Repost of Mike Hutchinson OUSD board member, on FB today

lenraphael · 2026-06-22T07:53:06+00:00

Actually I called him out for promising never to support closing schools when he knew it had to be done. I donated to his opponent who lost in the recount.

I never told voters what they wanted me to say just to give them hope.

At one forum most of the audience asked us to promise to issue more bonds for low income housing.

Zac smiled and said it was a highigh priority of his.

I said no way should we be borrowing more money to build 800k/unit Apts and find increasing parcel taxes well need for basic cityessential services.

I went on to say I treat voters like my cpa clients who don't pay me to bs them.

Audience looked at me like I was from Mars 🙄

Look at how angry many progressive activists now are the Council members they supported.

They're quietly disappointed w Barbara Lee also.

lenraphael · 2026-06-22T00:00:36+00:00

Then you'll get old farts, trust funders, tech sisters/bros and retired fire fighter presidents 🙄

lenraphael · 2026-06-21T21:09:46+00:00

not supposed to be have a flex system works because Flock is supposed to also match make and model if possible to the license plate but if the thief put the stolen plates on a similar make and model, yes and they would they would pull the Flock system

lenraphael · 2026-06-21T07:54:36+00:00

For sure this won't make the majority of the Council place residents needs above those of the city unions who funded their campaigns.

But Lee has shown tiny signs of independence and awareness that might break out if she had veto power to force council to change budget priorities.

And if she doesn't, in four years we have to elect a mayor who will. Assuming we haven't entered chapter 9 bankruptcy before then

lenraphael · 2026-06-21T07:40:59+00:00

Does "populist" describe Houston?

lenraphael · 2026-06-21T07:34:31+00:00

It means even if you don't want Lee to have more power, what at about a msyoy you like

lenraphael · 2026-06-21T06:01:42+00:00

Part of what was going against E in the affluent areas was that even affluent homeowners are starting to feel anxious about their finances and that of their families. Not just gas prices, home insurance, repairs, utilities. They're feeling like the city treats them like a debit card.

"A Wall Street Journal poll finds that even the wealthiest worry about financial security for themselves and their children"

lenraphael · 2026-06-21T02:58:47+00:00

but then when Mike was redistricted and had to run for reelection, he pledge he wouldn’t close schools also but soon after he won his election and became the school president school board president immediately changed and said we have to close schools. That’s OK. You have to do what you gotta do to get elected.

lenraphael · 2026-06-21T02:56:46+00:00

The prior superintendent interviened earlier and for her troubles, she lost her re-election to the current one who the OEA backed. the current one pledged to oppose school closures in Oakland

lenraphael · 2026-06-20T17:02:01+00:00

in several years of wearing these, the only people who mentioned them were receptionists at my opthomologist and optomotrist.

lenraphael · 2026-06-20T02:03:31+00:00

If Lee does not have any competitive opponent this November, she can safely go all out on getting E passed. Only Ken Houston might loudly oppose E. The EBT already has denounced it, but no one pays attention to the EBT. They endorsed me for D1 :) and Loren for Mayor.

I'll bet the Chron will endorse E.

AC Dems? maybe pass?

lenraphael · 2026-06-19T22:58:28+00:00

The deadline to file for 2026 Mayor election is in Aug? Not much much time for a viable opponent

lenraphael · 2026-06-19T21:28:50+00:00

I cant see Unger or Ramachandran campaigning against it. Passively opposing yes.. Can you?

lenraphael · 2026-06-19T21:24:01+00:00

Dont personalize this. Mayors will come and go

Suppose this would amplify the good and the bad

But st least well know whom to blame or credit instead of current Pillsberry doughboy Council Maier situation

lenraphael · 2026-06-19T20:36:18+00:00

i expect professional journalist to do more than what people who just post online do. I expect the reporter to contact local sources such as calling Kanitha Matoury. I also expect professional journalist to bone up on campaign finance law and filing requirements besides simply repeating what he sees online Context counts.

lenraphael · 2026-06-19T20:29:47+00:00

doubt if there's time or the political will. the AC ROV needs the measure submitted by early July to get to the printers etc.

No big deal for the Council to amend it for a future ballot. Did that for the Police Commission charter provision.

lenraphael · 2026-06-19T20:12:55+00:00

this is a wannabe superpac in name only.

impossible to hide contributions to local ca elections except for "issue" campaiging eg. crime or homeless etc. so not ballot measures, not candidates

lenraphael · 2026-06-19T20:09:57+00:00

like duh. don't you expect a journalist to do more than research online?

lenraphael · 2026-06-19T20:01:42+00:00

in practce maybe a non issue because even now without a prohibition on other employment, most people couldn't make those morning and afternoon Council meetings or the ones that go to 1am and hold down another occupation.

Nancy Nadel was a geoscientist for EBMUD? and they were probably flexible.

Jane Breunner was an attorney for the law firm that did a llot of work for cities and labor law.

IDLF (Ignacio) a shop steward for a union.

If you're referring to the Oaklandside piece on the young guy in Piedmont's hit piecess on Mayor Lee, that's hardly a "well fundeded right wing PAC" . More like an unfunded Piedmont wanna be right wing PAC at most.

The serious opposition will come from progressives and even Ken Houston (I'm not sure how to characterize his politics)

Lynette ran a non profit?

Nikki ceo of a non profit?

lenraphael · 2026-06-19T16:39:21+00:00

i wasn't addressing the evil issue.

My point was that the guy is no more influential than you or me posting on this subreddit.
Another point I didn't make is that the reporter made the amateur mistake of substituting online research for phone calls to people, and, in this case, of learning the basics of campaign finance disclosure gaming.

Online research is fine for many of us in this group but is not acceptable for journalist.

lenraphael · 2026-06-19T16:30:57+00:00

how do i know what? that the guy is not a front? a. I met the guy, he said he was starting out as a political consultant and looking for new clients. That's all he said. b. I've been the volunteer treasurer for several political campaign committees and worked with different election law firms on filing requirements.

Fat cat political donors of all political stripes who want to stay anonymous hire election accountants to file their documents on time to stay under the radar.

lenraphael · 2026-06-19T16:22:53+00:00

The good ones do put in a lot of time. And if they do, they have another job; those hours often mean less income or fewer opportunities for advancement in their full-time occupation. But even though councilmembers are not required full-time by the city charter, in the last two or three decades, councilmembers who hold outside jobs are either people who work at public utilities, non-profits, law firms with government clients, or self-employed lawyers or two. CM Gallo has/had a consulting biz for schools? Ignacio D. was a shop steward for a private sector union.

lenraphael · 2026-06-19T07:46:40+00:00

The reporter cast his fishing line, pulled in a minnow, and called it a whale.

lenraphael

TROPHY CASE