We Demand A Moral Budget

Public Witness

Allison Tanner

April 30, 2021

Faith Leaders gathered outside City Hall with Interfaith Movement for Human Integrity and Faith Alliance for a Moral Economy to demand that Mayor Schaaf’s city budget be a moral budget reflecting the needs of the community. Photo by Joyce Xi.

Yesterday I gathered with faith leaders to deliver a letter to Mayor Libby Schaaf demanding that Oakland’s budget reflect the needs of the residents of our city. In this moment, a moral budget would Refund Local Communities, Restore Dignity, and Reimagine Public Safety. This letter was signed by 140 members of Oakland’s diverse religious community and 28 faith organizations and institutions, including Lakeshore. Recognizing that a budget is a blueprint of our values, we demand four key budget priorities:

Redirect resources from the Oakland Police Department to support community-led alternatives to public safety
Reinvest in protections for frontline and essential workers
Fund safe and secure housing for unsheltered population & affordable housing
Immigrant support services

While City Hall was closed to visitors and Mayor Schaaf was working from home, we delivered our letter with prophetic flare by posting it to the the boarded up doors of City Hall. You can view an ABC news report of this action or watch the recording on Lakeshore’s facebook page. We are working to secure an in person meeting with Mayor Schaaf to voice our demands directly and continue the conversation she says she welcomes.