Oakland's Zero-Waste Plans Are Commendable - But Can We Afford Them?

Does anyone have any idea how expensive a zero waste policy can be?

Garbage rates could be going up dramatically if Oakland insists on pursuing zero waste now.

Do our elected officials understand how much this will cost? Recycling is a noble cause, and I'm all for it, but should we be asked to put our resources into this particular way of improving our neighborhood and our city? Is this the right time to burden our taxpayers with higher garbage rates? Isn't public safety, more police, and crime deterrence more urgent to our every day lives and well-being?

One of the biggest annual contracts for Oakland and other big cities is collecting garbage and making sure neighborhoods don't drown in rubbish or illegal dumping. Recycling is the high-flying ambition for Oakland to be environmentally safe and to reduce the mountains of garbage that rise in landfills like Altamont in Livermore. So why I am writing about such mundane topics when the Oakland A's are tied for first place and proving my prediction that they can go all the way?!

Because there are rumors floating around that Oakland's garbage collection rates will be shooting up, thanks to the city's goal to achieve zero waste. Where are the rumors coming from? Well, in the first place, garbage collection rates have shot up 23% in San Francisco, and that marvelous guardian of how a city should be run is trying to set the standard for zero waste in northern California.

Oakland is nowhere near as well off as San Francisco, and if tariffs go up by 23% in San Francisco, who knows how high they will go in Oakland.

The curbside service tariff for a single family residence in Oakland is $21.84 per month to pick up garbage once a week. That's for the basic 20-gallon mini-can. The rate goes up to $29.30 for 35-gallon, $63.89 for 64-gallon and $98.44 for 96-gallon carts - per month, per home. Imagine if those rates go up by 25% or 50% if Oakland's City Council goes ahead and says, "Sure, we want to fix the broken window syndrome of run-down neighborhoods. Sure, we want to be at the forefront of environmental social thinking and recycle all our waste."

Sounds great, but how much will it cost, and can we really afford this now?

Pay to Play: Giving Money to Local Pols (Part 6)

It's the main event...Councilmember-at-Large

So for the past few weeks, I've been writing about money in politics, specifically here in Oakland's city council races. There's a lot of money flying around, and it's going to be really interesting to see what these donors are hoping for (or expecting!) in return for their support of the candidates. All data comes from the candidates' Form 460 filed with the City of Oakland's campaign finance office.

The at-large race is going to be a pretty tough fight. Rebecca Kaplan (incumbent) ran for Mayor and came close second to Jean Quan in 2010, and she won her 2008 At-Large election handily. De La Fuente has the most money and the most ambitious plans if he beats Kaplan, to become Council President in 2013 and to run for mayor in 2014. Being on the winning side of this race could mean having a serious ally in the corridors of power in our city. So...let the money flow...

Incumbent Rebecca Kaplan has raised $91,500 (including $12,000 from candidate) and taken loans of $2,000. Her cash on hand is $47,400. She's recieved contributions from:

• California Metals
• Signature Development
• NORMAL (marijuana advocates)
• C Hammon Construction
• Lily Hu (Lobbyist)
• OakPAC Chamber
• SEIU Service Employees Union
• Firefighters
• Clorox
• Foothill Square Merchants
• California Nurses Association
• Oakland First PAC
• ABC Security Systems (a city contractor)
• Cal. Retail Coalition
• B&B Vehicle Processing (another city contractor)
• UFCW (United Food & Commercial Workers union)
• Madison Marquette Property Group
• Jack London Square Partners
• Dreisbech Warehouse

Ignacio De La Fuente has raised $89,560, taken no loans, and has cash on hand of $66,642. His second Officeholder Account committee has $12,927 Cash on Hand and his committee for 2006 Mayoral Race has cash on hand of $102,099 - for a grand total of $181,688 on hand. He's recieved contributions from:

• DeSilva Gates Construction
• nine maximum contributions from AB&I Foundry and two from McWane (AB&I parent company)
• Electrical Workers Union
• North Bay Container Corp
• Innovative and Creative Environmental Solutions
• Cal. Laborers for Equality and Progress
• Pacific States Environmental (part of DeSilva)
• B&B Vehicle Processing (city contractor)
• National Recycling Corp
• SSA Terminals
• Foothill Square Merchants
• CASS
• Pacific Steel Casting
• Lily Hu (Lobbyist)
• Cal. Metals Coalition PAC
• Firefighters
• OakPAC Chamber
• Holliday Development
• Construction and General Laborers
• Madison Park Financial
• Zezen Advisors
• Teamsters
• S&S Trucking
• US Charter Ventures
• Norcal Rock

So...Who's Going to Win?

