"That could change in the upcoming November election. The president of the Oakland City Council said Monday he is preparing to work on ballot language that would grant Mayor Barbara Lee - and future city mayors - the power to veto council decisions for the first time. Late last month, a group of officials convened by Lee formally recommended the city shift to a "strong mayor" system in which the mayor would hold crucial veto power while continuing to operate independently of the council."
"This would be an unprecedented change in Oakland, where critics say the mayor's relative lack of legislative authority has driven divisions in the local government, including political fights and budget standoffs. The mayor proposes the city's two-year budget, though its final approval and any amendments depend solely on the council's vote. But the proposed fix is quickly polarizing key advocates, some of whom argue for the mayor to instead become the head of the city council and vote with the rest of the eight-member body."
Oakland currently has a mayor with limited legislative authority, which critics say contributes to political fights and budget standoffs. The Oakland City Council president is preparing ballot language to grant Mayor Barbara Lee and future mayors veto power over council decisions. A working group recommended shifting to a "strong mayor" system where the mayor holds crucial veto power while remaining independent of the council. The mayor already proposes the city's two-year budget, but final approval and amendments depend solely on the council. Some advocates favor a council-manager model that makes the mayor head of the council. Supporters say the change would clarify administrative leadership and assign clear responsibility when policies fail.
Read at The Mercury News
Unable to calculate read time
Collection
[
|
...
]