Last week’s column regarding Oakland’s parking fiasco really struck a nerve. I received numerous responses from citizens who wanted to share their parking horrors. It was interesting that no one complained about receiving legitimate parking tickets - like expired meters, parking in the red zone, etc. 
 

Each person expressed concerns about the unfair and heavy-handed tactics of the City that seemed designed purely to create revenue. For example, one person told me the story of receiving a ticket while waiting in line to buy a parking sticker. Another shared the story of waiting for the meters to begin accepting money at 8 a.m., only to get a ticket timed at 8 a.m. One person had the story of receiving a ticket for blocking the driveway of her own property with her own vehicle! There are dozens of stories similar to these ones.

The other concern each person expressed was that their appeal was absolutely ignored and summarily denied. Each person explained their legitimate situation. For example, a person parked in an unmetered two-hour zone in Montclair at about 11 a.m., left at 12:30 p.m. to go to a business meeting, returned at 3:30 p.m. and received a ticket at 4 p.m. for exceeding the two-hour parking limit! He appealed with an affidavit from his business appointment and lunch receipts for that date; indications that prove he was not parked in Montclair between 12:30 p.m. and 3:30 p.m. His appeal was denied.

The concern that everyone is expressing is simple. They want to be treated fairly and honestly by the City. 

Speaking of parking, the City is making one effort to ensure more equitable parking. It drastically raised the handicap placard fine to $510. This will discourage people from abusing the handicap placard system and make more spaces available for the truly handicapped. Good job, City.

This is the same type of attitude the City must take toward its own actions - identify the waste and abuse that is costing tax payers money and rectify it. The City should use the auditing process to identify costs savings in its own budget.

Something like parking, when properly maintained and enforced and uniformly applied, could generate the City millions of dollars in savings. Don’t think so? Then ask yourself - why do some City employees have free parking, while others have to pay full price? Why are City parking garages full of City vehicles that generate no revenue? Why is there not a uniform reduced parking payment that is fair and equitable to everyone? 

The City should strongly encourage its employees to use public transit, thereby reducing costs and opening up City parking facilities for the paying public. A small transit subsidy would help employees with their transportation costs, increase usage of public transit, reduce the auto impact on downtown and increase the parking revenues from visitors. It is a little thing, but City spending must become more productive in this budget deficit. 

Political Round Up

And now there are four. The Oakland mayor’s race gets more and more interesting by the day. Incumbent Mayor Dellums still has not ruled out a re-election run and is acting more like a candidate each day. He is becoming more visible and engaged. It remains to be seen if the voter accepts Dellums 2.0.

Front-runner Senator Don Perata is trying to maintain his aura of invincibility, but cracks are appearing. He thinks Oakland is ready for a different type of hands-on leadership that he has shown throughout his public service. His poll numbers are stuck in the mid 30’s. He has shown an inability to expand his base to include ethnics, gays, renters, liberals and other groups.

Plucky Jean Quan is sticking to her grass roots formula and applying it city-wide. She thinks the voters will respond to a more accessible mayor. She will formally kick off her campaign this month. Look for her to knock on your door soon, if she has not already. New-comer Rebecca Kaplan is dying to jump in the race, especially if Dellums does not run. She is courting the Perata outies as her base of support. The jostling between the Running Four will remain interesting throughout the year.

The Alameda County Supervisor race became crystal clear. Even though 9 candidates have expressed an interest to run, only three have taken the steps to do so. Former Supervisor Wilma Chan was able to muscle out the incumbent and any challengers to the seat. One she could not budge is current Alameda mayor Beverly Johnson. The third candidate is Oakland businessman Harold Lowe. They will each face one another in the June primary. If no one receives a majority, then the run off will be held in November. 

The governor’s race is heating up. Jerry Brown has one major opponent, former Governor Jerry Brown. As soon as he announced his candidacy, the press and Republicans ran the Governor Moonbeam stories from the 70’s. Mr. Brown spent the next several days showing that the new Jerry Brown is different from the old one. His biggest opponent in the November election will be his history and whether Republicans can re-tag him with his 70’s persona. 

The Republicans are having a nice fight to the end. Front-runner Meg Whitman pointedly ignored snippy Steve Poizner for months. Now, Mr. Poizner has ramped and ratcheted up attacks on Ms. Whitman. She has responded by taking wide swipes at him. It is working because the polls show her dead even with Mr. Brown. It’s interesting to see whether the Republican will survive this death spiral and be strong enough to run a credible campaign in November.

Our neighboring San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom finally announced that he is running for Lt. Governor. One Democrat immediately dropped out to support him. He faces a huge challenger in the Los Angeles City Councilwoman Janice Hahn. She comes from a strong political family and is well-known in the voter-rich LA area. This will be a tough race for Mr. Newsom, and not the walk-over that many anticipated. Look for that campaign to be as interesting as the governor’s race. 

It’s up to you to get involved in your government. Decisions will be made that affect you. You have to participate in both. So vote.

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.