Former Oakland Councilmember Rebecca Kaplan announcing her candidacy for mayor in 2014 while standing near piles of garbage. An Alameda County Civil Grand Jury report released Monday suggested Kaplan’s role as illegal dumping czar has been lackluster. PHOTO/East Bay CitizenVol. VI, No. 1,295
—Oakland’s long-running battle against illegal dumping has suffered from a fundamental problem: no one is in charge.
That is one of the central findings in a new Alameda County Civil Grand Jury report released Monday, which concluded, among other things, that Oakland has never designated a single official with the authority to coordinate the city’s response to illegal dumping.
The grand jury found widespread confusion among city officials about who oversees dumping enforcement and cleanup efforts, resulting in inconsistent strategies, poor communication, and a lack of accountability.
“Oakland has lacked, and continues to lack, a coordinated and seamless strategy to fight illegal dumping,” the report states.
Investigators said they frequently received conflicting information from city officials about dumping enforcement, cleanup programs, and the status of various anti-dumping initiatives.
In some cases, officials appeared unaware of actions recently approved by the City Council or unfamiliar with programs under their own supervision.
The report highlights the sprawling nature of Oakland’s response to illegal dumping. While the Public Works Department serves as the primary agency responsible for cleanup, several other departments also play roles, including Parks and Recreation, OAK311, the City Attorney’s Office, the Oakland Police Department, and the Finance Department.
—The grand jury also pointed to the city’s recent decision to hire former Councilmember Rebecca Kaplan on a one-year special assignment to study illegal dumping and recommend solutions. While the report acknowledges the position may provide some benefit, investigators said the hire further illustrated the city’s fragmented approach.
“Given this long-festering problem, Oakland has already had ample opportunities to study the issues, decide on an effective plan, and implement it. The Grand Jury found that this new hire and the various players on illegal dumping issues still had not worked together.” the report states.
The grand jury credited Mayor Barbara Lee for elevating illegal dumping as a priority and pushing for solutions. However, investigators noted that Oakland’s weak-mayor form of government limits the mayor’s authority over city departments and day-to-day operations, leaving much of the responsibility with the city administrator.
As a result, the grand jury recommends creating a dedicated illegal dumping coordinator within the city administrator’s office with the authority to oversee enforcement, cleanup, and prevention efforts across all departments.
The recommendation comes as Oakland continues to spend millions annually on cleanup efforts while residents routinely complain about dumping hotspots that persist throughout the city.
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