Tracked Issues
Editorially curated live civic issues linked to meetings, organizations, statements, and news.
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The November 2026 Mayor's Race — Remaking Oakland's Leadership • Featured
active • Governance, Elections, and Civic Process
Last activity: Jun 17, 2026
Mayor Barbara Lee — who won a special election in April 2025 after the recall of Sheng Thao — is now approaching her first full electoral test, with a mayoral election on the November 3, 2026 ballot. The city of Oakland is holding general e…
Neighborhood Services — The Invisible Cuts That Hollowed Out Community Safety • Featured
active • Infrastructure
Last activity: Jun 17, 2026
One of the most consequential — and least-noticed — casualties of Oakland's budget crisis has been the elimination of the infrastructure connecting residents to City Hall. When Oakland officials eliminated the Neighborhood Services Division…
Structural Budget Deficit — Balanced on Paper, Fragile in Reality • Featured
active
Last activity: Jun 17, 2026
Oakland's budget is technically balanced for FY 2026–27 — but "nobody's happy" and the structural foundations are shaky. The FY 2026–27 mid-cycle budget proposed by Mayor Lee pledges no new layoffs or service cuts, and maintains police staf…
Police Staffing Crisis — 509 Officers for a City That Needs 700
active • Police accountability
Last activity: Jun 17, 2026
Oakland's public safety system is in a genuine operational emergency. Despite being budgeted for 678 sworn positions, the Oakland Police Department has only 509 sworn officers on active duty — far below the minimum 700 required by Measure N…
Charter Reform — The "Strong Mayor" Vote That Could Reshape Everything • Featured
active • Governance, Elections, and Civic Process
Last activity: Jun 17, 2026
Oakland's most consequential November 2026 ballot question may not be about any specific policy — it's about who is in charge at all. Oakland has operated under an unusual hybrid form of government for almost 30 years where authority is div…
November 2026 Elections — A Board Reshaped by June's Results • Featured
active • Governance, Elections, and Civic Process
Last activity: Jun 16, 2026
Alameda County's political landscape is being reset by a combination of June 2026 primary results and November 2026 general elections that will determine the Board of Supervisors' direction on every major issue. Incumbent District 2 Supervi…
Homelessness Funding vs. Incarceration — The Ongoing "Care First, Jails Last" Debate • Featured
active • Homelessness
Last activity: Jun 16, 2026
Alameda County adopted a "Care First, Jails Last" resolution in 2021 committing to prioritize behavioral health and social services over incarceration — a principle that is now being tested by every budget decision the county makes. The ten…
Santa Rita Jail & the Behavioral Health Crisis — Federal Oversight Continues • Featured
active • Mental health
Last activity: Jun 16, 2026
Santa Rita Jail — the fifth-largest county jail in the United States — remains under federal court oversight following a landmark settlement over the treatment of people with mental disabilities. The Babu consent decree placed the county un…
Homelessness — A $33–60 Million Federal Funding Hole • Featured
active • Homelessness
Last activity: Jun 16, 2026
Alameda County's homelessness response is one of the most ambitious in California — and it is now facing a potentially devastating federal funding reversal. HUD announced it will limit funding for permanent housing programs that prioritize …
The $91.4 Million Budget Gap — Closed for Now, Fragile Going Forward • Featured
active • Budget priorities
Last activity: Jun 16, 2026
Alameda County is navigating one of the most significant budget challenges in its recent history — and a near-miss was averted largely thanks to voter-approved local revenue. The Board of Supervisors was presented with a $6.7 billion budget…