{"id":239258,"date":"2026-03-27T14:03:23","date_gmt":"2026-03-27T14:03:23","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/239258\/"},"modified":"2026-03-27T14:03:23","modified_gmt":"2026-03-27T14:03:23","slug":"oakland-one-of-most-corrupt-cities-in-america-considers-huge-pay-bumps-for-council-members","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/239258\/","title":{"rendered":"Oakland \u2014 one of \u2018most corrupt cities in America\u2019 \u2014 considers huge pay bumps for council members"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"An<\/p>\n

An image collage containing 3 images, Image 1 shows Rep. Barbara Lee speaking at a news conference, Image 2 shows Oakland Mayor Sheng Thao speaking at a podium with a microphone, gesturing with her right hand, Image 3 shows Carroll Fife, challenging Oakland Councilmember Lynette Gibson McElhaney, stands in Oakland, California<\/p>\n

Long dogged by corruption scandals<\/a>, a public safety crisis<\/a> and general dysfunction at City Hall<\/a>, Oakland is now considering a proposal that could more than double the pay of its council members.<\/p>\n

Mayor Barbara Lee and city leaders are weighing a report that calls for reforming the city charter<\/a> via a November ballot measure to create a stronger mayor system. But one recommendation that has drawn a galling reaction would significantly raise council members\u2019 salaries.<\/p>\n

\"Mayor<\/p>\n

Mayor Barbara Lee is calling for an overhaul to Oakland\u2019s city charter, but a report also suggests pay raises. CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images<\/p>\n

Despite running a structural deficit well north of $100 million after handing out pay bumps to public employee unions in recent years, a report by SPUR and the League of Women Voters of Oakland argued that Oakland should conduct a survey to \u201cestablish market-appropriate compensation for full-time legislative work.\u201d<\/p>\n

Under the proposal, City Council members would no longer be able to receive outside employment and their salaries \u2014 currently about $109,000 and set to rise to almost $115,000 in July \u2014 could increase to levels comparable with Los Angeles or San Diego, according to calculations cited in an Oakland Report analysis<\/a>.<\/p>\n

If council members\u2019 salaries go up to the level of San Diego or Los Angeles, the increase in pay would be between 69% and 125%.<\/p>\n

The mayor\u2019s office and Kevin Jenkins, the current president of the City Council, did not respond to The Post\u2019s requests for comment.<\/p>\n

Chris Moore, a former Alameda County supervisor candidate and public safety advocate, called some of the current council members \u201cinept\u201d \u2014 most notably Councilmember Carroll Fife \u2014 and slammed the potential pay raises.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe good side \u2014 if it was feasible \u2014 is getting responsible people on the City Council,\u201d Moore said. \u201cBut the potential benefit would take a very long time to attain.\u201d<\/p>\n

He added, \u201cIt\u2019s much more likely in Oakland, which is probably one of the most corrupt cities in America, that they\u2019ll be completely controlled by the employee unions.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"Oakland<\/p>\n

Oakland Councilmember Carroll Fife missed 19% of the votes last year, according to a report. San Francisco Chronicle via Getty Images<\/p>\n

A report by Oaklandside<\/a> ranking council members found that Fife had the worst attendance record last year, missing roughly 19% of the votes taken.<\/p>\n

Another report by the publication found that the City Council routinely flouted public records laws<\/a>, with Councilmember Noel Gallo being the worst offender. In November, the city\u2019s transportation and pubic works chief accused Councilmember Ken Houston of trying to \u201crig\u201d a contract<\/a>.<\/p>\n

If Oakland voters were to approve converting council members into full-time officials with benefits,\u00a0Oakland Report found that compensation could reach as high as $318,145 per member annually \u2014 including health care, pensions and other benefits.<\/p>\n

For taxpayers, that would reportedly translate to an additional $1.96 million to $3.04 million per year for the eight-member council.<\/p>\n

The city \u2014 or The Town, as it is known in the Bay Area \u2014 has been rocked by recall elections in recent years that removed former mayor Sheng Thao and Pam Price<\/a>, the previous district attorney for Alameda County. Thao was indicted after an FBI probe, which she said treated her unfairly because she isn\u2019t rich<\/a>.<\/p>\n

About 63% of likely voters back the overall charter reform framework, according to SPUR and the League of Women Voters of Oakland, while 73% supported granting the mayor veto power.<\/p>\n

\"Ex-Oakland<\/p>\n

Ex-Oakland mayor Sheng Thao was indicted after an FBI probe of her home while she was still in office. AP<\/p>\n

\"Pam<\/p>\n

Pam Price, the former district attorney of Alameda County, was recalled after crime sklyrocketed in Oakland. MediaNews Group via Getty Images<\/p>\n

\u201cThese numbers send a clear message: Oaklanders want accountability, and they want a city government that can actually get things done,\u201d Lee said in a statement released with the poll.<\/p>\n

However, it\u2019s unclear whether voters will sign off on massive raises for a council that says the city is broke \u2014 repeatedly declaring \u201cextreme fiscal necessity,\u201d<\/a> pushing new parcel taxes, and still failing to meet long-standing police staffing targets of about 700 officers.<\/p>\n

Oakland\u2019s charter reform report noted that many current and former city officials said there is a sense that \u201ceveryone is in charge, and therefore no one is in charge.\u201d<\/p>\n

Giving the mayor more powers while reducing the say council members have in dictating policy would seem like an unusual way of arguing the latter elected officials deserve a raise.<\/p>\n

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