Oakland City Council special election will again test power of labor unions

OAKLAND — A pivotal spot on the Oakland City Council is up for grabs in relatively quiet fashion this April on the same special election ballot that will find the city a new mayor.

The seat could potentially swing votes by the eight-member council this summer on Oakland’s financial future, with the council likely to be split on key decisions around a structural budget deficit that has led city leaders to lay off dozens of public workers.

How cuts to public spending should be spread across the city’s various departments — including police, fire and public works — has been a key point of contention among the council members.

Oakland’s District 2 spans diverse communities that vary in affluence and ethnic makeup, from Chinatown and Jack London Square to areas east and south of Lake Merritt, such as Cleveland Heights, Lakeshore, the Peralta area and the San Antonio neighborhood.





https://www.mercurynews.com/2025/02/16/oakland-city-council-special-election-candidates/