I ran for City Council to bring a voice to underrepresented people at City Hall, and I have based my decisions and policies as a Councilmember on making sure all Oaklanders are represented by our local government.
To do that, I use the three E's of Sustainable Development as a guide for decision-making and policy initiatives:
Economic Prosperity - A successful community provides good economic opportunities to people of all skill levels, and encourages entrepreneurship and a thriving economic environment.
Environmental Enhancement - Our decisions and actions should always address the impact to our surroundings and embrace the principle of leaving our community cleaner, stronger and more ecologically sound with all of our actions.
Social Equity - A strong community embraces the needs of its most at-risk members, and finding ways to address those needs will reduce poverty and violence and strengthen the social fabric of the whole city.
Environmental Justice
Councilmember Nadel has been a leader on environmental justice issues for many years, first as a community activist, in her work at the US Environmental Protection Agency, and finally on the City Council. Councilmember Nadel is currently working with a strong coalition of community activists, environmental organizations and city staff to protect environmental health in West Oakland. The coalition was successful in addressing the tens of thousands of pounds of carcinogens every year produced by Red Star Yeast by demanding higher permit standards. The company, which employed no people in West Oakland, chose to close rather than adopt standards that would protect the community Councilmember Nadel is also working with the Port and the community on introducing bio-diesel fuels for trucks, which decrease harmful emissions by as much at 90%. She is also working to move large trucking and truck service companies out of the community and on to Port land.
Issue of Jobs
Councilmember Nadel has been an outspoken leader on job creation for Oakland residents since she joined the Council. She has worked with CalTrans, BART and others on major projects to make sure that Oaklanders get a fair chance to compete for work on construction and retrofit jobs. She has been a strong advocate for leveraging City, state and federal resources for local businesses and residents. She encouraged the Port to open a job resource office in West Oakland now located on 32nd and Louise Streets, which they unfortunately closed recently due to budget cuts. Nancy is forming a brainstorming group for industrial development in West Oakland. Please call our office if you are interested in participating. She was instrumental in the city receiving a $1 million federal grant to help parolees get health services, housing, training and jobs upon release to Oakland.