Oakland’s budget would cut public campaign finance. That would be a mistake

Earlier this month, Oakland Mayor Sheng Thao released her $4.2 billion two-year budget proposal, establishing a plan for the city’s near future that also addresses the $360 million deficit in the city’s general purpose fund, the largest in city history.

As part of cost-cutting measures, Mayor Thao proposed eliminating funding necessary for the voter-approved Democracy Dollars program to take effect next year in time for the 2024 election cycle.

Doing so would be a mistake. Read more here.