Press

BOLTSMAG.ORG: In California Cities, a New Frontier for Public Financing of Elections

BOLTSMAG.ORG: In California Cities, a New Frontier for Public Financing of Elections

On Monday night, the Oakland City Council unanimously voted to place a democracy vouchers referendum on the city’s November ballot, with all six council members present voting aye. If Oakland voters approve the measure, a new Democracy Dollars program would provide four $25 vouchers for every Oakland voter to donate to eligible city and school board candidates starting in 2024. The referendum on the November ballot also includes other provisions meant to improve campaign finance in the city, including lower campaign contribution limits and new donor disclosure requirements 

read more
Bold Ballot Measure to Reform Oakland Elections Qualifies for November Ballot

Bold Ballot Measure to Reform Oakland Elections Qualifies for November Ballot

“Oaklanders deserve a local government where our representatives represent all of us — where candidates and elected officials can focus on what our communities need, not what big-money donors and special interests want. If we want to see change on issues like affordable housing, community safety, and quality schools, we need more transparency about the outside groups that are spending millions to influence our elections and we need a more responsive city government,” says liz suk, Executive Director, Oakland Rising.

read more
Supporting Democracy Dollars Is a Powerful Way Funders Can Protect Local Elections

Supporting Democracy Dollars Is a Powerful Way Funders Can Protect Local Elections

So what can be done to reduce the influence of big money and shift power back to the people? The Fair Elections Oakland coalition, composed of grassroots power-building organizations and long-time democracy reform experts, feels it has found an answer in “Democracy Dollars.”….a model of public financing of elections that has been piloted in Seattle since 2017.

read more
94.1 KPFA UpFront: OUSD School Closures

94.1 KPFA UpFront: OUSD School Closures

Cat Brooks is joined by City Councilmember Carroll Fife, Pecolia Manigo , co-director of Bay Area Parent Leadership Action Network and member of the Reparations for Black Students Coalition, Maurice “André” San-Chez, teacher and hunger striker, and Oakland Rising’s Executive Director, liz suk.

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Coalition of Oakland-Based Community Organizations: Fair Oakland Districts Only Possible with Edits to Map F3

Coalition of Oakland-Based Community Organizations: Fair Oakland Districts Only Possible with Edits to Map F3

“Whether we are Black, Brown, or white, from a rich neighborhood or a poor neighborhood, nearly all of us in Oakland believe that every voice deserves equal representation. The best chance to do that is by empowering flatlands communities to have independent districts that allow all residents to have a voice on the City Council and School Board.”  – liz suk, Executive Director of Oakland Rising

read more
94.1 KPFA Upfront: Oakland’s redistricting

94.1 KPFA Upfront: Oakland’s redistricting

liz explains how redistricting impacts who represents us and who is represented in districts so that the needs of our communities are met. Listen to her break down how equitable democracy was brought into the process to create the maps.

read more
San Francisco Chronicle – Oakland Chinatown’s rising violence: Is more police the solution?

San Francisco Chronicle – Oakland Chinatown’s rising violence: Is more police the solution?

The CHP began patrolling Oakland streets Sept. 12. That’s in addition to the increased police presence in Chinatown….But Oakland resident and community organizer Liz Suk says that presence sends the wrong message about the community’s needs because it “centers the criminal justice system as a legitimate one. And it is not legitimate because it is a system that targets certain people, particularly black and brown folks, communities of color and immigrant folks as criminal.”

read more
94.1 KPFA: Reducing funding for policing that is racist and unjust

94.1 KPFA: Reducing funding for policing that is racist and unjust

Last Thursday, June 24, the Oakland City Council took a major budget vote to reduce the size of a planned increase in police spending and divert resources to non-cop emergency response alternatives, after a year of fierce organizing and public outcry for reducing funding for policing that is racist and unjust.

read more
94.1 KPFA: Reducing funding for policing that is racist and unjust

94.1 KPFA: Oakland’s Budget Is Up for Vote Today

LISTEN ON KPFA WEBSITE HERE Fast forward to 1:50: Oakland’s biennial Budget is up for a big vote today.  Cherri Murphy is a faith-rooted organizer with Faith Alliance For A Moral Economy, an initiative of the East Bay Alliance For A Moral Economy join us to discuss...

read more
Maintain police spending or invest in alternatives: What do Oaklanders really want?

Maintain police spending or invest in alternatives: What do Oaklanders really want?