I wish I could say. I'm not a good enough prognosticator to tell you how this is going to all shake out. We'll find out soon enough, as the election is just weeks away. It's enough to say that 2013 and 2014 are going to be awfully interesting. Stay tuned, folks - I'll be talking quite a bit about the politics of our fair city in the months (and hopefully years - god, prosperity and good health willing) to come.

Pay to Play: Giving Money to Local Pols (Part 5)

When we last left off, we were looking at who was funding the candidates in some tightly contested races. So far, we've looked at District 1 and District 3 - today we look at District 5 and District 7.

These three district races feature numerous candidates for the open seats because the incumbents are retiring or seeking other office. It's interesting to note how each of these hopefuls has poured their own money into their campaigns or managed to appeal to traditional bases of support and identify their own new support. All data comes from the candidates' Form 460 filed with the City of Oakland's campaign finance office.

District 5

(incumbent Ignacio De La Fuente is running for Councilmember-At-Large)

Noel Gallo raised $47,000 (including $23,500 from family) and his cash on hand is $13,400. He's recieved contributions from:

• Strategic Urban Development Alliance
• Firefighters
• architects
• lawyers
• ABC Security Services (city contractor)
endorsed by De La Fuente

Mario Juarez has raised $17,673, taken loans of $30,000 and has cash on hand of $32,500. He's received contributions from:

• Good Government PAC
• OakPac Chamber of Commerce
• Lily Hu (Lobbyist)
• Conservation groups
• Sierra Club
• ABC Security (City Contractor)
• Electrical Workers
• Construction Laborers

Shelly Garza has raised $5,000 and Dawn McMahan has raised $1,500.

District 7

With the most veteran and well-known pols running in District 7 (Larry Reid) and At-Large (Rebecca Kaplan and Ignacio De La Fuente), it's no surprise that many more contributors and much larger amounts have been raised by these campaigns. Reid is the incumbent Council President and vice mayor. Kaplan ran for Mayor and came close second to Jean Quan in 2010, and she won her 2008 At-Large election handily. De La Fuente has the most money and the most ambitious plans if he beats Kaplan, to become Council President in 2013 and to run for mayor in 2014. Let the money flow...

Incumbent Council President Larry Reid has raised $44,470, taken no loans, and his cash on hand is $20,835. He's received contributions from:

• Aaron Metals
• numerous donations from George E Masker painting
• Bay City Express
• numerous donations from Old Republic Title Co.
• Lily Hu (Lobbyist)
• OakPAC Chamber
• B&B Vehicle Processing (city towing contract)
• Construction Laborers Union
• MCM demolition

Sheryl Walton has raised $24,636, taken loans of $8,450, and has cash on hand of $9,214. Her contributors are comprised mostly of colleges, investment advisers, attorneys, sports management, Youth Online crisis coordinators.

Beverly Williams at this time has not filed a contribution report.

Next Up: The main event - Councilmember at Large!

Stay tuned, folks!

Pay to Play: Giving Money to Local Pols (Part 4)

Oakland City Council Campaign Finance, Continued...

Image source: www.acslaw.org

When we last left off, we were looking at who was funding the candidates in some tightly contested races. We looked at District 1 yesterday - today we look at Districts 3 and 5.

These three district races feature numerous candidates for the open seats because the incumbents are retiring or seeking other office. It's interesting to note how each of these hopefuls has poured their own money into their campaigns or managed to appeal to traditional bases of support and identify their own new support. All data comes from the candidates' Form 460 filed with the City of Oakland's campaign finance office.

Council District 3

(incumbent Nancy Nadel is retiring, after four terms in office.)

Sean Sullivan has raised $39,029, with no loans, and has cash on hand of $33,226. He's received contributions from:

• Signature Development
• Oakland Police
• Firefighters
• Oakland Chamber of Commerce
• Holliday Development
• Republic Services
• Madison Marquette Property Services
• Caldecott Properties
• Sannell Properties
• SARCO construction
• and has been endorsed by Councilor De La Fuente

Lynette Gibson McElhaney has raised $30,700, taking loans of $15,000, and has cash on hand of $37,859. She's received contributions from:

• Affordable Housing
• wealth investors
• OakPAC Chamber of Commerce
• attorneys
• community development consultants

Derrick Muhammed has raised $25,000, taken loans of $1,700, and has cash on hand of $12,933. He's recieved most of his contributions from:

