Each Loren Taylor and Barbara Lee have been sharp and well-prepared for Tuesday night time’s Oakland mayoral debate, and each crafted arguments that someway the opposite was the larger enabler of the alleged corruption beneath former mayor Sheng Thao.
Of the three earlier Oakland mayoral debates for the April 15 particular election to switch the recalled Sheng Thao, just one had been televised (and solely on Zoom at that). And that debate was an absolute embarrassment, as a result of it included a bunch of fringe candidates with no likelihood of successful, and 80% of the talking time wentn to those unserious also-rans.
So it was very refreshing that final night time’s KTVU debate included solely the 2 most credible candidates: former US Consultant Barbara Lee and ex-Oakland Metropolis Councilmember Loren Taylor. There had been some on-line criticism that the repair was in for Taylor at this debate, because it was co-hosted by Empower Oakland, an advocacy group that Taylor based, and as such has already endorsed him. However the debate was moderated by KTVU’s Dave Clark, who was a really succesful straight-shooter and confirmed no bias whereas operating the present along with his grandfatherly attraction and wit.
You’ll be able to watch the entire 90-minute affair above for those who so need (the precise debate doesn’t begin till the 11:58 mark), however we’re comfortable to recap for you.
Since Barbara Lee has largely been in Washington, DC for the final 26 years, we neglect how charismatic she is, and the 78-year-old has not misplaced a step. She has a lot better retail political abilities than Sheng Thao ever did (or for that matter, higher than SF Mayor Daniel Lurie has).
For his half, Loren Taylor offered himself very effectively as a private-sector-guy-turned-politico, with an financial imaginative and prescient that would attraction to each Oakland enterprise from nook shops to the Clorox Firm.
Screenshot: KTVU by way of Youtube
The talk was largely cordial, however boy did the gloves come off on the subject of Sheng Thao. Taylor went on the assault, mentioning that Lee opposed the recall, and a number of other Thao supporters now endorse Lee. “My opponent has been recruited by some of those same backers of Sheng Thao to run,” he mentioned, to a mixture of speedy boos and applause.
“I’m not sure who Loren is talking about,” Lee shot again, saying she was supported by labor unions and the Oakland Chamber of Commerce. “I will not take cheap shots at people who support him.”
However Lee took her photographs in her closing assertion. “Many of these decisions that were made that brought us to this crisis occurred by his votes when he was on the City Council,” she mentioned. “We have to be clear about how this budget deficit and how this Duong contract and how all of these votes took place that brought us to this point.”
Screenshot: KTVU by way of Youtube
Lee’s response was feisty. “We’re not a drain on Sacramento, and Washington, we pay taxes. Come on!” she fumed. “They owe us.”
Screenshot: KTVU by way of Youtube
On the subject of that $130 million finances deficit the town is going through, Lee hyped the gross sales tax enhance earlier than Oakland voters, and mentioned she’ll go tougher after code enforcement, parking tickets, and fines not being collected, whereas not shedding metropolis workers or chopping companies. Taylor pushed for extra austerity, audits, and restructuring pension debt. He additionally proposed eliminating enterprise license taxes for small companies making lower than $1.5 million a 12 months to spur extra foot visitors and activate desolate streets.
Lee addressed Oakland’s prolific crime drawback by saying the town ought to loosen its police automotive chase restrictions, bolster the Ceasefire program, and finances extra sources in the direction of combating crime.
On homelessness, Taylor pushed for less-costly sheltering options, noting that many within the homeless inhabitants “merely want first month’s [rent], final month’s, and safety deposit, they usually can deal with and maintain themselves.”
If it’s potential for each candidates to have received the controversy, they did. Each Lee and Taylor got here off as very credible, educated, and competent, with real looking coverage visions for power issues. So in that sense, the true winner of Tuesday night time’s debate could have been the town of Oakland, a metropolis that may perhaps be optimistic that both method the vote goes, they’ll lastly have an efficient mayor once more after the April 15 election.
Associated: Candidates Working to Exchange Sheng Thao Face Off In First Oakland Mayoral Discussion board [SFist]
Screenshot: KTVU by way of Youtube
