| Jostling
at the local, state and national levels
Commentary
by Clinton Killian
There is a fight
brewing regarding future building and job development
in Oakland. There is a movement afoot in City Hall
to bypass and ignore Oakland’s General Plan,
which is the blueprint for the direction of the city.
You may remember that a few years back, the city’s
residents spent hundreds of hours and millions of
dollars devising and overall view and direction of
the city. It appears that some people are attempting
to avoid the process by simply ignoring the General
Plan. As a result, all new developments have ground
to a halt and Oakland has the potential to lose many
valuable projects, such as an affordable housing
project in Chinatown and West Oakland housing.
 This
appears to be another consequence of Dr. “No” Lindheim’s
adamant refusal to understand that Oakland citizens
want our city rebuilt. Oakland needs new jobs, housing
and tax revenues. This city cannot sit by while employment
opportunities go elsewhere and people move out of the
city.
We are not in the position of Berkeley, which
can limit growth because it has ample business and
tax revenues. Oakland needs to produce more jobs for
its citizens and tax-generating businesses within our
city limits. It also needs housing of all types for
its citizens and more services to improve the quality
of life. “Just say no” may have worked
for Nancy Reagan, but it will not work in Oakland.
We have to grow the economic pie to survive.
The national
presidential race is heating up, with the primaries
to begin in a few months. Hillary Clinton has expanded
her lead in California and nationwide over her competitors.
The Republican attack dogs have already tried to link
her with every plague, disaster and evil doing in the
last 100 years.
At the last Republican debate, Clinton’s
name was mentioned more often than George Bush’s.
Nevertheless, it appears that the Republicans’ scare
tactic will not work in this election. The American
voters want substantive solutions to their problems.
The Republican side of the ledger appears ready to
implode. They simply can’t decide on the least
of three evils. Do they want Mitt Romney, who is religiously
devout but wildly inconsistent on his governmental
policies? Or, do they want fear monger Rudy Giuliani,
who promises a strong defense but whose personal and
social issues stances make the Republican majority
want to wretch? Finally, there is John Mc- Cain, who
simply can’t decide what he wants to be. Is he
George Bush’s heir, or is he the maverick who
promises to change government? He’s offering
the Republicans the worst of both alternatives. By
pandering to the right, each candidate has ignored
the majority of the country.
At the state level, the
governor and the Democratic legislative leadership
is jostling over which propositions to put on the ballot.
California will have three elections in 2008, and timing
is crucial for each one of the propositions. The governor
has consistently blocked Democratic efforts for infrastructure
propositions regarding water, highways and bridges.
Schwarzenegger, in turn, has not announced any new
proposals because he is afraid the Republicans may
turn against him. He’s in an interesting position
where he has to fear his allies and cut deals with
his enemies.
As this matter plays out, it is vitally
important that everyone stays informed and votes. Decisions
will be made that will affect your life, and it is
imperative that you voice your opinion at the ballot
box. If you are not registered to vote, please do so
immediately. If you haven’t voted lately, then
make plans to vote in each election next year. Your
involvement is the only thing that will ensure that
we have a better Oakland.
Clinton Killian is an
Oakland resident and attorney and a former Oakland
planning commissioner. He can be reached at: (510)
625-8823 or by email: clintonkillian@yahoo.com |
