Oakland Focus interview with John Russo

by V Smoothe | June 13, 2008 | 2 comments

Zennie Abraham has a really interesting interview up with City Attorney John Russo over at Oakland Focus. It’s long (35 minutes), but definitely worth watching.

Some of the highlights:

On the recent elections and the entrance of candidates like Sean Sullivan onto the Oakland political scene, who do not easily fall into either of the traditional political camps we’re used to seeing:

You’re starting to see ferment and chaos and breakdown of what has been about 25 years of this two sided equation. And I don’t know where it goes, I don’t know where it ends up, but it’s going to be very exciting for the city, because I think it’s going to mean more choices for the public, and more open and healthy discourse about issues that have been ideologically polarizing.

And on the lack of young blood in local politics:

Baby Boom politicians have done a uniquely bad job of bringing along new talent. And there are a lot of theories around that. Is it because the Baby Boom generation, having grown up self-identified as the youth generation, cannot conceive outside of itself being the youthfulness, and therefore, doesn’t think of itself in a role as sort of wiser, older, mentoring younger people along and prefers to point the finger at younger people?

I couldn’t help but laugh at the part with all the distracting sirens in the background. Part of my job involves conducting interviews and creating podcasts from them, which I do from my computer here in my very noisy apartment. I can’t tell you how frustrated I get on the frequent occasions when I get sirens blazing in the background, ruining my interview, while I’m trying to talk. I love Oakland.

2 Responses to “Oakland Focus interview with John Russo”

1
Max Allstadt Says:
June 13th, 2008 at 2:06 pm
I agree with you, V. Well worth watching.
2
Max Allstadt Says:
June 13th, 2008 at 2:55 pm
There is also a very funny little piece of evidence in this interview that tells us that Russo reads your blog, V.

len raphael: Unconfirmed that MJQ laid off 100 employees today, blaming RDA court case. How much did she and the CC waste in legal fees betting against Jerry’s lawyers?

ralph: No, Livegreen, Occupy Oakland is doing plenty good. They are the poster children for the new, “This is Your Brain on Dope” Campaign.

Livegreen: They seem to b determined to shut down Oakland and little else. They’ve forgotten Wall St. I can’t help but think the Officers who were preventing them from breaking in to City Hall could have spent...

gregory mcconnell: The Occupest disrupted City Hall today. They managed to make it difficult, but not impossible, to go into City Hall. They demanded that people who accosted cops on Wednesday should be released. I was out...

livegreen: I watched the M-Y mtg last night, & it was painful. Jose is a nice guy, but he has difficulty running a meeting that gets anything done. They debated for about 1 hour whether they should discuss recommendations...

len raphael: The murder of 5 year old Gabriel Martinez. Got a call from an acquaintance who lives in East O and often gets supper at his family’s taco stand. She asked where she can sign up to help on the recall.

Ravi: I’m sure that all of those Quan diehards (“a recall would be a waste of time and too expensive”) are very gratified that this lovely and deserving woman is having such a good time. No doubt they prefer...

len raphael: JQ “”I’m actually having a lot of fun,” she said after rehashing many of the lower moments from her first year in office.” “http://www.insidebayare a.com/news/ci_19651889R...

Ravi: And regarding police reform and the crime thing, Judge Henderson could decide to put OPD under Federal jurisdiction because the terms of the NSA haven’t been fulfilled by the City Administration. Those folks in City...

len raphael: Harbinger of things to come to the City Council when they eventually have to make similar decisions. But they won’t. The Fed bankruptcy judge will do it for them.

livegreen: Yeah, but OUSD has to do something. There are way too many schools for the school population. There’s simply no choice. At least they’re willing to make the tough decisions. Unlike the City of...

len raphael: Are those school board recalls entirely over the school closing decisions? Different groups or one umbrella?

Ravi: Two recall petitions for Quan; five recall petitions for five school board members.

len raphael: City says there are now 7 concurrent recall petitions. Not clear how many are for Quan and how many for Council Members. Direct democracy at work.

Ravi: Can the Oakland City Council lead? Nope, nor can the Mayor. It’s up to the citizens, who are deeply divided and have been for a very long time.

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