Oakland New Year’s Resolutions

by V Smoothe | December 31, 2008 | 19 comments

Aah, I love the end of December. It feels good to reflect on all the things I didn’t accomplish and promise myself how I’m going to do so much better next year. There’s nothing quite like a clean slate, a whole untainted year ahead of you with all the potential in the world to be great, accomplish something noteworthy, or put some of your worst qualities behind you. I’ve resolved that 2009 will be the year I finally quit smoking and get a driver’s license. But what about our elected officials? I know that settling on a goal can be tough, and I’m nothing if not helpful, so I’ve listed a few suggestions below:

Ron Dellums: I will comes to terms with the fact that a “strong Mayor” form of government means something, and in Oakland’s case, it means very specifically what Oakland voters amended the City Charter to say in 1998. I will accept that just because I personally am not impressed with what the Charter says about my duties, that doesn’t mean strong Mayor hasn’t been implemented, it just means that I don’t like what it is. I will stop constantly talking about how I am spending my time working to “streamline” the government to make myself an all-powerful dictator with no checks on my whims whatsoever, because it’s really actually kind of creepy. I will also eliminate the words “unprecedented,” “innovative,” and “revolutionary” from my vocabulary.
Pat Kernighan: I will remember that people elected me to be a legislator, not a nanny, and I will keep my opinions about the morality of television shows and music lyrics to myself instead of trying to impose them on 420,000 people.
Jane Brunner: I will read my agenda packet before all my meetings. If I don’t have time to do so, I will just keep my head down and be quiet. I will not waste an hour of everybody else’s time asking rudimentary questions about what’s going on.
Rebecca Kaplan: I will not let down all the people who supported my campaign because they thought I would make informed, rational decisions by pursuing stupid things that have failed everywhere they’ve been done, and that Oakland has done before, but abandoned because it didn’t work. Like a land trust.
Desley Brooks: I will recognize that even though it’s exceedingly frustrating to be like twenty times smarter than anyone else on the dais, that doesn’t give me license to be totally nasty to everyone else all the time. I will embrace my burden, and make a point of being extra patient with those I view as intellectually inferior to me from now on.
Ignacio De La Fuente: I will either get the City of Oakland to adopt a 311 system and GPS, or I will find something new to talk about all the time.
Larry Reid: When a vote doesn’t go my way, I will take it like an adult, and just type furiously on my Blackberry instead of storming out of the room in a huff.
Jean Quan: I will realize that I’m not anywhere near as smart as I think I am, and also that it doesn’t hurt to listen to what other people have to say. I will not condescendingly lecture public speakers about how they didn’t bother to read the documents relating to a subject, scold them for daring to come to the meeting in the first place, and then give a speech where I get virtually every single fact I assert totally, 100% wrong.
Nancy Nadel: I will work really, really, really hard to make my chocolate business successful. And once I succeed, I will do all Oaklanders a big favor and resign from the City Council.
John Russo: I will always remember that seatbelt laws are for everybody.
Courtney Ruby: I will start doing all the parts of my job delineated in the City Charter, even the ones that aren’t exciting enough to get me in the newspaper. Like reviewing major expenditures.
And a bonus – every blogger using WordPress: I will take that creepy and distracting falling snow off my damn page.

What about you guys? Any special resolutions for 2009?

19 Responses to “Oakland New Year’s Resolutions”

1
Joanna/ShopGirl Says:
December 31st, 2008 at 10:33 am
V – you’ve accomplished SOOOO much. How many more people know what’s going on at City Hall (or not going on)? So many more than in recent years, that’s for sure. We now have more than one or two sources to go to for news. We have quite a few great blogs to learn about various aspects of Oakland.

While 2008 did suck (for me, at least), I’ve got my hopes that 2009 will be way better. Actually, I fear it will get worse before it gets better, but at least we’ll see change in 2009. Or so I hope, optimist that I used to be.

Cheers,
Joanna
2
Erin Battlefield Says:
December 31st, 2008 at 12:30 pm
Some more suggested resolutions for V Smoothe!

- I will stop acting like I am the only person who understands how Oakland should be run and all problems in the world in general solved. I will at least pretend to have some humility.

- I will stop moaning endlessly about the stupidity and awfulness of Ron Dellums, not because it’s not true, but because it’s effing tiresome.

- I will create a constructive blog that is uplifting to read, and that is not based on the tired old conflict mentality of “I am the only reasonable person in the universe, and everyone else is a raging mental patient – even when I am raging and wailing, I am doing it for an understandable reason, unlike everyone else, because everyone else is an idiot”.

- I will listen to people who disagree with me, and consider the revolutionary notion that I might have something to learn from them.
3
Patrick Says:
December 31st, 2008 at 12:57 pm
I’m guessing Navigator.
4
Coolhand Luke Says:
December 31st, 2008 at 1:18 pm
Internet beefs never cease to amuse me. Maybe we need to institute a blogoaksphere fight club at the end of each month? Just an idea.

I have a resOlution for the Town:
-That we all realize that Oakland Public Schools are not horrid, and that they only improve if we invest in them. I will not enumerate the challenges because we are all well-versed in the nay saying, but I will say that strides have been made in several schools and that growth must continue. I am an OUSD alum, as is my father and grandfather, and we all were well served by it. Will the district spearhead change?? No. But I have witnessed coalitions of students, parents and teachers change so much within schools lately. Yes there are exclusive AP programs, but there are also burgeoning arts, drama and sports programs at many Oakland schools that offer an intriguing educational experience to a broader population of students.

