetings of Oakland’s City Council and its committees, the deliberations of oversight bodies such as the Public Ethics Commission and the Police Commission, and the functioning of special bodies such as the Redistricting Commission. 

In election years, the Action Committee closely follows the roll out of ballot measures so that it can inform our Board about each measure’s history, stated purpose and likely impact. The Committee’s reports inform the Board’s decisions on what positions to take publicly on each measure. In addition to internal reports to the Board, the Action Committee authors the “Pros and Cons” and the “Vote with the League” materials that are widely distributed to voters seeking to make informed decisions on ballot measures.

The City of Oakland functions with a 2-year budget with budget adjustments occurring mid-cycle. The Action Committee follows these deliberations as well, in part to ensure that tax receipts are allocated as promised in the ballot measures imposing the taxes.

ACTION COMMITTEE GOALS: 2020-2021

Government Oversight and Reform

• Work to improve City of Oakland laws and procedures regarding local ballot measures, both those proposed by the City Council and by citizen initiative, so the process by which ballot measures come to the ballot is more transparent and so that it adheres to  a schedule that allows for timely public discussion and debate;
• Review laws and procedures regarding transparency and open discussion of issues and items considered by City Council and by boards and commissions, with particular attention to the city budget and revisions made necessary by the COVID-19 response, and including the role of technology in assisting or hindering adherence to the Brown Act and the Sunshine Ordinance;
• Review the roles of Council, Mayor, City Attorney, City Administrator, as well as of boards and commissions, in making and implementing City laws and policies;
• Work with other organizations and with Council members and the Mayor to develop agreement on good government policies and steps to achieve them;

• Continue working to improve our League’s own voter education and participation activities, including timely in-depth analyses of ballot measures and other issues before the Council, and development of recommendations for League action.

Redistricting

• Support the work of the new independent Oakland Redistricting Commission to ensure adequate financing for experienced, competent staff and consultants to carry out its work;
• Work with the City, OUSD, and with other community organizations to provide outreach to and participation by city residents in the development of fair district lines that reflect the diversity and the communities of Oakland;

• Develop ways for LWVO to review proposals for new maps as the Commission’s work gets underway.

Campaign Finance Reform

• Continue working with coalition partners on a 2022 ballot proposal for a new system of public financing of elections in Oakland;
• Actively participate in a broad-based effort to educate the public about the need for and the potential benefits of a fair, publicly financed campaign system;

• Seek ways that the League can work with other organizations to encourage knowledgeable, committed candidates to run for elected office in Oakland.

Housing and Homelessness

• Ensure that funds for homelessness services generated by Measure Q are allocated and expended appropriately.

• Work with League members, when they constitute a task force, to review programs to alleviate homelessness in Oakland, to determine their goals and accountability system(s), and to make recommendations regarding how the League can promote understanding of the way these programs interact and how their implementation can be made more transparent and accountable.   

ACTION COMMITTEE’S ACCOMPLISHMENTS 2019-2020

• Conducted two training sessions of Action Committee members to create more and broader-based expertise in ballot analysis among committee members: We are very cognizant that the Board, members and the public rely on our analyses to inform their positions and votes. These training sessions will empower  more committee members to participate fully in our discussions and recommendations. They will also allow us to have a template for “training up” new committee members in a systematic way.
• Initiated Action Committee’s first internship in ballot analysis in conjunction with Mills College: We are very pleased to be working with a MIlls graduate student in government this summer.
• Strengthened ties with Oakland’s Budget Advisory Committee: Sometimes particular expertise is helpful to understand budget details. To be sure the Committee is as well informed as possible, we reached out to the Budget Advisory Committee with questions. That will be an ongoing process as we work to become ever better informed in tracking expenditures. This year’s outreach led to the League’s cosponsoring a recent forum on the budget with both the Budget Advisory Committee and SPUR. This type of engagement is more important than ever as very difficult budget decisions must be made in the COVID era.
• Led the League’s support of Measure Q: Measure Q imposed a parcel tax to raise dedicated funding for the maintenance of Oakland’s extensive park system, for assistance to the unhoused and unsheltered community in Oakland, and for maintaining clean water quality standards as mandated by regional agencies.
• Advocated for appropriate use of Measure Q funds during the budget process: The Action Committee informed the League’s public comments and letters opposing the Administration’s attempt to use Measure Q’s homelessness funds to pay for 3 sworn officers’ salaries and pension benefits and to impose disproportionate administrative costs on Measure Q’s implementation. This followup oversight is key to the League’s role in sustaining voters’ wavering faith that they can count on taxes to be spent as promised.
• Completed all March election responsibilities including reports and recommendations to the Board and the Pro’s and Con’s and Vote with the League public materials.
• Held a Hot Topics meeting “Vote with the League”: This meeting occurred at City Hall in advance of the March election and was broadcast by KTOP so that it could be seen even by those unable to attend. A panel of Action Committee members separately addressed ballot measures at the Alameda County and Oakland level and explained the League’s positions on each. Additionally, panelists provided background on state measures.
• Promoted adequate budgeting and a timely candidate search for local redistricting commissioners: The League participated in writing and passing Oakland’s local redistricting law. As the time arrived to form the Redistricting Commission this year, Action called upon the Mayor and City Council members to adequately fund the process which will roll out after the census results are in. 2019-20 was a period when applications from prospective commissioners were solicited and candidates selected. 
• Participated in a coalition of civic and community groups exploring campaign finance reform in Oakland: In the fall of 2019, the Action Committee participated in a coalition of civic and community groups to consider campaign finance reform in Oakland. The coalition met over the course of 5 months and leveraged the work of researchers and seasoned campaign experts from around the country to envision a measure that would serve Oakland and open the field to a wider range of candidates. In 2020-21 the Committee will call on the League to participate with members of the coalition in a public education campaign so that a measure brought to the ballot will have the best chance of success.
• Continued or established working relationships with public officials:  January through March 2020 Committee members interviewed the Mayor and City Council members individually to communicate the League’s priorities and to understand elected officials’ top objectives.
• Worked alongside all LWVO members  to gather signatures for the Schools and Communities First initiative which will be on the November 2020 ballot.

COME JOIN US!  Membership on the Action Committee is a sure fire way to get to know your local government. Meetings are on the 1st Tuesday of every month from 5:30-7:30 PM.  Contact us at action [at] lwvoakland.org for more info or to receive a zoom invite to one of our meetings.