I don’t understand what you mean when you say that the plan is morally correct. I do not believe that the Oakland police department has any policy against hiring recruits who have been discharged under don’t ask don’t tell – Kaplan is proposing targeting those people as a way to fully staff the police force. I just don’t see that being particularly fruitful.

I’m not sure what dishonorable disacharges have to do with it either – I have two acquaintances who were forced to leave the Air Force due to DADT, and they both received honorable discharges. My understanding was that this is standard.

Increasing retail sales is a Great idea, but I don’t know how you talk businesses into coming here, much less staying here.

I didn’t realize that the Coliseum was losing so much money. I wonder if that’s normal compared to other cities.

Max – I have several friends that were discharged as part of DD, and they wanted to be discharged. It certainly hasn’t hurt their particular situations – one is an airline mechanic, another a purchasing manager for a mid-size company, and a third is a car mechanic. None are in CA. I guess I just don’t see that there are that many around here that would fit that description, but if there are, then go for it.

The Coliseum is owned by the City and the County. We do get the profits from the concessions, but they are not enough to cover the continuing debt from the Coliseum’s construction loans, so we still subsidize it.

I’m leaning toward Kaplan at the moment, because I think she’s most likely to be receptive to my biggest pet issue: total transparency in government. But at the same time, there is indeed something about her that strikes me as over-groomed.

I’d like to get to know Clinton Killian a little better, and I wish I could see him put out more enthusiasm. He seems like a really smart guy.

Frank Rose wins the charm contest hands down, I’ve heard him talk before and he’s just a joy. If he can come off a little more coherent in the coming weeks, he might get my vote.

As for Hamill, no way. Her connection to Don Perata overshadows any competence or experience she may display. I do not want Perata to be the mayor of Oakland, I don’t want Hamill to be his foot in the door. Power machines are dangerous and anyone who’s a part of one as big as Perata’s will not get my vote. I’m looking for a competent candidate, but ideally one who’s beholden not to any one clique, but to Oakland and only Oakland.

As to hiring only Oakland businesses… people will merely open an office or even just a private mailbox (PMB) to gain a presence, and that doesn’t really help Oakland, so great idea, but not realistic, imho. Why add another layer that would need to be checked – wouldn’t that cause more administrative nonsense?

Raising sales tax? Uh, most people leave Oakland to shop anyway, so wouldn’t this just give them more reasons to go elsewhere? I grocery shop in Berkeley and Alameda as it is. Clothes are bought online, Walnut Creek, or SF. Hmmm, I spend next to money in Oakland except at restaurants.

Who’s ultimately responsible for the Colliseum? If it’s losing $20-25 million, let’s stop that hemorage asap! Someone’s making some money… why not the City? If this is still related to the Raiders, then ugh. Who needs a bully team that only enforces Oakland’s tough guy (bad guy) reputation? At $10 for a watered down marginal margarita at a ballgame, someone’s making some serious dough.

The Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell idea for recruiting is rather humerous. Uh, how many of those are MP’s? Just because you’re in the military doesn’t mean that your training is in public safety.