Our vacancies are showing

This week, we got a stark example of why we need to fill our city jobs.

After a chemical incident at Temescal Pool sent several swimmers to the hospital, The Oaklandside noted that Oakland had no full-time pool technicians on staff, even though the city has budgeted positions for workers trained to maintain safe water quality.

But the staffing problem goes far beyond one pool.

At Oakland’s 911 call center, persistent vacancies have contributed to major delays. In 2024, just 54% of calls were answered within 15 seconds, compared with the state standard of 90%.

It's not a glamorous topic, but filling vacancies improves our quality of life. City workers answer the phone when you call 911, make sure our public facilities are safe, and turn our dangerous roads into safe ones.

That’s what 1,000 City Jobs is about: building the workforce Oakland needs to provide the services Oaklanders rely on. You can read more about The Neighborhood Plan here.

In solidarity,
Nate Adams, Candidate for Oakland City Council, District 2