• International Longshoremen's Union
• Pacific Maritime
• Oakland First PAC
• and has recieved a loan from Pacific Maritime Association

Alex Miller-Cole has raised $38,049, taken loans of $35,000, and has cash on hand of $42,293. He's received contributions from:

• Washington lobbyists Ellen and Hubert O'Bannon
• green interests
• Securitas
• Hymby Corp
• BBI Construction
• Nancy Prowitt (Lobbyist)

Nyeisha DeWitt has raised $33,487, taken loans of $18,750, and has cash on hand of $11,384. She's recieved $2,500 from unidentified groups, and gotten $20,815 from other candidates, the Chinese medicine and Accupuncturist Association and the SF Firefighters.

Larry Young has not filed any contributions to date.

Tomorrow: District 5!

Stay tuned folks. It's all coming out in the wash!

Pay To Play: Giving Money to Local Pols (Part 3)

It's kind of like a horserace mixed with a shark tank...

We're getting close to the wire - or feeding time, depending on which metaphor you prefer, I guess. Anyway, it's mid-October, and things are getting really interesting in Districts 1,3 and 5 in the Oakland City Council race. Money is flowing, messages are flying, and we, the citizens, watch and wait for our moment...

Which political race metaphor would you rather be involved in?

Image sources: Flickr - Skitequeen & 126Club

These three district races feature numerous candidates for the open seats because the incumbents are retiring or seeking other office. It's interesting to note how each of these hopefuls has poured their own money into their campaigns or managed to appeal to traditional bases of support and identify their own new support. All data comes from the Form 460 filed by each city council candidate's committee to the City of Oakland's campaign finance office.

Council District 1

(incumbent Jane Brunner is stepping down to run for City Attorney)

Amy Lemley has raised $70,607, with no loans. She has cash on hand of $45,000. She's received contributions from:

• Lily Hu (Lobbyist)
• environmental & conservation interests
• greenbelt
• Firefighers
• OakPAC / Chamber of Commerce
• Oakland Police Officers Association

Richard Raya has raised $35,000, borrowed $10,000, and has cash on hand of $29,000. He's received contributions from:

• Firefighters
• Oakland Chamber of Commerce
• Urban Housing
• political consultants Robert Apodaca and Brian Robinson

Dan Kalb has raised $54,514, borrowed $9,000, and has cash on hand of $31,300. He's recieved contributions from:

• Union of Concerned Scientists
• environmental and energy consultants
• Professional & Technical Engineers
• Service Employee Union

Four other candidates - Donald MacLeay, Len Raphael, Don Link and Craig Brandt - have raised under $3,000.

Coming Tomorrow: Districts 3 and 5!

Real work is getting in the way of my blogging. Will be back tomorrow with more! Stay tuned, folks!

Pay to Play: Giving Money To Local Pols (Part 1)

Primary Season is Like Buttered Popcorn for Political Junkies

One of the things I love about local primaries is you find out how much wannabe politicians have raised for their campaigns, and who is offering them support through campaign finance and contributions. There's a lot to cover here, and I won't do it all at one go, but for local political junkies, it's hot buttered popcorn at the movies.

This Oakland City Council is going to change significantly in local elections. Five of the eight Council seats are being contested, and three incumbents are stepping down and/or seeking other office.

The upheaval will affect existing alliances on the eight-member Council; the election will produce three new faces for Districts 1, 3 and 5 of the seven district Councilmember seats; Council President Larry Reid is facing two challengers in District 7, and the Councilmember At Large race will affect majority control of Council, possibly create a new Council President, and force people to jockey for position in the 2014 elections, when the incumbent Oakland Mayor Jean Quan and three other District Councilmembers will face re-election.

Title Bout:
District 5's Ignacio De La Fuente v. At-Large Rebecca Kaplan

Image sources: De La Fuente's website, East Bay Express

The Councilmember At Large race pits the incumbent, Rebecca Kaplan, against District 5 Councilmember Ignacio De La Fuente, who is stepping down from his district seat to run citywide against Kaplan. He is seen as aiming to run for Council President in 2013 and for mayor in 2014 against incumbent Jean Quan. The new City Council will take office in the first week of January 2013.

This sets the stage for my next few posts - specifically, about who's funding these city council candidates' campaigns? What do they hope to gain from it? And, more importantly, what ramifications will all that have on Oakland city government's (dys)function in the coming few years? Stay tuned, my friends. It's sure to be a fun ride to election day!