Mayoral Candidates Bring Message To Deep East Oakland In Latest Debate
OAKLAND (KPIX 5) -- The people who want to be mayor of Oakland turned their attention to a part of town that could sure use major attention. While the candidates are looking for votes, people who live in East Oakland want the winner to remember them when they are elected.
In this part of Oakland, the unemployment rate hovers around 30 percent. There are guard dogs in nearly every yard. Neighbors said crime is a way of life and the candidates often don't walk in this neighborhood.
But on Friday night, incumbent Mayor Jean Quan and several other candidates for mayor crowded a small church for the first debate of its kind in deep East Oakland.
The first question: when was the last time you came to this side of town? Among the responses:
"I go to church in East Oakland over on Allen Temple," said mayoral candidate Bryan Parker.
Councilmember Libby Schaaf said "I walked all the way up International."
Candidate Dan Siegel said, "I live on 66th Avenue."
The Rev. Harry Louis Williams II of the community organization Hood Movement 21 said the debate was a hopeful first step, a signal that this part of Oakland, and the people who live here matter.
"We were able to being the seat of power to the hood," Williams said.
