How a change in Oakland's laws would shift Mayor Barbara Lee's powers
Briefly

Former Mayor Jerry Brown dramatically altered Oakland's governance structure in 1998, allowing mayors more autonomy from the City Council. Now, with Mayor Barbara Lee in office, a re-evaluation of these power dynamics is underway. The Oakland Charter Reform Project, led by Steve Falk, advocates for a return of significant responsibilities to the mayors, suggesting that they lead council meetings and have voting rights, while the council as a whole should handle key appointments. This proposal aims to address criticisms of the current system's ineffectiveness.
Nearly three decades later, Mayor Barbara Lee has begun a shortened term in which she has promised to re-examine the mayor-council power dynamic that controls much of how Oakland is governed.
The campaign - the Oakland Charter Reform Project - led by former City Administrator Steve Falk has now settled on a specific recommendation after months of studying the issue.
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