Oakland Voters Back Strong-Mayor Measure EE With 73.9%; Two Department Heads Leave in Post-Election Shake-Up
OAKLAND, Calif. — Voters in Oakland, Alameda County, California, approved Mayor Barbara Lee's strong-mayor charter amendment, Measure EE, with 73.9% of the vote, and a post-election personnel shake-up followed at City Hall.
According to the Oakland Observer's November 8 wrap-up, Human Resources Director Mary Hao and Oakland Department of Transportation Director Josh Rowan left the city on Friday, most likely at the behest of Interim City Administrator Betsy Lake. The departures are seen as Lee using her current 'weak mayor' powers for a post-election administrative reorganization. Measure EE's support of nearly three-quarters of voters nearly matches Lee's own vote share; it takes effect once results are certified.
In the District 2 council race, grassroots challenger Nate Adams won 36% of the vote against incumbent Charlene Wang's 63.8%, the strongest showing by any challenger on the municipal ballot.
The council will also take up an ordinance on Tuesday extending the 45-day data center moratorium by another 10.5 months, a step the Planning and Building Department also recommended in its state-mandated report. The Oakland Divest Coalition continues to press the Rules Committee to schedule its ethical investment policy, which would bar city investment in companies profiting from mass incarceration, weapons proliferation and military occupation.
Source: Oakland Observer
Published by GSM · USA (original Chinese edition)
Photo: 奥克兰市中心。（Sharon Hahn Darlin 摄，CC BY 2.0，经 Wikimedia Commons）
