Now they must take collective action.
All too often, rent-seekers and other special interests push polls to influence elected officials. One antidote is community-based polling that provides a clear signal of what the public actually wants. Recently Oakland got such a signal in a poll of its residents by the East Bay Polling Institute (EBPI). The survey was based on interviews with roughly 700 voters in all seven city council districts.
- Crime is the most cited problem. 61% say they or someone they know has been a victim of theft or petty crime in the past 12 months, and 24% say the same about violent crime. For many, the frustration is compounded by a sense that the system offers no recourse: “My house was broken into, so many things stolen,” one respondent comments. “The entire event was captured on video. I never had one police officer contact me.” 70% support increased police presence in Oakland, and 64% support using surveillance technology like license plate readers and security cameras.
- 79% want encampments cleared from public spaces like parks and sidewalks. When asked to choose an approach to addressing homelessness, 52% favor transitional options such as shelters and tiny homes that can move people indoors more quickly, compared to 38% who prioritize permanent affordable housing.
- 63% think that building more housing of any kind brings down rents and makes Oakland more affordable overall. Just 32% believe market-rate construction makes affordability worse.
- 26% trust the city to spend tax dollars responsibly. 70% say the taxes they pay are not worth it given the services they receive.
- 3% give the Oakland Unified School District board positive marks for financial management, 78% say they are not confident the district can resolve its substantial budget challenges, and 57% say it would be better to consolidate into fewer schools so remaining campuses have adequate resources even if some neighborhoods lose their school.
- 64% support amending the city charter to adopt a strong-mayor system.
As one Oaklander put it, “[Oakland] is my home. I just wish it would live up to its potential.” For that to happen, Oaklanders must not only express their opinions but also organize into collective-action organizations that persistently support lawmakers who pay attention to what they are saying. Examples of such organizations reside across the San Francisco Bay, where Neighbors For A Better San Francisco and GrowSF are persistently supporting lawmakers who govern in the public interest. Let’s hope Oaklanders follow their lead.
