League of Women Voters of California Education Fund
Alameda County, CA November 4, 2014 Election
	Bryan Parker Answers Questions Candidate for Mayor; City of Oakland

The questions were prepared by the League of Women Voters of Oakland and asked of all candidates for this office.
Read the answers from all candidates (who have responded).

Questions & Answers

1. Oakland sits on the Bay, and the waterfront, downtown, and West Oakland areas are particularly low-lying. With climate change bringing major changes, including sea level rise, what are your plans to bring this to the forefront of the Oakland mayor's agenda?

As mayor I would partner with regional government agencies, including the Association of Bay Area Governments (ABAG), Bay Conservation and Development Commission (BCDC), and the Bay Area Air Quality Management District (BAAQMD) to address the potential impacts of sea level rise due to climate change in Oakland. I would push to make sure Oakland has adequate representation in these agencies, and that the concerns of Oakland are addressed by existing and future risk assessments and environmental plans. This will allow the City to secure regional, state and federal funds that are made available to invest in protective measures over the long term to reduce potential impacts. Oakland's waterfront, downtown, West Oakland, and the Port are all vital to Oakland's economic success and must be protected.

2. What is your vision for Oakland, i.e., what issues are of special interest and concern and what ideas do you have to put Oakland in the forefront?

We must reduce our robbery and murder rates and improve police response times to make people safe again. As mayor, I would focus city spending on more police and anti-violence programs that are proven to combat crime. Investment in school activities would increase graduation rates leading to good paying jobs. More police are needed, but we also need to keep kids in school and off the streets so they can achieve a better future. Also growing the economy and adding jobs.

As an Oakland Port Commissioner, I understand how to leverage our port to grow jobs and our economy. As an experienced businessman and entrepreneur, I know that expanding our healthcare, technology and retail sectors will also increase investment and drive job growth in Oakland. Economic growth must be enjoyed by all Oaklanders if we are to make real change in our city.

I would work closely with the school district to protect and nurture our children. I would focus on safety at schools and using school sites as community centers where kids can learn, grow and lead happy lives. I would partner with the school district and teachers to make sure we are innovating and using new technologies to better educate our children.

3. How would you address continuing high rates of crime in Oakland?

The city's crime rate and its reputation of being one of the crime capitals in the nation. That stigma alone is what cripples this city economically. We have to change our story and not allow others define this city's potential and its beauty. Oakland is a diverse culturally, racially and even its economic development where both small and large businesses can co-exist.

The destruction that the downtown area endures each and every time there is a protest sends messages to outsiders not come to our city and challenges our already overworked police force and potential discourages future recruits from wanting to serve and protect Oakland.

This needs to change and it will change under my leadership. I would do the following:

• Work with OPD to expand community policing and obtain targeted training on best practices to handle protests

• Promote economic growth to fund increasing the level of police officers to 800

• Promote public-private partnerships for job training and linked learning programs to steer people away from criminal activities

• Streamline business permitting and licensing processes

• Improve positive marketing and branding of the City

4. While most of the Bay Area has the lowest unemployment rate in the state, Oakland is still in trouble. How do you plan to stimulate the economy in Oakland?

I believe we should invest in attracting businesses that can leverage the existing assets and resources we have in place. These include the trade/logistics, healthcare, technology and retail industries. Trade and logistics businesses can leverage the infrastructure at the Port of Oakland. I would support expansion of public-private partnerships to attract more businesses that can leverage these unique assets.

There are several healthcare companies that are already located here in Oakland and we can attract businesses that provide complementary services, and encourage them to expand their existing services.

With the close proximity to Silicon Valley and San Francisco, we are already seeing growth in the technology sector. I would partner with existing firms and dedicate resources to expand our telecommunications infrastructure to expand the industry footprint in Oakland.

I also believe there is significant capacity to attract retail businesses based on the amount of money spent by Oakland residents in the surrounding cities. I would focus on addresses the public safety issues that prevent retail businesses from coming to Oakland and provide better marketing to build a more positive brand around retail experiences in Oakland.

Oakland's economic development plans must be inclusive of all residents of our city. Having unemployment rates of nearly 30% in east and west Oakland is unacceptable. The level of African American contractor participation on large projects like the Oakland Army base is similarly unacceptable. Economic development starts with skills, training and education.

As Mayor, I would make sure all of our schools, no matter where they are located in our city, were funded and performing equally. Second, I would set up apprentice programs with our unions, and partnerships with our workforce development providers and community colleges to that the focus on skills building and development with adults (including re-entry). Third, I would make sure there were real metrics and goals on the number of Oaklander's hired and minority firms that are invited to participate in big opportunities.

Under my jobs plan, we would strive to create 20,000 jobs by the year 2020. I would designate resources to focus on attracting business to Oakland and retaining existing businesses. I would promote code academies, partner with community colleges, and partner with unions on trade. My administration would make sure that traditionally underserved communities receive opportunities such that unemployment rates in these communities come in line with national, state and Oakland wide figures. Lastly, we will create support for small businesses who focus on hiring Oaklanders.

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Responses to questions asked of each candidate are reproduced as submitted to the League.  Candidates' statements are presented as submitted. References to opponents are not permitted.

Read the answers from all candidates (who have responded).

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Created from information supplied by the candidate: October 7, 2014 19:46
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