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Agenda Item
S11 25-0323 Subject: FY 2024-25 Budget Balancing
From: Office Of The City Administrator
Recommendation: Adopt The Following Pieces Of Legislation:
1) Resolution (1) Amending The FY 2024-25 Midcycle Budget (Resolution No. 90326 C.M.S.) To Authorize The Transfer Of Funds Into The General Purpose Fund And Adjust Other Appropriations; (2) Affirming The Budget Balancing Actions Taken By The City Administrator Pursuant To The Powers And Duties Granted Under The City Charter And The Authority Granted Pursuant To Resolution No. 90326 C.M.S. To Maintain The Fiscal Health Of The City; And (3) Making Extreme Fiscal Necessity Declarations Necessary To Utilize Restricted Funds; And
I understand that tomorrow the council is voting to amend the resolution 87062 C.M.S. to move all SSB funds to the general fund, remove the requirement to seek recommendations from the advisory council and remove the tracking of the SSB funds. I urge you to vote against this short-sighted proposal.
I understand the city has serious budget issues, but this would do significant harm to our community. It would impact community groups that rely on the funding, it would impact the health and well-being of the community it was intended to support, it would impact the public's trust on our council's governance, it would undermine the advisory committees role, it would remove all transparency and finally it would TAX POOR PEOPLE TO FILL YOUR BUDGET GAPS.
If the council is under such extreme financial duress, you should consider bankruptcy and make the long-term structural changes that this budget needs. Please stop supporting the union's budget at all costs, it's time for the people of Oakland to be prioritized.
I am writing to ask that some funds be allocated to Lake Merritt to manage large holidays that are not legally permitted. These large events that happen on 420, 510 Day, Juneteenth, and 4th of July have led to serious health and safety issues and environmental issues at the lake. These events leave the part completely filled with trash. During the events there are alcohol and drug sales, reckless driving, illegal parking, and in the case of Juneteenth for 2 of these events mass shootings that have been horrifying for the community and horrific for its victims. We know these events are coming and we need to be prepared to protect our safety.
Sharmi Basu, Executive Director, Vital Arts
at December 16, 2024 at 11:52am PST
My name is Sharmi Basu, and I am a District 5 Alameda County Arts Commissioner, a District 3 born and raised Oakland resident, and the Executive Director of Vital Arts, a nonprofit founded in the aftermath of the historic Ghost Ship fire that advocates for safe housing and spaces for artists in the Bay Area. At Vital Arts, we address systemic oppression through policy change, resource distribution, and mutual aid to ensure that underserved artist communities—especially those historically excluded due to discrimination and marginalization—are supported and heard. We are committed to artist safety and community well-being.
Artists are more than creators—they are the heartbeat of our communities. They teach, organize, and inspire, weaving connections that make our neighborhoods richer and more inclusive. The arts are a housing issue, a homelessness issue, and an economic issue.
The City Administrator has recommended zeroing out the Cultural Arts Grant budget from the General Purpose Fund. If this happens, it will critically endanger almost 50 of our anchor arts organizations and festivals, which are vital to Oakland’s cultural fabric. It will automatically impact the most marginalized artists in our community, including Black, Indigenous, disabled, elder, unhoused, trans and other LGBTQ+ POC. I ask you to reconsider this recommendation and protect funding for the arts, which are essential to the spirit and future of our city.
I understand that tomorrow the council is voting to amend the resolution 87062 C.M.S. to move all SSB funds to the general fund, remove the requirement to seek recommendations from the advisory council and remove the tracking of the SSB funds. I urge you to vote against this short-sighted proposal.
I understand the city has serious budget issues, but this would do significant harm to our community. It would impact community groups that rely on the funding, it would impact the health and well-being of the community it was intended to support, it would impact the public's trust on our council's governance, it would undermine the advisory committees role, it would remove all transparency and finally it would TAX POOR PEOPLE TO FILL YOUR BUDGET GAPS.
If the council is under such extreme financial duress, you should consider bankruptcy and make the long-term structural changes that this budget needs. Please stop supporting the union's budget at all costs, it's time for the people of Oakland to be prioritized.
I am writing to ask that some funds be allocated to Lake Merritt to manage large holidays that are not legally permitted. These large events that happen on 420, 510 Day, Juneteenth, and 4th of July have led to serious health and safety issues and environmental issues at the lake. These events leave the part completely filled with trash. During the events there are alcohol and drug sales, reckless driving, illegal parking, and in the case of Juneteenth for 2 of these events mass shootings that have been horrifying for the community and horrific for its victims. We know these events are coming and we need to be prepared to protect our safety.
My name is Sharmi Basu, and I am a District 5 Alameda County Arts Commissioner, a District 3 born and raised Oakland resident, and the Executive Director of Vital Arts, a nonprofit founded in the aftermath of the historic Ghost Ship fire that advocates for safe housing and spaces for artists in the Bay Area. At Vital Arts, we address systemic oppression through policy change, resource distribution, and mutual aid to ensure that underserved artist communities—especially those historically excluded due to discrimination and marginalization—are supported and heard. We are committed to artist safety and community well-being.
Artists are more than creators—they are the heartbeat of our communities. They teach, organize, and inspire, weaving connections that make our neighborhoods richer and more inclusive. The arts are a housing issue, a homelessness issue, and an economic issue.
The City Administrator has recommended zeroing out the Cultural Arts Grant budget from the General Purpose Fund. If this happens, it will critically endanger almost 50 of our anchor arts organizations and festivals, which are vital to Oakland’s cultural fabric. It will automatically impact the most marginalized artists in our community, including Black, Indigenous, disabled, elder, unhoused, trans and other LGBTQ+ POC. I ask you to reconsider this recommendation and protect funding for the arts, which are essential to the spirit and future of our city.