This month, we completed our latest voter outreach effort to gauge where Oakland voters stand on the A’s preferred relocation site near Laney College and Chinatown. With displacement running rampant and projects proposed by powerful developers being rubber stamped for approval, we and our collaborative partner the Asian Pacific Environmental Network (APEN) informed voters about the potential impacts that the stadium development would have on these neighborhoods which currently are home to immigrant, working-class, and residents of color.
Over 82% of the 2,227 Oakland voters in all council districts with whom we spoke prefer for the A’s to stay at their current site in East Oakland. Speaking with mostly working-class, people of color, our seasoned civic engagement team of fourteen brought in the voices of those who have historically been marginalized and left out of the political process. Many of these voters understand firsthand the importance of responsible development that prioritizes investing in our communities while stopping displacement.
For more on our poll, watch Jessamyn’s interview on KTVU and read today’s coverage in the East Bay Times.
Poll results at a glance:
- 4 in 5 Oaklanders want the A’s to stay at the Coliseum and invest in East Oakland.
- 84% of African American voters, 80% of Asian voters, and 87% of Latino voters support the A’s staying at the Coliseum rather than constructing a new stadium and ballpark village at Laney.
- Young people overwhelmingly support the A’s remaining at the Coliseum. 93% of people age 18-24 and 85% of people age 25-34 support this position.
- Middle class and working-class people responded the A’s should stay at the Coliseum and invest in East Oakland – 86% of people making <$50,000 annually, and 81% of people making $50,000 – $100,000 annually support this position.
Our poll includes more than four times the number of people than the Chamber of Commerce-commissioned poll. We gauged the opinions of regular people living in our city and in the neighborhoods close to the proposed sites. Unlike the Chamber, we included registered voters with a diversity of voting histories, not just ‘likely-voters’, a methodology that has historically silenced the voices of working-class people of color who may not vote in every single election.
Our poll is a true reflection of the voice of Oakland communities. Our Chinatown and Eastside neighborhoods are already feeling the heavy weight of gentrification as skyrocketing rents are forcing many residents and businesses to leave Oakland. While we are proud that the A’s are Rooted in Oakland, we expect them to be a responsible community partner and to do their part to avoid exacerbating the displacement of our communities and destruction of historic cultural neighborhoods.
Stay tuned as as we take our results to Oakland’s decision-makers including the Peralta College Board of Trustees and City Councilmembers so that they know what the community would like to see.
Oakland Rising and our collaborative partners are united in our vision for a city that embodies health, happiness, safety, and equal opportunities for all. Our goal is to create a model of progress and sustainability that showcases the possibilities for American cities in the 21st century. We are committed to dismantling the barriers of racial, economic, political, environmental, and educational inequities that have divided us, and instead, embracing the collective strength found in our city’s diversity. We firmly believe that Oakland can achieve its full potential when every resident, student, and bus rider has the ability to shape our city’s future. This vision is attainable and we are determined to realize it through our collective actions, whether it’s through voting, meetings, or call to actions.
Every year, we release a Vision, Issues, and Policy Platform (VIPP) which outlines the annual policies that we and our eight partner organizations prioritize in order to advance racial, economic, and environmental justice in the Town. Our collaborative’s agenda encompasses a range of critical initiatives, from expanding affordable housing to creating a more equitable democracy through campaign finance reforms. These priorities are designed to provide vital protections and innovative solutions for the most vulnerable members of our community. As we continue our efforts to promote these policies, we hold conversations with thousands of voters, lead and co-host impactful town hall meetings, educate and mobilize residents and voters, and undertake various other initiatives.
To gain a deeper understanding of our commitment to resist, protect, and advance in this political moment, we invite you to explore our 2023 Vision, Issues, and Policy Platform. Together, we are making strides towards a more equitable and just Oakland, and we remain steadfast in our pursuit of change, one vote, one meeting, one march at a time.
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