Oakland should become a 'strong mayor' city, says Mayor Lee's task force

""We recommend strengthening the mayor's powers to establish clear executive authority," the working group wrote in the report, "and empowering the City Council in ways that support rigorous legislative and budget analysis and oversight.""

"Political observers in Oakland have increasingly placed blame for many of the city's problems on the structure of the city's government. For almost 30 years, Oakland has operated under an unusual hybrid form of government, which, critics say, gives neither the mayor nor the City Council enough power to get things done. The mayor can't directly decide on policy, because they don't serve on the council and don't have veto power over its decisions. But the council lacks authority too, as it's prevented from directing the city administrator, whose boss is the mayor."

"Lee convened the working group this summer, as Oakland's government faced record-low trust and satisfaction from the public. The electorate had just recalled its former mayor - who is now facing federal corruption charges - and the City Council had only narrowly closed a massive budget deficit."

Oakland's local government structure creates unclear authority among the mayor, City Council, and city administrator. The mayor cannot serve on the council or veto council decisions, while the council cannot direct the city administrator, who reports to the mayor. Voters approved the current hybrid system in 1998. Low public trust, a recent mayoral recall, federal corruption charges tied to that recall, and a narrowly closed budget gap prompted proposals for structural change. Proposed changes call for stronger mayoral executive powers alongside Council tools for rigorous legislative and budget analysis and oversight to clarify responsibilities.

Read at The Oaklandside