Political Squabbling Over Measure Y Pork Begins

Oakland city councilmembers are already squabbling over who gets the pork money from Measure Y, the so-called violence prevention ordinance passed last November.

Council president Ignacio De La Fuente wants to buy allies for his forthcoming campaign for mayor, using a different pot of money at the Workforce Investment Board. Competing candidate Nancy Nadel proposes that she buy the same allies, but with Measure Y money. Nadel writes, "I worked hard to get them funded through the employment part of the Measure Y violence prevention funds." (Oakland Post, Sept. 7, 2005)

Nadel goes on, "Ironically, Mr. De La Fuente cut those funds, specifically earmarked for employment in Measure Y, to fund a sports program instead."

Nadel seems to have the upper hand for the moment. According to columnist Peggy Stinnett, the Rev. Bishop Bob Jackson "has a job-training program for ex-felons and says he has a promise in his pocket that he will get some Measure Y funds when they are distributed later this year." (Oakland Tribune, Sept. 10, 2005)

Supposedly, the City chooses groups that receive program grants based on impartial evaluation of competency. The City praises itself in a report, "The process is designed to ensure that the Measure Y Violence Prevention program strategies are implemented by organizations that have the highest level of capacity and have a history of managing high quality programs in Oakland." The report has 78 pages of such bureaucratic fiction. (Report And Recommendations To Approve The Competitive Proposal Process For Measure Y Funded Violence Prevention Programs In FY 2005-07, submitted to Public Safety Committee at its Sept. 13, 2005 meeting, http://clerkwebsvr1.oaklandnet.com/attachments/11737.pdf)

Councilmember Nadel was more candid about the real requirements. "Federal WIB dollars require a very high rate of placement and retention or you lose the money. ... Measure Y money doesn't have those same requirements." Nadel's excuse is that the programs in question train released felons, but the point is clear: we councilmembers can play politics with Measure Y money.

Meanwhile, both De La Fuente and Nadel ignore the other part of the "balanced compromise" of Measure Y: the police. Measure Y requires 802 police, but the City will not reach that figure for years to come, if ever.

Is this the way to public safety?