Kaplan for Oakland

Background:

Rebecca Kaplan is a rising star local politician who has rejoined the Democratic Party, after being elected to the regional Transit Board as a Green. Kaplan is now running for the Oakland (California) City Council, with the endorsement and support of the Democratic Party, along with the Central Labor Council, and grassroots Democratic Clubs.

For a great write-up of this transition, see:
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2008/5/14/122927/274/143/515494

At the age of 37, she is the youngest candidate for this seat, while also being the one with the most experience.
She has served as an elected official for six years, and now also serves as Board Vice President. Prior to being elected, she worked as a policy advocate, legislative aide, and civil rights attorney. Kaplan is a leader in innovative new cost-effective projects, including sustainable fuels, solar power, and all-night transit service.

Kaplan spent many years of her childhood in Canada, which informed her support for universal healthcare, and the potential of government.

Oakland is the City in America with the largest lesbian population, and Kaplan would be the first openly-lesbian member of Oakland's elected City government.

Kaplan holds a Bachelor's degree in Psychology from M.I.T., a Master's in Public Policy from Tufts University, and a J.D. from Stanford Law School.

Goals:

I am running for office in order to build an Oakland we can all be proud of! Oakland faces incredible challenges, including economically and on the public safety front, while also being blessed with a vibrant population, amazing weather, and a wonderful location. By harnessing our strengths, we can build a safer, healthier, and more economically successful future for our community.

My goals include improving local jobs, clean air, public safety, and a more coherent and functioning government, while also dealing with a long-brewing budget deficit. In order to accomplish these goals, and build toward a stronger future, I will also be working with State, Federal and regional allies, movement building, and helping to build and strenthen our Party!

I seek to bring my skills and experience, including my training in mediation, my experience in coalition-building, and my devotion to finding solutions that are economically viable and promote unity.

For one example: the children of West Oakland suffer an asthma rate four times the State average! This is largely caused by vast numbers of idling trucks making deliveries at the Port. I will work in coalition with business, labor, environmental and community groups to implement the needed changes to provide a clean and safe Port. These changes, in addition to protecting the health of the community, will also save time and money for truck drivers, reduce fuel waste, and make the whole Port system more economically successful, while reducing air pollution.

Issues:

Public Safety: Including community policing, (with assigned neighborhood beat officers), improving our police recruitment to find more qualified applicants and those who understand our City, and providing support for and referrals to violence-prevention and job-training programs.

Economic Opportunity: Including local hiring, making the business permit process easier and clearer, and developing Oakland as a center for green technology, arts, and other emerging technologies.

Healthy Neighborhoods: Including providing for coherent transportation planning to ensure bicycle and pedestrian safety, transit and parking access. Provide grocery stores and healthy recreation for all neighborhoods. Protect residents from predatory loans and foreclosures.

Grassroots Support:

Grassroots organizing, and grassroots organizations, are playing a large and important role in my campaign. I am incredibly honored to have the support of a wide array of grassroots groups, including the Wellstone Democratic Renewal Club, the Harvey Milk LBGT Democratic Club, the Asian Pacific American Caucus, ACORN, the Sierra Club, the East Bay Young Democrats, the Labor Council (AFL-CIO), the California Nurses Association, SEIU-UHW, Oakland's Firefighters, and many more!

We are phone banking, precinct walking, and reaching out to voters throughout Oakland in this important, and unusual, June 3rd local election. (Unusual because it was split, this year only, from the Presidential primary).

As a result, grassroots mobilization is highly important, and your support can help make a key difference!

DFA Values:

I have been committed to socially progressive, fiscally responsible values throughout my career, and have implemented these values in my leadership.

As an elected official on the transit board, I successfully led the effort to install solar power, which is helping both to reduce pollution, and save money for the District. In addition, I have instituted programs to increase coordination amongst neighboring agencies, which improve performance without additional costs. Now, we are working together with other government agencies to use purchasing pools for health insurance and other needs, to obtain better prices.

For an example of my work, online is a news video of coverage of our solar power launch, at:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iEDxcm0EKEs