The race to become Oakland’s next mayor is serious business with serious consequences for the people of East Oakland, who often face issues that only major city hall policy change can affect. As election day draws near, the candidates’ positions on everything from health to economic growth are scrutinized. On October 22nd at Allen Temple Arms, The East Oakland Building Healthy Communities organization hosted a forum for the mayoral candidates. The format was somewhat unusual: members of the community spoke to the room, telling their stories. Candidates could elect to respond to each issue as they chose, but they needed to keep in within the alloted time. The forum focused on four major issues: housing costs, food availability, environmental health, and economic growth.
Oakland Voices (@OaklandVoices) covered the forum through video, print, and social media. Below are some of our favorite Twitter moments from the evening.
We're expecting a packed house tonight at the #OakSpeaksForum, but we do have a few seats lef… http://t.co/EonH0i1VF4 pic.twitter.com/uLP9vrVa1b
— East Oakland BHC (@EastOaklandBHC) October 22, 2014
The future of journalism, Oakland Voices writers Saa’un Bell (@SaaunB), Erick Chavarria, and Le’Ana Powell.
.@Oaklandvoices reporting on #oakmayor during policy forum. pic.twitter.com/voo7oRsXir
— Martin G. Reynolds (@reynoldspost) October 23, 2014
Our own Tiffany Lacsado (@Lacsado510) live-tweeted:
EnviroNTrans ResStory: I have 2 ninos that have asthma bc of factories in #EastOakland. pic.twitter.com/MA7GytQqaT
— Tiffany Naputi Lacsado (@Lacsado510) October 23, 2014
Several other residents stood up to speak about their experiences living in East Oakland, including a father who took his young son on a walk, looking for fresh, affordable fruits and vegetables. Candidates talked about ways to help the city with problems like these:
Issue 2: food, community gardens, and grocery stores. "6 corner stores in 7 blocks. 0 had fresh produce."- local father
— Oakland Voices (@OaklandVoices) October 23, 2014
68% of east Oakland residents support clean air initiatives as top priority #eastoakspeaks #oaklandmayor
— Oakland Voices (@OaklandVoices) October 23, 2014
There was hardly a dry eye in the house when these women spoke about the critical importance of clean living conditions. Ms. Powell (below) spoke of her asthma attack on a crowded bus…
Resident leader Margaret Powell telling Oakland cand'tes her experience w health&transpo in Oakland #OakSpeaksForum pic.twitter.com/mBbvOsUVxw
— East Bay Housing Organizations (@EBHO_Housing) October 23, 2014
…and how, through measure EE, this community resident escaped unsafe living conditions, and was proud to be the first person who opened the kitchen cabinets in her new home, with help from public assistance.
Measure EE protected me. pic.twitter.com/0hVAZ3JqVk
— Tiffany Naputi Lacsado (@Lacsado510) October 23, 2014
Some responses:
Kaplan: Give corner stores grants to improve stores to sell healthy produce #oakmayor2014 #oakmayor
— Tiffany Naputi Lacsado (@Lacsado510) October 23, 2014
Saied Karamooz: fast food restaurants are targeting low income people. #EastOakspeaks
— Oakland Voices (@OaklandVoices) October 23, 2014
Joe Truman: I want to make food markets come around more than two times a week
— Oakland Voices (@OaklandVoices) October 23, 2014
*”Truman” should be “Tuman”, apologies.
Economic development was a big theme for the evening. Candidates all agreed that building up businesses was important, but they all had different ways of talking about it.
Ruby: how are we making kids of color ready for a job? It's about having a vision #oakmayor
— Dave Campbell (@Derailluer) October 23, 2014
S. Karamooz "multilingual people are not a liability, they are an asset".
— Oakland Voices (@OaklandVoices) October 23, 2014
Dan Siegel: The City has the power to make conditions in their government contracts so that Oakland residents are the ones that get the jobs
— Oakland Voices (@OaklandVoices) October 23, 2014
The event ended with a warm thank you to all the speakers, guests, and candidates. Strangers turned to one another to exchange thoughts on who did well, who was off-base. Opinions varied, but everyone was pleased to see the mayoral candidates speak so passionately to our community.
Other esteemed guests Mayoral Candidate Bryan Parker and AntiWar Activista Aimee Allison! #oakmayor #OakMayor2014 pic.twitter.com/WzgN72fp2l
— Tiffany Naputi Lacsado (@Lacsado510) October 23, 2014
Thanks 2AllD @EastOaklandBHC staff who worked Bhind D scenes 2 make this happen! DinnerNChildcareGreatlyAppreciated! pic.twitter.com/UtV8hwQzOX
— Tiffany Naputi Lacsado (@Lacsado510) October 23, 2014
The EOBHC forum was at turns moving, powerful, and full of plain-spoken truths. We at Oakland Voices enjoyed covering the event. Thanks to everyone who attended and spoke with us.
Sara is a proud resident of the Clinton/East Lake area of Oakland, where she enjoys her current gig as a stay-at-home mom. She grew up in Minnesota and Colorado before moving to the Bay Area in 2006. She has a background in art and worked as a graphic designer for many years. She feels her connection to the community is best held by exploring new places, asking people about their stories, and bearing witness to the changes surrounding us all.
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