The Police Officers Association responded aggressively to the Council’s actions.  They pointed out they gave concessions to the city last year and feel like they are being unfairly targeted.  At this late stage, the council wants them to renegotiate portions of the labor agreement, including the non-pension contribution.  The City wants the police to contribute 9%, like all other City employees, the police want to keep it at zero.  The crisis continues with no end in sight.

It is time for the Oakland City Council to take a critical look at the budget.  The City simply has to change its spending and revenue generating ways.  There has to be accountability in the Oakland budget.  Until the City Council takes the lead and creates accountability, then each year we will go through this dysfunctional budget cycle.

In addition to cutting costs, the City Council has to expand the Oakland revenue base.  Currently, the City is virtually dependent on property related taxes.  Oakland has a small sales tax base and a shrinking business tax base.  The pie literally has to be expanded. 

The City Council has to make its commitment and goal to bring job-producing businesses into the city.  More businesses and jobs mean more revenue for the city.  More people working in Oakland will create the drive for more housing, hereby stabilizing and improving the quality of neighborhoods.  Further, this will create residential commercial services for each neighborhood, like grocery and drug stores, restaurants and other basic quality of life services.  It will take a Council committed to bring these new jobs into Oakland.

Here is a clear example of the multi payoff that occurs when job producing businesses come to Oakland.  Shorenstein Partners entered an agreement to sell City Center to CB Richard Ellis Investors for about $360 million.  Shorenstein bought City Center in 1996 for $118 million.  Over time they renovated and built new buildings, pumping millions into our economy.  They bought new business and thousands of jobs that generated tax revenues.  Now, they sell it for almost triple their original investment.  Shorenstein retained the option to develop lots on either side at Clay Street.  That’s just one example of what can be done to make Oakland a better city by provide job producing businesses and revenue.

Here is a clear example of why the Council must be proactive and not simply wait and react to a crisis.  Oakland/Alameda County is invested heavily in professional sports that we as taxpayers are still paying for.  Our tax dollars paid for the renovation of the complex to house three professional teams.  We are on the verge of losing all three.  Instead of waiting for the teams to leave town, the Council must be proactive to retain the sports teams. 

The Oakland A’s owner wants to move to San Jose.  Although the As renewed their year to year lease for one more year, the City should be working now with the current owner, San Francisco Giants, and Major League Baseball to keep the A’s here in Oakland.  The City should look hard for a new ownership group to buy the A’s and commit to keep them in Oakland.

The Warriors are for sale.  Each group interested in buying them are now hearing overtures from San Francisco to build a basketball complex in the city.  Then the Warriors will go across the Bay to play, leaving an empty Oracle Coliseum that cost millions to renovate.  The city must be involved with the sale, meeting with all potential buyers to keep the team in Oakland.

In the June vote, Santa Clara agreed to give the 49ers money to move to the South Bay.  The 49ers must come with about $800 million of financing.  One idea they are floating is to build a stadium for both the 49ers and Raiders to play in.  That stadium should not be in Santa Clara, it should be in Oakland.  Now is the time for the Council to reach out to the 49ers, San Francisco and other interested parties to build the dual stadium here in Oakland. 

Despite how you feel about sports, there are tremendous benefits to the city for each team to remain in Oakland.  Baseball generates nearly 100 games with about 40,000 people per game.  That creates over 2 million customers people in an area, with demand for restaurants, entertainment and even housing.  Oakland has ample choices to place a baseball stadium that can support new housing, retail and commercial development. 

Basketball is the same thing: over 40 games, 20,000 people per game create a huge demand for retail and other services.  Finally, there’s football.  Even though there would be 20 games if both teams played, their impact would be tremendous because each game is a week long event creating hotel, restaurants and entertainment demands that would greatly help the Oakland economy by producing jobs, sales tax and other revenues.

This is just one example of why the City Council must be proactive.  There are many other issues in the Oakland economy that require dedicated, committed Council leadership; such things as the Port, development of the Army and Oak Knoll base, rebuilding the Broadway corridor, creating new industries, such as medical care, high tech green and numerous others.  Oakland has the opportunity to become the quality center of the Bay Area.  It only requires quality leadership to start the process. 

Killian is an attorney in downtown Oakland, an Oakland resident and a former Oakland Planning Commissioner. He can be reached at: (510) 625-8823 or email: clintonkillian@yahoo.com

The staredown over the Oakland budget continues.  The City Council voted to issue layoff notices to 200 police officers.  They also are exploring other cuts to balance the budget.  Laying off police has caused an outrage throughout the city.  Many neighborhoods, already feel unsafe, are afraid that the lack of police officers will increase crime. 

