News

Oakland City Councilwoman At-Large Rebecca Kaplan filed her paperwork Friday and announced a diverse group of endorsements today as part of her re-election campaign to the Oakland City Council at-large seat. Early in the campaign, Kaplan already has the endorsements of State Senator Loni Hancock, former Assemblyman Sandré Swanson, the Sierra Club, SEIU Local 1021, the California Nurses Association, and the Building and Construction Trade Council of Alameda County.

Council members on Tuesday voted unanimously to approve a November ballot measure to change the city’s charter in order to create a citizen Police Commission, which will have the power to investigate and impose discipline for misconduct committed by Oakland police officers. During the debate over the measure at the council meeting, Councilmembers Rebecca Kaplan and Desley Brooks attempted to amend the proposal to remove the power of the mayor to appoint commission members.

Citing escalating rents that tenant advocates call a threat to Oakland’s character, the City Council threw its support Wednesday behind a November ballot measure that would limit property owners’ ability to charge more and carry out evictions. The council voted unanimously to approve the measure, which was introduced by Councilwoman Rebecca Kaplan, after a four-hour debate that began Tuesday evening and ended well after midnight.

A proposal advocating changes to the Oakland Police Department’s recruiting practices passed unanimously this week at a packed Public Safety Committee meeting. “We have for many years received concerns about underrepresentation of people of Oakland, underrepresentation of people of color and particularly African Americans, and underrepresentation of LGBT people and women,” said Councilmember Rebecca Kaplan, who sponsored the resolution.

Dear Supporters, It is wonderful to celebrate Pride with my LGBTQ community and allies. However, this year’s celebration had a cloud hanging over it. Our nation was hit with horrific homophobic violence this month in Orlando. It is a stark reminder, despite all...

It is one of the features of life today in Oakland that bus stops the community needs disappear without explanation, and residents find themselves having to join forces and complain for months for anyone to hear them. Ignored by the mayor and city staff, it seems their concerns may have finally found a champion in Councilmember at Large Rebecca Kaplan.

By Doug Oakley Contra Costa Times OAKLAND — BART and the city of Oakland opened a free, secure bike parking station Wednesday in downtown Oakland as a way to encourage more people to get on their bikes and out of their cars. The Oakland Bike Station, in a...

OFFICE OF VICE MAYOR REBECCA KAPLAN Oakland City Council’s Public Safety Committee Unanimously Supports Gun Safety Proposals FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE December 16, 2015 Contact: Andre Jones, Chief of Staff for Vice Mayor Kaplan (510) 238-7081 : ajones@oaklandnet.com...

By Mike Blasky Contra Costa Times OAKLAND — The Police Department is proposing to add employees, replace outdated equipment and devote more officers to extra community engagement initiatives in a million-dollar effort to track how firearms end up in the hands of...