Serving as city-wide elected representative for City of Oakland, elected with 62% of the vote.
Working to improve economic revitalization, public safety, and government effectiveness through a “practical visionary” approach. Examples Include:
Revised zoning in the downtown area to help attract specific “growth” areas by removing onerous “conditional use permit” requirements in certain situations/areas for businesses like bike shops, restaurants/cafes, yoga studios, and more.
Worked to expand tax-credit “Enterprise Zone” and publicity about this program, with an incentive to hire area residents.
Re-started the Oakland LBGT Leadership Roundtable, and helped to launch Oakland Pride.
Organized broad coalition to pass four Revenue Measures on the ballot (in July 2009), all of which received over 70% of the vote. These included a hotel tax and a cannabis tax.
Passed new policy to help prevent blighted, vacant, foreclosed properties, and which requires foreclosing companies/banks to take responsibility for the upkeep of their properties.
Expanded public outreach education and referral materials for residents facing foreclosure, and access to legal help to fight foreclosures and unjust evictions.
Helped negotiate resolution to dispute about billboards in which City of Oakland granted certain freeway-facing billboard permits and received fees, removal of “neighborhood billboards,” and a proportion of future revenue.
Obtained a grant from an outside agency to launch a new Free Transit Shuttle to connect Oakland’s core areas, from the waterfront and Jack London Square through Old Oakland, Chinatown, Downtown, Uptown and our growing arts and entertainment district.
Recruited and helped to support top candidates for Oakland Boards and Commissions.
AC Transit Director (2002-2008) Vice-President of the Board
Represented 1.5 million constituents in the East Bay, on elected transit Board.
Led implementation of new programs, including reduced price bulk pass sales, solar power, biodiesel, late night service along BART routes, and hydrogen fuel cell projects.
Communications & Policy Consultant (2002-2007)
Coordinated public outreach program to prevent predatory lending and foreclosures.
Assisted in the creation and passage of Oakland Measure Z, (which passed with over 65% of the vote) and Contra Costa County Measure J, (over 71% of the vote).
Adult Education Torah (Bible) Teacher (2007-2008)
Transportation and Land Use Coalition, Policy Outreach Director (2001)
California State Assembly, Legislative Assistant (16th AD: 1999-2000)
Law Offices of Phillip Rapier & Associates (1998-2000)
Federal Public Defenders, Northern District of California – Legal Extern (1997)
Law Offices of Altshuler, Berzon, Nussbaum, Berzon and Rubin – Summer (1997)
Stanford Law School – Research Assistant (1996-1997)
Prisoner Legal Services, San Francisco (1996)
Stanford University, Center on Conflict and Negotiation – Researcher (1996)
Tufts University Teaching Assistant – Statistical Methods for Policy Analysis. (1993)
Cambridge Commission on the Status of Women – Intern (1991-1992)
Harvard Law School – Research Assistant to Professor Alan Dershowitz (1991)
Science for the People – Assistant to the Director (1988-1989)
Education
JD, Stanford Law School. Palo Alto, CA
MA, Urban & Environmental Policy, Tufts University. Medford, MA
Certificate Program. Women in Politics and Government. Boston College.
BS, Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Cambridge, MA. Psychology.
Awards
National Coming Out Day Award. Oakland Rainbow Chamber of Commerce & Labor.
MIT Compton Award. For “Sustained and outstanding contribution to extracurricular life.”
