A BLACK NEW DEAL

Jobs, Housing, and Healthcare

The original New Deal—enacted by President Franklin D. Roosevelt from 1933 to 1939, creating jobs and providing housing support for Americans in the wake of the Great Depression—intentionally excluded Black Americans through discrimination and redlining. Oakland now has the opportunity to lead the country by enacting a Black New Deal, revitalizing the economy and restoring Oakland’s status as a place where everyone can prosper. 

In partnership with unions, we can create jobs that:
1) address our decaying transportation infrastructure, and
2) increase green space like parks and gardens in the flatlands.
This will increase our community’s economic and environmental health all at once, providing needed food and oxygen to all of Oakland while also putting money back into the pockets of those who need it most.

Additionally, our Black New Deal would help curb recent waves of displacement by providing housing support. While Oakland residents have long been victims of redlining, we can begin to reverse the generations of disadvantage brought on by this discriminatory practice. A Black New Deal can provide targeted housing subsidies and loans, as well as partner with local land trusts, to help transition Oaklanders from vulnerable renting to stable ownership.

Finally, a Black New Deal must include plentiful and accessible holistic healthcare, partnering with clinics throughout the community to offer essential services like COVID-19 testing and free mental health counseling.

I pledge to build the best plan possible by collaborating with unions, community organizations, small businesses, and organizing groups to create a comprehensive economic renewal plan.