League of Women Voters of California Education Fund
Alameda County, CA November 4, 2014 Election
	Charles R. Williams 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?

First of all we are sitting on landfill, within the next 10 to 15 years we could be wiped out. It is imperative that we build a Sea Wall or Quay Wall similar to those in Holland as soon as possible.

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?

The present dropout rate from OUSD consists of our youth not having enough free or affordable recreational and vocational activities, along with the lure of the city's underground crime. I feel that businesses, schools, and other community organizations should work together for establish centers where they can learn how life skills, inter-personal communication, and how to obtain a job, part-time apprenticeship programs, more sports programs (i.e. midnight basketball), mentor programs such as Jr. Achievement and MESA , as wells as the promotion and instilling the importance of higher education. Also programs need to be initiated to keep those coming out of the prison from returning and those who seem to be going in that direction from ending up there.

It is essential that we bring back quality long-term jobs. And I hope over a very short period of time that the total rebuilding of downtown Oakland along with the training centers and with the involvement of churches in the area that we can alleviate a lot of crime. I would like to see a city administration with heart and right alongside the church community.

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

I would like for inform the public to be aware that the underground economy in east and west Oakland is approximately a 60 million dollar per year industry. This is where the killing and violence is coming from.

Public Safety improvement would have start with our current officers. There are some that should be let go due to fact that have vigilante or god-like mentalities causing them to unnecessarily take human life. Also professional intervention is required after these officers have spent countless hours on the street and suffer psychologically and upon their evaluation, unions and administrators must improve working conditions accordingly. However, before this is done the current staffing levels should be brought up to 900 with a core force of 150, the re-establishment of forensics teams (convictions are being lost without it) along, a volunteer public safety program, and an officer mentor program. This would send a message that Oakland is serious about the business of public safety, crime prevention, and overall enforcement of the law.

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 feel the new influx of technology businesses along with other supporting small businesses, and the construction of required for this would bring new jobs, new residents, and stimulate Oakland's economic growth. However, we should concentrate on those businesses than would stay long-term and not come and go as some technology companies will. Oakland could have growth up to 5% over the next five years just from new residents moving closer to public transit making transit accessible environments a necessary.

To attract business and workers to Oakland, we would have to start with establishing clean, safe, and desirable work and residential environments. Job Fairs and the creation of job banks also facilitating training programs for re-entry and part-workers. You'll find that quality people gravitate toward businesses that keep their needs in mind.

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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 19, 2014 15:47
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