I know something about the firestorm and its aftermath. My former chief of staff lost his house on Amito and but for the heroic actions of his neighbor would have lost his life. Other staff member families also lost homes, one on Contra Costa, the other on Ocean View. Many friends suffered losses as well. I followed their experiences in dealing with insurance companies, the difficulties of relocating, and dealing with the logistics of re-building.
I am also a frequent visitor to the area and am well aware of the overbuilt houses, the excessively narrow streets, the lack of parking, and the potential dangers from blocked roads for evacuation and for emergency vehicle access.
In reading through past issues of the North Phoenix Hills Newsletter, I was struck by the apparent lack of city attention to your concerns, particularly, the Mayor’s poor response concerning parking enforcement and police services. Budget limitations are real, but that doesn’t mean that the city can ignore your problems. The city government is your government and must be responsive to your neighborhood and issues.
I have been criticized during the campaign for discussing issues of education, health, economic development, housing and public safety, while apparently not giving enough attention to potholes. I reject that criticism. Oakland has enormous potential as well as serious problems. If we don’t discuss the broad range of Oakland’s issues, we will just maintain the status quo; and the status quo is not acceptable for your neighborhood or for any other part of the city. Also, it is the current administration and Council that isn’t filling potholes, which if not properly addressed can cause serious damage and injury.
I want to be very clear: a Dellums administration will be one of nuts and bolts as well as vision.
We can have a city government that delivers services fairly, competently, responsively, and efficiently.
We can have safe streets and quality schools; vibrant development and affordable housing; new parks and open waterfront access.
We can have transparent and inclusive government-- where people feel they are part of the process by which decisions get made and implemented.
But we can’t perpetuate the current reality of expedient policy made from on high by insiders nor can we mortgage Oakland’s future to helter-skelter development, which destroys our industrial lands and turns Oakland into a bedroom community for others.
My administration will bring people together. It will leverage existing resources and create inter-agency and public/private partnerships. It will get the city and county and schools to coordinate efforts, which doesn’t currently exist. It will ensure that no one, particularly our youth, feels unheard, uninvolved or locked out. It will embrace the diversity that is Oakland’s strength and future.
I have a thirty-year record of bringing people together for Oakland, removing obstacles, mediating between warring interests, and breaking down bureaucracies to get things done. I kept the Port competitive, while developing wetlands; brought jobs and anchored downtown development with Oakland’s new federal building; and brought billions of dollars to support mass transit, health programs, senior housing, and the Chabot Space Center.
You can read my vision for Oakland on my website at www.rondellumsformayor.com and raise questions and ask for additional information at info@rondellumsformayor.com.
I ask you to join me in making Oakland a city of the future, a 21st Century Model City for all of its residents.
- Ron Dellums