This is one of the most important posts I’ve ever published. Please read it.
We all are agreed on the need to replace Nikki Fortunato Bas as City Council member from District 2. Bas has been a disaster and an embarrassment. Fundamentally, she wants to defund and weaken the Oakland Police Department, even as our need for cops is greater than ever. She voted to defund OPD on multiple occasions and vowed to shift the money to discredited “social justice programs” that don’t work. It’s true that, over the past year—as she discerned public sentiment shifting against defunding the police – she voted for additional police academies. She was under pressure, and knew she had a re-election campaign coming. She is now is trying to pretend she’s an old friend of the police when everyone in this town who knows anything about politics understands that Bas wants to weaken OPD. She is tied to the hip with Carroll Fife, who is tied to the hip with Cat Brooks; both are among the leading cop haters in Oakland. Bas is, in short, through her defunding efforts—which have so harmed morale at OPD--partly responsible for the crime that has infected Oakland. She cannot be entrusted with public safety.
She’s running for re-election this November and currently faces no viable opposition. We have to find a candidate to oppose her!
I can assure you—trust me on this—there’s a ton of money waiting to support the right candidate. That person will almost automatically inherit a campaign organization, as well as a fat budget.
Who is the right person? He/she has to live in D2. It would be great if the candidate has a business, finance or legal background. Above all, the candidate must be a strong, articulate supporter of the Oakland Police Department. The issue in D2, as it is across the city, is crime and public safety. Bas’s own constituents are fed up with her. The candidate we’re seeking must believe passionately in public safety and must work to give OPD the money it needs to do its job properly.
The deadline for applying to run is fast approaching. This race is winnable, given the opposition to Bas, but we can’t win with nobody. If you, or someone you know, is interested, please tell me! I’ll get you in touch with the right people.
Steve Heimoff