FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Press Contact: Jules Park, jpark@ifpte21.org, (408) 921-2187
Oakland Mayor, Labor Unions, and Community Members Unite to Launch Citywide Campaign to Safeguard Services and Keep Fire Stations Open
Broad Coalition launches city-wide efforts to defend critical public services and to keep Oakland fire stations open.
OAKLAND, CA — On Saturday, April 11, Oakland workers represented by Oakland Firefighters Local 55, SEIU Local 1021, IFPTE Local 21, and Alameda Labor Council gathered outside Fire Station No. 2 at Jack London Square to launch the Yes on Measure E campaign with a citywide canvassing action. Community members will continue engaging with Oakland residents every day leading up to the June 2nd Primary Election in an effort to educate and inform neighbors about Measure E, the Oakland Public Safety, Cleanliness, and Community Accountability Act of 2026.
“All of our city workers and community members who keep Oakland running everyday deserve [our help] and need [our help] to pass Measure E. We’ve heard from residents across Oakland: people want safer neighborhoods. People want and deserve cleaner streets. People deserve a city that continues to move forward, and that’s why I’m so proud to stand with labor, business, and community leaders in support of Measure E,” said Oakland Mayor Barbara Lee.
“It’s a special privilege for me to represent and serve my community by protecting the folks of Oakland. It’s an honor to serve alongside my colleagues – we love keeping the people of Oakland safe – and that’s why Oakland Firefighters are all in: Yes on Measure E,” said Jose Sanchez, an Oakland Firefighter and Local 55 At-Large Board Member. “Now us firefighters need your help. Yes on Measure E is designed to maintain fire protection services, as well as 9-1-1, medical, fire, and police emergency response times. Oaklanders know the importance of keeping fire stations open. In an emergency, seconds matter. We must pass Measure E to save our services.”
The passage of Measure E would replace an expiring property assessment with a lower one, reducing taxes for a majority of Oakland homeowners while maintaining critical funding for the city services Oaklanders rely on.
“I come here today speaking to you as a 53-year-lifelong Oakland resident. Nearly 30,000 Oakland voters signed petitions in just eleven weeks to place the citizen-led Measure E on the June ballot. I was out there myself talking to residents and one thing was crystal clear: Oakland residents say that we must save our essential services and vote Yes on Measure E this June,” said Keith Brown, Executive Secretary-Treasurer of Alameda Labor Council.
A growing coalition of elected officials, labor, and community organizations have endorsed Yes on E, including:
- Oakland Councilmembers Kevin Jenkins, Rowena Brown, Janani Ramachandran, Charlene Wang
- Zac Unger, Former Oakland Firefighters IAFF Local 55 President
- Alameda County Supervisors Lena Tam and Nikki Fortunato Bas
- Henry Levy, Alameda County Treasurer
- The Alameda Labor Council
- California Nurses Association
- The Alameda County Democratic Party
- Stonewall Democratic Club
- Wellstone Democratic Club
- Oakland Rising Action
- EBASE
- Veronica Garcia, Chair, Melrose 27X Neighborhood Council
- ACCE
- SEIU 1021
- IFPTE Local 21
- IAFF Local 55
- Teamsters Joint Council 7
*Titles are used for identification purposes only
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