The following is an email Harold Lowe sent me about his priorities. Lowe is running for the Oakland City Council in District 2, which runs along the southern and eastern coasts of Lake Merritt and stretches to Crocker Highlands and the San Antonio neighborhood. His resume shows his deep roots, a lifelong Oaklander whose kids attend Oakland public schools. He has had a successful career outside of politics. He entered this race against Nikki Bas because so many people in District 2 implored him to. When he speaks of “our leaders forcing their personal philosophies” on the rest of us, that resonates with the feeling of most Oaklanders, and certainly those of us here at the Coalition for a Better Oakland. Harold brings real-life experience, a commitment to Oakland youth, and a panoramic perspective to our problems. His promise to increase the police force is especially commendable. Harold actually listens to people instead of telling them what to do, the way Bas does.
-Steve Heimoff
Harold Lowe for District 2
Who are you? Highland Hospital born; family in Oakland since the 1920s. Lake Merritt area resident for 30 years. Oakland raised wife, father of three kids who are 4th generation Oakland Public Schools. African American Studies at CAL, Master’s program in Public Administration at CSU Hayward. 30 years in sales, marketing, management in 8 industries. Fair, coachable, and reasonable. I know the best solutions will come from you. I will not pit communities against each other.
Present: Independent Financial Planner (series 7/66), Diversity Development Manager and Consultant
Previous: Business Development, Corporate Minority Recruiter, Healthcare Sales, Educational Publishing
Community: Never left. Never stopped serving Oakland. Never bulked up activities for an election.
Present:
· District Commissioner, Scouts BSA, Peralta District Board Chair, Oakland Lacrosse
· President, OUSD Measure G Committee, Founder Oakland Alumni Association
· Founder Cubmaster/Assistant Scoutmaster Troop 97/Pack 97/Troop 2097
Previous: (partial list)
· Board Treasurer, Oakland Rotary Endowment Board Treasurer, Calculus Roundtable
· Member, OUSD Blueprint Committee Board Member, Oakland Rotary Club
· Board Member, Boys and Girls Club Regional Board Member, INROADS
· Chair, Oakland Tech Centennial Committee Alameda Co Supervisor Community Advisor
· 1st Chair, Oakland Youth Advisory Commission Co-Chair/Treasurer Pro Arts Gallery
· Member, 100 Black Men Board Treasurer, HealthRight 360
Why are you running? We are so much worse off now than a few years ago, and leaders can’t stop forcing their personal philosophies which go against reason, community wants, long-term planning, or decency standards by devising rules and actions that hurt the very people that keep this city going. It shouldn’t be this hard to have good policy. There are perhaps 2,000 people who could credibly serve office in Oakland, we have so much amazing talent here. It shouldn’t be so difficult to find leaders that talk to you, that understand your situation, and can enable good governance which includes everyone. I’ve identified four untapped areas of opportunity that can help us reach the ‘potential’ that we’ve been talking about for decades. You can’t afford four more years of living in fear, without services available in other major cities, or being disregarded when you express real concerns that affect you and this community. I am here to change that.
What are the greatest challenges in Oakland?
I. Public Safety. Increase the police force, collaborate with neighborhood crime prevention groups, enforce existing laws, look to creative, untapped ways to stop crime.
II. Job Creation/Economic Development. Enhance Oakland’s four underdeveloped engines to create growth.
III. Multi-unit housing. Support mixed-use housing projects, lowering fees and barriers for creation of ADUs and new units, allowing for criminal background checks for housing.
IV. Sustainable options for the unhoused. Utilization of existing properties, limiting open use, redirecting housing to sustainable locations, creating pathways to renting.
V. Youth activities and Support. Alliances with local sports and youth organization providers, tax discounts and incentives to youth related businesses, greater investment in Parks and Recreation.
VI. Infrastructure repair. Comprehensive repair that goes beyond street improvement, volunteer tree project, increased trash receptacles, repainting and repair at city landmarks and Parks and Recreation.
VII. Healing. Working with faith based and community-based organizations to bridge the racial divide and support our victimized communities.