Rebecca's Record

Rebecca has been working hard for Oaklanders for years - as a legislative assistant in the California State Assembly, in the Oakland City Attorney's office, and as an advocate for world class transportation and livable communities at TransForm.

She has a strong record of delivering tangible results in her work as an elected official. Below are some of her legislative accomplishments.

Oakland City Councilmember At-Large

In November 2008, Rebecca was elected with 62% of the vote to serve as the sole city-wide Council representative for the City of Oakland. In her 18 months on the City Council, she has worked to improve economic revitalization, public safety, and government efficiency through a "practical visionary" approach. Rebecca's work on the City Council has included:

• Passed new policy to help prevent blighted, vacant properties, requiring foreclosing banks to take responsibility for the upkeep of their properties.
• Worked to expand tax-credit "Enterprise Zone" and publicize the program, create an incentive for businesses to locate in Oakland and hire area residents.
• Helped negotiate resolution to a long-term dispute about billboards in which the City of Oakland granted certain freeway-facing billboard permits in exchange for public revenue and the removal of many neighborhood billboards.
• Revised zoning in the downtown area to help small businesses by removing onerous permit requirements and fees for retailers like bike shops, restaurants/cafes, yoga studios, and more.
• Re-started the Oakland LGBT Leadership Roundtable, and helped to launch Oakland Pride.
• Organized broad coalition to pass four Revenue Measures on the ballot (in July 2009), all of which received over 70% of the vote. These included a hotel tax and a cannabis tax, and no general taxes on Oakland residents.
• Expanded public outreach education and referral materials for residents facing foreclosure, and access to legal help to fight foreclosures and unjust evictions.
• Obtained a regional grant to launch a new free transit shuttle connecting downtown Oakland's core neighborhoods, from the waterfront and Jack London Square through Old Oakland, Chinatown, City Center, Uptown, and our growing arts and entertainment district.
• Recruited top candidates for Oakland Boards and Commissions.
• Worked closely with elected officials from Berkeley, San Leandro, and AC Transit to plan the Bus Rapid Transit route.
• Serves as Oakland's representative on the Alameda County Transportation Improvement Authority

AC Transit Director At-Large (2002-2008)

From 2002 to 2008, Rebecca served as AC Transit Director At-Large, representing 1.5 million constituents in the East Bay. She was re-elected to the At-Large seat in 2006 with 82.3% of the vote. While at AC Transit, her work included:

• Created reduced price bulk pass sales, now known as the Eco-Pass or EasyPass
• Led AC Transit's pioneering approach to alternative energy sources, including solar power, biodiesel, and hydrogen fuel cell projects.
• Created new service to San Francisco at BART stations, providing late-night transit after BART closes.
• Implemented "Rapid Bus" technology to increase bus speed and reliability.
• Integrated real-time information at bus stops, online, and on mobile phones.
• Opened the Uptown Transit Center in downtown Oakland.