Oakland mayor breaks 4-4 tie to put charter plan on the ballot
Oakland City Council: A strong-mayor charter measure heads to the November ballot after Mayor Lee broke a 4-4 tie. The council funded 21 violence-prevention groups and raised property taxes.
Oakland passes its budget by declaring a fiscal emergency
Oakland City Council: The council passed its 2026-27 budget 6-2, declaring a fiscal emergency to waive the 700-officer police minimum and Democracy Dollars. It also moved $50M up to housing.
Strong-mayor measure heads toward Oakland's November ballot, 5-3
Oakland City Council: A strong-mayor measure cleared a first vote 5-3, on track for November's ballot. A $45–47M violence plan passed 5-3; voter-approved tax rates set to rise 2.2–6.4%.
Oakland races a May 25 deadline to stay in flood insurance program
Oakland City Council: New floodplain rules adopted as an emergency ordinance to protect flood insurance, plus up to $1.1M for illegal dumping and a first vote on $200M in borrowing.
Oakland renews phone-cracking contract over fierce public pushback
Oakland City Council: Council renewed a $140,000 Cellebrite phone-cracking contract 6-2, then imposed the full $915,135.40 fine on owners who illegally cut 38 protected trees.
Oakland voters will decide a $192 tax on fire, 911, and trash
Oakland City Council: A $192 parcel tax for 911, fire, and homelessness heads to the June 2 ballot 8-0. The council also passed its SB 79 housing plan after a 4-4 tie.
Oakland rewrites sex-work law and funds Sausal Creek land return
Oakland City Council: The city's prostitution law now penalizes buyers and creates a survivor support fund. Plus $843,875 in Measure DD funds toward a Sausal Creek land return.
Oakland rewrites prostitution law to go after buyers and landlords
Oakland City Council: Council advanced a 6-0 rewrite of the prostitution law, repealing the loitering offense for sex workers and adding buyer fines up to $4K for a new survivor fund.
Oakland rejects same police commission picks for the second time
Oakland City Council: Police commission slate rejected 6-2 for the second time, with the sitting chair not reappointed. Judge Grillo confirmed; Wong pulled for incomplete background check.
Oakland awards $10.4M 27th St. contract; two members vote no
Oakland City Council: $10.4M 27th Street complete streets contract awarded to Redgwick on a 5-2 vote; June ballot measure on police and fire pension changes also cleared.