“Libby Schaaf has, for the last 7 years as mayor, used fear to continue to tell a story that the people want more policing when, in fact, the community is fearful of the police,” said Suk. “We’ve heard from the community, and her own survey shows that the priorities of the people of Oakland are investing in programs that address the root causes of poverty and violence, affordable and stable housing, and crime and violence prevention programs.”

read more
94.1 KPFA: Ending Anti-Asian Violence

94.1 KPFA: Ending Anti-Asian Violence

We check in with The Black Alliance for Peace to discuss US foreign policy in Haiti, Africa and South America. Later we speak with liz suk of Oakland Rising about ending anti-Asian violence. Guests: Ajamu Baraka with The Black Alliance for Peace and Elizabeth Suk -...

read more
BOLTSMAG.ORG: In California Cities, a New Frontier for Public Financing of Elections

BOLTSMAG.ORG: In California Cities, a New Frontier for Public Financing of Elections

On Monday night, the Oakland City Council unanimously voted to place a democracy vouchers referendum on the city’s November ballot, with all six council members present voting aye. If Oakland voters approve the measure, a new Democracy Dollars program would provide four $25 vouchers for every Oakland voter to donate to eligible city and school board candidates starting in 2024. The referendum on the November ballot also includes other provisions meant to improve campaign finance in the city, including lower campaign contribution limits and new donor disclosure requirements 

read more
Bold Ballot Measure to Reform Oakland Elections Qualifies for November Ballot

Bold Ballot Measure to Reform Oakland Elections Qualifies for November Ballot

“Oaklanders deserve a local government where our representatives represent all of us — where candidates and elected officials can focus on what our communities need, not what big-money donors and special interests want. If we want to see change on issues like affordable housing, community safety, and quality schools, we need more transparency about the outside groups that are spending millions to influence our elections and we need a more responsive city government,” says liz suk, Executive Director, Oakland Rising.

read more
Supporting Democracy Dollars Is a Powerful Way Funders Can Protect Local Elections

Supporting Democracy Dollars Is a Powerful Way Funders Can Protect Local Elections

So what can be done to reduce the influence of big money and shift power back to the people? The Fair Elections Oakland coalition, composed of grassroots power-building organizations and long-time democracy reform experts, feels it has found an answer in “Democracy Dollars.”….a model of public financing of elections that has been piloted in Seattle since 2017.

read more
94.1 KPFA UpFront: OUSD School Closures

94.1 KPFA UpFront: OUSD School Closures

Cat Brooks is joined by City Councilmember Carroll Fife, Pecolia Manigo , co-director of Bay Area Parent Leadership Action Network and member of the Reparations for Black Students Coalition, Maurice “André” San-Chez, teacher and hunger striker, and Oakland Rising’s Executive Director, liz suk.

read more
Coalition of Oakland-Based Community Organizations: Fair Oakland Districts Only Possible with Edits to Map F3

Coalition of Oakland-Based Community Organizations: Fair Oakland Districts Only Possible with Edits to Map F3

“Whether we are Black, Brown, or white, from a rich neighborhood or a poor neighborhood, nearly all of us in Oakland believe that every voice deserves equal representation. The best chance to do that is by empowering flatlands communities to have independent districts that allow all residents to have a voice on the City Council and School Board.”  – liz suk, Executive Director of Oakland Rising

read more
94.1 KPFA Upfront: Oakland’s redistricting

94.1 KPFA Upfront: Oakland’s redistricting

liz explains how redistricting impacts who represents us and who is represented in districts so that the needs of our communities are met. Listen to her break down how equitable democracy was brought into the process to create the maps.

read more
San Francisco Chronicle – Oakland Chinatown’s rising violence: Is more police the solution?

San Francisco Chronicle – Oakland Chinatown’s rising violence: Is more police the solution?

The CHP began patrolling Oakland streets Sept. 12. That’s in addition to the increased police presence in Chinatown….But Oakland resident and community organizer Liz Suk says that presence sends the wrong message about the community’s needs because it “centers the criminal justice system as a legitimate one. And it is not legitimate because it is a system that targets certain people, particularly black and brown folks, communities of color and immigrant folks as criminal.”

read more
94.1 KPFA: Reducing funding for policing that is racist and unjust

94.1 KPFA: Reducing funding for policing that is racist and unjust

Last Thursday, June 24, the Oakland City Council took a major budget vote to reduce the size of a planned increase in police spending and divert resources to non-cop emergency response alternatives, after a year of fierce organizing and public outcry for reducing funding for policing that is racist and unjust.

read more
94.1 KPFA: Reducing funding for policing that is racist and unjust

94.1 KPFA: Oakland’s Budget Is Up for Vote Today

LISTEN ON KPFA WEBSITE HERE Fast forward to 1:50: Oakland’s biennial Budget is up for a big vote today.  Cherri Murphy is a faith-rooted organizer with Faith Alliance For A Moral Economy, an initiative of the East Bay Alliance For A Moral Economy join us to discuss...

read more
Maintain police spending or invest in alternatives: What do Oaklanders really want?

Maintain police spending or invest in alternatives: What do Oaklanders really want?

“Libby Schaaf has, for the last 7 years as mayor, used fear to continue to tell a story that the people want more policing when, in fact, the community is fearful of the police,” said Suk. “We’ve heard from the community, and her own survey shows that the priorities of the people of Oakland are investing in programs that address the root causes of poverty and violence, affordable and stable housing, and crime and violence prevention programs.”

read more
94.1 KPFA: Ending Anti-Asian Violence

94.1 KPFA: Ending Anti-Asian Violence

We check in with The Black Alliance for Peace to discuss US foreign policy in Haiti, Africa and South America. Later we speak with liz suk of Oakland Rising about ending anti-Asian violence. Guests: Ajamu Baraka with The Black Alliance for Peace and Elizabeth Suk -...

read more

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