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Analysis

Oakland's MACRO missed all of its pilot project goals—so the city expanded it
MACRO was pitched as a panacea that would “reimagine” policing, save money, and improve lives. Instead, it cost the city about $10M during a fiscal…
 • 
Tim Gardner
14
Oakland City Council used illegal votes to change city ordinances
In December, the city council relied on tie-breaking votes from recalled mayor Sheng Thao, a violation of city and state law. A lawsuit may be filed…
 • 
Brenda Harbin-Forte (Ret.)
 and 
Seneca Scott
8
Oakland's city employee counts show a dramatic shift in service priorities over five years
Public safety staff declined by 206 employees (-12%), and other departments added 336 employees (+13%). Police are slated to bear the majority of…
 • 
Tim Gardner
21
We can balance Oakland’s budget without selling the future
Seven actions could save the city $200M per year without wage cuts, pension cuts, selling city assets, or gutting public safety
 • 
Tim Gardner
28
Podcast: Oakland's Pension Debt Problem
A 12-minute conversation explaining Oakland's pension debt issue, and what it means for the City it's residents
 • 
Oakland Report
2
12:31
Most ballot measure questions in Alameda County are biased
A volunteer body composed of former Alameda County Grand Jurors started a new rating system to help voters understand which ones are misleading
 • 
Tim Gardner
11
Oakland paid $450M in 2023 for pension costs and above-inflation wage increases
The city paid more than $130M in interest alone on its pension debt—far more than its $100M annual deficit, which it just sold the Coliseum to pay. It…
 • 
Tim Gardner
21
Oakland employee compensation grew 2.5 times faster than inflation, far outpacing other cities
Since 2013, Oakland grew employee compensation by $411M. That’s $184M more than needed to keep pace with inflation. It far exceeds raises of other…
 • 
Michael Ubell
 and 
Tim Gardner
32
Oakland 2024 crime trends are mixed, but CHP efforts are delivering significant impact
Compared to 2023, homicides and firearm assaults are down 10-20%, but residential robberies have doubled. For other crimes, the data is still unclear.
 • 
Tim Gardner
5
Oakland’s 2024-2025 budget squanders the city’s future
The City delays dealing with its ongoing deficit; instead it aims to pay its bills by selling $105M of public assets and diverting restricted funds from…
 • 
Tim Gardner
14
Oakland’s looming spending cuts
While City officials have spent the past months focused on business license taxes, scant attention has been paid to the impacts of unavoidable spending…
 • 
Tim Gardner
14
The misrepresentation of Oakland crime data
City Administration used flawed data comparisons to claim that total crime has dropped in 2024
 • 
Tim Gardner
9
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