I personally pledge to tell some of these success stories over at http://www.38thnotes.com, but I would like to ask Oaklanders to remember the promise that lies in public education. Oakland public schools will not change by themselves, but with parental and community involvement they can and do change for the better.
5
dto510 Says:
December 31st, 2008 at 1:40 pm
Hehe, V walked right into that. But Erin, don’t forget that there are many Oakland blogs out there with different perspectives and different areas of interest!
6
Chris Kidd Says:
December 31st, 2008 at 2:52 pm
Hey Max,

Can your new year’s resolution be to bring back the Thunderdome? I think we could all use some nerf-bat-therapy in the coming year. Navigator vs. V in a battle royale. $5 a head and the proceeds could go towards bribing those mean old SF journalists into saying something nice about our city for once.

I resolve to post more. I’ve kinda disappeared the last few months…
7
Patrick Says:
December 31st, 2008 at 5:33 pm
Maybe we could rent out the Coliseum…I understand they’ve got plenty of open dates.
8
MVSC Says:
December 31st, 2008 at 8:13 pm
Go V! I’m glad you are out beating the drum and making folks pay attention. Thank you for a great year of informed reporting + insights.
9
Mike Spencer Says:
December 31st, 2008 at 9:10 pm
Resolve to keep reminding our leaders of their priorities and to really work in the City’s best interest. And to keep V churning out this wonderful outlet!
10
Skip Says:
December 31st, 2008 at 10:36 pm
D Brooks?…”I will recognize that even though it’s exceedingly frustrating to be like twenty times smarter than anyone else on the dais”… Is she next in line to be the Supreme Commander of Oakland?……. rather haughty for a Politician…… How can she possibly relate to the citizens?
11
len raphael Says:
December 31st, 2008 at 11:17 pm
wb interesting to get more background and analysis of all our council members.

eg what does make db run? in some of the public hearings she comes across as very smart but off kilter. does she have consistent political goals or is she always improvising?
12
John Says:
January 1st, 2009 at 9:44 am
My “public” resolution for 2009 is to try and be more civil and respectful toward others when discussing and debating the issues. This comes from knowing that I don’t always do so and that I sometimes regret the tone used when I disagree with someone or make a point.

It also comes from understanding that there is always a way to make a point or send a message that does not denigrate the other person, an understanding which I don’t always maintain. I think it is helpful also to remember and acknowledge the human dimension of all our interactions and that we all really want the same thing – to be happy.
13
Coolhand Luke Says:
January 1st, 2009 at 11:27 am
I will also try to act in accordance with John’s resolution. I get a bit too heated defending East Oakland. My apologies guys. Happy New Year for real by the way!
14
Carlos Plazola Says:
January 1st, 2009 at 7:20 pm
John, very nicely said. Words for all of us to heed.

Carlos
15
Max Allstadt Says:
January 1st, 2009 at 9:21 pm
I’ll add my approval to your resolution too John. There are a few issues where I’ve certainly gotten sarcastic enough to be divisive, and as a matter of fact I think on a couple of occasions it’s been directed at you.

I won’t stop wisecracking, but I’ll certainly be more aware of where the line is.

My resolution is to stay focused on the issues and projects I really care about. There’s so much going on that distraction is a huge risk. So expect no more blog comments from ol’ Max when the topic is unrelated to art, growth, fun, or West Oakland. Even then I’ll be sparing. There are things to get done. Pontificating gets in the way.
16
Brian T Says:
January 1st, 2009 at 10:46 pm
My resolution (concerning city affairs) is pretty simple: to attend a San Antonio NCPC meeting and to become more involved in my neighborhood.

V, great job! Keep it coming in ’09.
17
Erin Battlefield Says:
January 2nd, 2009 at 5:40 pm
dto510, absolutely. And I actually appreciate this blog a great deal. But a posting that specifies one’s own character shortcomings as smoking and not having a driver’s license, and then goes on and on about how awful and terrible these other people are, was, as you pointed out, totally asking for it. I guess I was curious to see if V can take it as well as give it, because someone who can’t is really just a big queen
18
Huanmic Says:
January 5th, 2009 at 3:18 pm
I just recently moved the area about 3 months ago, and I’d like to be more involved in the community, so starting 2009 I hope to contribute my opinions and participate in local government. Good luck to everyone, I hope you will see more of me.
19
Ingvard Says:
February 22nd, 2009 at 8:12 am
After six years working in Oakland managing 2 apartment buildings {61 total units} I have came to the realization that it’s not the gang bangers,car jackers that I fear most, it’s the pieinthesky elected/uneleted city “servants???” that are most feared, and need to be put in their place. Being told in 2004 by city “workers” that the measure Y parcle tax was chump change for the owner of the buildings that I manage,
Thank you for this forum

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.

len raphael: Oakland Local is the only on or offline general circulation media that shows understanding of the depths of our fiscal situation and understands that it’s causes precede the real estate crash. One of these...

Mkilian: Related to the Cal Supremes haircut to Oakland with respect to RDA and the immediate need for a “fiscal operations plan” is another issue put forth in Oakland’s internet newspaper, Oakland Local, is...