The Councilmember-At -Large represents the entire City of Oakland. I am dedicated to providing service and responsiveness to all the people of Oakland, whether their needs are large or small.

Customer service is a top priority for my office. We give personal attention to callers, answering the phone personally whenever we can. We use the voicemail as a backup, with snailmail and e-mail as other options. Talking on the phone to each other is still the fastest way to communicate. My staff keeps a computerized list of incoming calls and sends a report to me. I want to make sure the citizens who call us talk to a real person who is empowered to help them.

I am glad that you reading this on the Internet are interested in Oakland. It is important for concerned people like you to be informed as to how our government works, and to take that knowledge back to your neighborhoods. You are helping us build our future.

We have initiated the Citizens’ Assistance Center and the City Management Academy here at City Hall to help people in Oakland get their needs met. Call the Citizens' Assistance Center (CAC) at 238-6868. The CAC staff is there to help you find what you need and solve city related problems. The CAC can also help you apply to be part of the City Management Academy. The Academy will teach you how to be an effective advocate for your community by learning from experienced city staff people. Through many small steps, we will improve our city government.

On a larger scale, I am committed to the health and safety of our citizens. Safe neighborhoods will make people want to live in Oakland and establish businesses here. That is why I wrote and introduced legislation to prohibit the sale of Junk Guns in Oakland, as well as requiring trigger locks on all guns sold, and requiring a sales tax on guns and ammunition. So, as you can see, the At-Large office writes laws which, when passed by the City Council, affect not only Oakland, but the region. Our office has helped many cities to pass similar laws.

My commitment to Oakland includes making sure that there will be jobs for Oakland residents. I have just returned from a trade mission to Asia in which a number of cities in China agreed to form a trade center in Downtown Oakland. This will help Oakland grow in the world economy.

HERE IS A LIST OF MAJOR ACCOMPLISHMENTS FOR THE PAST SEVERAL YEARS

Goodwill visit to Fukuoka, Japan, and emissary to Kobe, Japan, to deliver $25,000 donation from the City of Oakland for Great Hanshin Earthquake relief fund. March 1995.

Opening of International Trade Center at Port of Oakland, April, 1995.

“Home Sweet Home” project to fill windows along Broadway with artworks related to the businesses which sponsor them. Every storefront property that was decorated by Councilmember Chang’s “Home Sweet Home” has been subsequently rented or leased, the first leases on Broadway in 2.5 years.

Bay Area South China Trade Mission, May 14-23, 1995. Cmbr. Chang traveled to China to promote businesses in Oakland and the Bay Area.

CORE Training (Citizens of Oakland Respond to Emergencies) to assist citizens to learn disaster planning. Outreach to neighborhoods. Ongoing program in Cmbr. Chang’s office.

Major restructuring of the City of Oakland Government - ongoing, in conjunction with the City Council.

Charter Review - Councilmember Chang and the Council as a whole is examining the City Charter to see how it can be modified to assist in restructuring.

Rotunda Innovative Technologies District Project, working to renovate the Rotunda Building into a state of the art technology facility.

Served on the Alameda Reuse and Redevelopment Commission, the Oakland Base Closure and Conversion Task Force, and the East Bay Reuse Commission, reorganizing military base closures throughout the area, especially 3 bases in Oakland.

Member of the Frank Ogawa Foundation Board to support the Frank Ogawa Plaza Project.

Working to develop Design Review Guidelines in order to keep neighborhoods livable and friendly.

Working to develop businesses in Oakland: The Martin Luther King, Jr. Plaza Project, Old Oakland Mixed Use Development, Granny Goose Foods, and many more.

Outreach to the Oakland community to help small businesses and contractors to interpret WBE/MBE requirements particularly contracts on the Cypress Freeway project. Also working to make the certification and contracting process more efficient.

Assisting produce area merchants and the Office of Economic Development and Employment (OEDE) to create a plan for a regional produce and perishables distribution center in Oakland.

Carried a resolution calling for a halt to clear-cutting of Headwaters Forest.

Carried a resolution implementing aspects of Oakland’s Nuclear Free Zone Ordinance.

Carried a resolution supporting needle exchange as an effective method of reducing HIV and AIDS transmission.

Carried a resolution in opposition to Governor Pete Wilson’s Litigation to overturn the State of California’s Affirmative Action Policies.

Worked with the Chinatown Community to get a walking officer dedicated to Chinatown 7 days a week.

Gun Control: Wrote and passed an ordinance to prohibit the sale of Junk Guns in Oakland. Pending legislation to require trigger locks. Passed a Gross Reciepts Tax on all guns and ammunition sold in Oakland. Surrounding cities in the region are following Oakland to pass similar legislation.

Trade Mission to Korea and China in April, 1997 to establish a Downtown Oakland- International Trade Center.

Established after school Homework Centers in 14 Oakland schools.

Facilitating better garbage service for Oakland residents.

Supported the Kids First, Measure K initiative to provide funds for programs to help our children grow up to be healthy adults.

Established the Citizens' Assistance Center and the City Management Academy, both of which help Oakland residents get their needs met by guiding them through city systems.

Established Windows Home Sweet Home in which artists and business owners work together to place exhibits in empty windows along Broadway.

Facilitated the Pet Evacuation program which will assist pet owners in the event of a disaster.

IF YOU WOULD LIKE MORE INFORMATION ABOUT ANY OF THESE SUBJECTS, PLEASE LET ME KNOW.