Tag: Oakland, California

Much has been said about athletes advocating for issues outside of their sports. Yet we’re faced often with criticism about mixing politics with sports and getting involved with matters not within our so-called expertise. The fact is: Athletes are role models, whether they play for a professional team, in college or in high school. Many of us see that as an opportunity to give back to our community and serve as a voice for the voiceless. Every eligible American has a right to make their voice heard through the voting process. More than 80 percent of people who earned at least $150,000 voted in the same election. Only 70 percent of all voting-age citizens were even registered in the 2016 election, and just 61 percent actually voted overall. Regardless of political party, voters need to know how a candidate’s agenda would affect families and communities. As athletes, as public figures and as fellow Americans, we can help those who haven’t taken the first step by encouraging them to learn more about our government and providing opportunities to register to vote. RISE to Vote came and registered Bills players in May who weren’t already registered, and as leaders in our community, we are helping our fans in Buffalo do the same.

Here’s the story of how a first-time council candidate and his campaign volunteers were chased from a city event in East Oakland by security guards in what is shaping up to be a tense election season in Oakland. He said she did not explain why it wasn’t allowed but took a photo and told Taylor she’d file an ethics complaint. In an email days later, Brooks told me Taylor was violating a rule that prohibits city resources from being used to campaign for or against candidates and ballot measures. Taylor said the security guard told him that Brooks wanted him out of there — and that if he had an issue with that, he’d have to talk to Brooks about it. Taylor put the canopy in a car and returned to the park with three volunteers. Instead, in an email, she wrote: “I am not aware of Loren Taylor’s interaction with other people. Brooks didn’t respond when I asked if she filed a complaint or was planning to. “We need to be able to have all of the facts of a particular situation.” I asked Mark Morodomi, a former deputy city attorney for Oakland, this question: Can a candidate for office campaign at a city-sponsored event in a public park? Brooks did not respond when told of Morodomi’s opinion. Taylor, meanwhile, has asked the Oakland Public Ethics Commission for clarification on whether there are restrictions on campaigning at a free public event.