They say Oakland government is broken and have a plan to fix it

Oakland's governance structure is under scrutiny as a group led by former City Administrator Steven Falk proposes amendments to the city charter aimed at enhancing the mayor's powers. Currently, the mayor does not have a vote on key policies or budgets, which Falk attributes to ongoing governance dysfunction. The proposed changes would enable the City Council, including the mayor, to appoint a city manager responsible for the administration, promoting greater accountability. A recent survey highlights residents' dissatisfaction with local government, which has intensified following the historic recall of an Oakland mayor. Falk's initiative, the Oakland Charter Reform Project, emerged from a listening tour that confirmed community concerns about governance inefficiencies.

The group plans to place the measure on the ballot in 2026, echoing calls for reform from mayoral candidates. Mayor-elect Barbara Lee has expressed interest in modernizing the charter, including forming a task force to strengthen government accountability. The proposed council-manager model aims to clearly define roles within city leadership, potentially transforming Oakland's governance landscape.