We are about to make history.
Ten years ago, at the age of 29, I ran for elective office for the first time. Two years ago I became Oakland’s youngest and only LGBT elected official by winning the city-wide Oakland Council seat. On Tuesday I could become Mayor of Oakland. Oakland has the largest per-capita population of lesbians, and churches, and artists -- and a vital need for dedicated, creative leadership to rebuild our economy. Our campaign now has incredible momentum, and we are bringing people together to build a stronger and healthier future.
The NY Times mentioned my campaign recently by highlighting how I am working across divisions.
“You have got a Jewish lesbian white woman who comes to black churches and sings with the choir and quotes Scripture better than the members — I just love her,” said Pastor Ray Williams of First Morning Star Baptist Church, who spoke at rallies in favor of Proposition 8, the bar to same-sex marriage. He is now endorsing Ms. Kaplan."
Yes, it is true, I am a Bible-carrying lesbian and a pragmatic progressive. And I have another strategy to strengthen our community, by supporting Bay Marriage.
What is "Bay Marriage" -- it's what will happen when our region unites for our common goals. I'm talking about the complicated relationship between our city of Oakland, California and that one across the bay -- San Francisco -- and others in our region. And the Raiders and 49ers. The efforts to build two new football stadiums has the potential to pit our region's cities against one another in a way that leaves the cities and the teams worse off. In recent news we have learned more about the financial struggles facing the 49ers stadium plans in Santa Clara.
The Bay Area has a unique opportunity to unite, in a way that will improve the finances of both of our football teams and of our cities -- by working together on a stadium. Such a facility is far more likely to succeed if it can rely on the revenue from a larger number of games by housing both teams. The NFL has also urged the teams to share a stadium. It is time for the two sides of the Bay to see our shared situation, and work together to build a top-quality regionally-central stadium which can house both our football teams, along with soccer, concerts, and other events.
The perfect site for this facility would be one that is central to the Bay Area, has BART service along with easy freeway and parking access, and enough land to build not only a stadium, but also surrounding shops, restaurants, and other amenities to create a thriving destination. We have such a site, at the Oakland Coliseum -- and enough land, that is already in public hands, to make this vision a reality. And it’s a whole lot closer to San Francisco than Santa Clara is!
As Psalm 133:1 says:
"How good and pleasant it is when brothers live together in unity!"
And there’s more to regional cooperation than sports. We need cooperation on transportation, not just for Oakland but for all urban areas. Such as the All-Nighter transit which covers the BART routes when BART is closed. We have to be certain that people can get around in our community and that's why I fought for funding for the All-Nighter and established the free green Broadway Transit Shuttle in Oakland. It connects BART stations and the ferry to buses. Oakland needs to be actively involved as the hub of our region to improve our transportation, infrastructure, transit-oriented development, and the health of our economy and our ecosystem.
The Oakland renaissance will include harnessing the asset of our location, along with vital growth in local businesses like entertainment, food, trade, recycling, film, and more. This includes the work that I've started on the City Council in Oakland reforming outdated prohibition-era ordinances that hurt our culture. Laws over 100 years old, some of which reference vaudeville, laws that did not allow businesses to have spoken word acts, a folk singer or anything along those lines. Our growing arts and dining scene, attracting patrons from throughout the region, and supporting local community revitalization -- and we can do more with the right actions and leadership.
I recently had the pleasure of speaking to the California Music and Culture Association, who see my cabaret reform ordinance as a model for San Francisco, and respect my leadership for the arts - showing that support for music and fun can be politically and economically viable. I am proud to lead the way for cities to embrace local culture while ensuring safety.
Looking towards the future, I see an Oakland that has taxi stands where you need them, signs that show you where the parking garage is, and transit villages that are world class. I want to make a city that is safe for cyclists and pedestrians, and people of all ages. With local hiring and local business policies that ensure we reduce unemployment and recirculate dollars.
Oakland needs implementation of proven successes like community-based policing and an easy 3-1-1 number to call as part of a more responsive government. Oakland wants a mayor who shows up, and has real pragmatic solutions. I invite you to look over more of my solutions and ideas for Oakland's future on my website.
In case you missed my last diary, our local paper the Oakland Tribune has not only endorsed my candidacy, but endorsed me as the first choice in our ranked choice voting election.
"Kaplan stands out as the candidate who best blends intellect, fresh ideas, an ability to work with diverse groups, a clear understanding of city issues and the passion and communication skills needed at Oakland's helm."
I am honored to be endorsed as the First Choice for Mayor by the Oakland Tribune as well as the Sierra Club, the East Bay Young Democrats, Black Women Organized for Political Action and the California Nurses Association among others.
However, endorsements alone do not win elections. We are locked in a dead heat with some very well funded opposition, and in the next four days we need donations and volunteers to put us over the top.
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I am now that I am asking you to help me in my campaign for Oakland Mayor. The time for action is now.
Help me bring in the harvest, and please help me not only make history but create the Oakland and Bay Area that I know we can be.
Thank you,
Rebecca Kaplan
(http://www.kaplanformayor.org)
http://www.youtube.com/...
PS: I also want to mention the importance of voting BEYOND the Oakland Mayor's race. We all need to vote, because we are voting for our future. A future in which Barbara Lee has a leadership post on the Congressional Committee that gives out money (Appropriations). A future in which Barney Frank is Chairman of the Financial Services Committee. This all requires that we band together once more and be the change that we want to see. I know there is much work involved, but it is worth the effort to build our better future, and continue the work that we have begun.