The Police Officers Association responded aggressively to the Council’s actions.  They pointed out they gave concessions to the city last year and feel like they are being unfairly targeted.  At this late stage, the council wants them to renegotiate portions of the labor agreement, including the non-pension contribution.  The City wants the police to contribute 9%, like all other City employees, the police want to keep it at zero.  The crisis continues with no end in sight.

It is time for the Oakland City Council to take a critical look at the budget.  The City simply has to change its spending and revenue generating ways.  There has to be accountability in the Oakland budget.  Until the City Council takes the lead and creates accountability, then each year we will go through this dysfunctional budget cycle.

In addition to cutting costs, the City Council has to expand the Oakland revenue base. Currently, the City is virtually dependent on property related taxes.  Oakland has a small sales tax base and a shrinking business tax base. The pie literally has to be expanded. 

The City Council has to make its commitment and goal to bring job-producing businesses into the city.  More businesses and jobs mean more revenue for the city.  More people working in Oakland will create the drive for more housing, hereby stabilizing and improving the quality of neighborhoods.  Further, this will create residential commercial services for each neighborhood, like grocery and drug stores, restaurants and other basic quality of life services.  It will take a Council committed to bring these new jobs into Oakland.

Here is a clear example of the multi payoff that occurs when job producing businesses come to Oakland.  Shorenstein Partners entered an agreement to sell City Center to CB Richard Ellis Investors for about $360 million.  Shorenstein bought City Center in 1996 for $118 million. Over time they renovated and built new buildings, pumping millions into our economy.  They bought new business and thousands of jobs that generated tax revenues.  Now, they sell it for almost triple their original investment.  Shorenstein retained the option to develop lots on either side at Clay Street.  That’s just one example of what can be done to make Oakland a better city by provide job producing businesses and revenue.

Here is a clear example of why the Council must be proactive and not simply wait and react to a crisis. Oakland/Alameda County is invested heavily in professional sports that we as taxpayers are still paying for. Our tax dollars paid for the renovation of the complex to house three professional teams. We are on the verge of losing all three.  Instead of waiting for the teams to leave town, the Council must be proactive to retain the sports teams. 

The Oakland A’s owner wants to move to San Jose. Although the As renewed their year to year lease for one more year, the City should be working now with the current owner, San Francisco Giants, and Major League Baseball to keep the A’s here in Oakland. The City should look hard for a new ownership group to buy the A’s and commit to keep them in Oakland.

The Warriors are for sale.  Each group interested in buying them are now hearing overtures from San Francisco to build a basketball complex in the city.  Then the Warriors will go across the Bay to play, leaving an empty Oracle Coliseum that cost millions to renovate.  The City must be involved with the sale, meeting with all potential buyers to keep the team in Oakland.

In the June vote, Santa Clara agreed to give the 49ers money to move to the South Bay.  The 49ers must come with about $800 million of financing.  One idea they are floating is to build a stadium for both the 49ers and Raiders to play in.  That stadium should not be in Santa Clara, it should be in Oakland.  Now is the time for the Council to reach out to the 49ers, San Francisco and other interested parties to build the dual stadium here in Oakland. 

Despite how you feel about sports, there are tremendous benefits to the city for each team to remain in Oakland.  Baseball generates nearly 100 games with about 40,000 people per game.  That creates over 2 million customers people in an area, with demand for restaurants, entertainment and even housing.  Oakland has ample choices to place a baseball stadium that can support new housing, retail and commercial development. 

Basketball is the same thing: over 40 games, 20,000 people per game create a huge demand for retail and other services.  Finally, there’s football.  Even though there would be 20 games if both teams played, their impact would be tremendous because each game is a week- long event creating hotel, restaurants and entertainment demands that would greatly help the Oakland economy by producing jobs, sales tax and other revenues.

This is just one example of why the City Council must be proactive.  There are many other issues in the Oakland economy that require dedicated, committed Council leadership; such things as the Port, development of the Army and Oak Knoll base, rebuilding the Broadway corridor, creating new industries, such as medical care, high tech green and numerous others. Oakland has the opportunity to become the quality center of the Bay Area.  It only requires quality leadership to start the process. 

Clinton Killian is an attorney in downtown Oakland, an Oakland resident and a former Oakland Planning Commissioner. He can be reached at: (510) 625-8823 or email:clintonkillian@yahoo.com