Community Control & Political Power

I Ran Because “I Felt I Had To”: An Interview with Esther Goolsby

September 30, 2020
Esther Goolsby ran for Alameda County Supervisor, District 4, in March 2020, a race which she lost to fifth-term incumbent Nate Miley. The district in…

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“People Hold the Power”: An Interview with Alameda County Office of Education Trustee Angela Normand

September 30, 2020
In September, Bay Rising Action’s Executive Director Kimi Lee interviewed Alameda County Office of Education Trustee Angela Normand, who represents th…

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“I Was Feeling the Call of Community”: An Interview with Oakland City Councilmember Nikki Fortunato Bas

September 30, 2020
In September 2019, we interviewed Councilmember Nikki Fortunato Bas, who is on the Oakland City Council representing District 2 which covers Eastlake,…

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Vote Yes

Measure BB – Ranked-Choice Voting

Won with 73.2% Yes 26.8% No
Ranked-choice voting allows diverse voices into the electoral process and frees voters to support who most represents them — not just who the politica…

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Vote No

Measure Q – Change City Clerk from Elected to Appointed

Lost with 64.6% Yes 35.4% No
This measure would make the city clerk appointed, not elected. It stinks of an anti-democracy move.

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Vote Yes

Measure W – Tie Alamo Parks & Recreation Funding Ceiling to Population & Cost of Living

Won with 67.6% Yes 32.4% No
Raises the amount of money that can go to parks by a cost of living and population adjustment. This is a straightforward measure to support.

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Vote Yes

Measure OO – Allow Everyone to Serve on City Boards & Commissions Regardless of Immigration Status

Won with 67% Yes 33% No
Currently, our city rules keep some of the most qualified people who can help lead our community stuck on the sidelines simply because of the place of…

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Vote No

Measure HH – Fund Climate Equity Fund Through Increased Utilty User Tax

Lost with 52.97% No 47.03% Yes
In an effort to fund a Climate Equity Action Fund, this measure places a tax on users’ electricity bills. Though there are carve-outs for low-in…

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Vote No

Measure GG – Tax Lyft and Uber Riders to Fund Public Services

Won with 58.7% Yes 41.3% No
While well-intentioned, this measure would result in unaccountable and greedy rideshare companies like Uber and Lyft passing charges on to their drive…

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Vote Yes

Measure LL – Allow Berkeley To Invest Allocated Funds

Won with 81.3% Yes 18.7% No
To comply with a restrictive state law, Berkeley voters must approve the resources that have already been allocated.

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Vote Yes

Measure KK – Allow Flexibility in Staffing of Fire Department (And Other Amendments)

Won with 75% Yes 25% No
A pile of amendments thrown into one, this would allow people who live far out of Berkeley to work as firefighters in the city. Given the housing…

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