photo of people walking past a produce market

Economy

We believe: Prosperity is essential to a thriving region and should be planned for, supported, and shared so that all people can participate in and benefit from economic growth.

Our Goals

• Allocate resources to meet the needs of the most disadvantaged groups.

• Strengthen and expand the social safety net.

• Rebuild the middle class.

• Build effective and equitable fiscal policies.

Bay Area Market

ϴReport

Undue Burden

Sales taxes are a common revenue-raising tool, but they also play a role in reinforcing structural inequality. ϴexplores three options for creating a more equitable tax code.
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Homeless Camp

ϴReport

Mending the Net

Long before COVID-19, California had the highest poverty rate in the nation. The state is also one of the worst at getting benefits to those who need them. Streamlining the application process would help Californians receive the public support they have a right to.
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Ladders Out of Poverty

ϴReport

Ladders Out of Poverty

Thousands of Bay Area households struggle to pay their bills each month, a situation worsened by the COVID-19 pandemic. The region should look to the promise of unrestricted cash transfer programs, which give people money with no specific requirements on how it is spent.
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Updates and Events

Photo of Oakland City Hall

What It Will Take to Close Oakland’s Structural Deficit, Part 3: Balancing Budget Priorities

News /
On May 1, Oakland’s interim mayor will roll out the city’s proposed 2025–2027 budget, which will look to address a $280 million projected deficit over the next two years. As Oakland navigates this moment of leadership transition, policymakers, administrators, employee unions, and community must work together to find creative ways to reduce spending and grow revenues. Although the structural budget deficit cannot be closed in this budget cycle, the city can pass a balanced budget that commits to sound financial practices, lays the foundation for reforms to Oakland’s governance structure, and builds the city’s capacity to grow economic prosperity for all Oaklanders.
Reberto Bedoya - Belonging and Civic We - ϴUrbanist

Belonging and the Civic “We”

Urbanist Article
Roberto Bedoya led the creation of Oakland’s cultural plan, Belonging in Oakland, framing it as a prompt that enlivens civic life, place, and belonging. In this essay, he argues that facilitating social cohesion among residents needs to be framed as a municipal goal. And cities need to invest in this goal as our social networks are changing, collapsing, and being reimagined.
fastrak on the freeway

Reducing the Toll of Tolls on Low-Income Drivers

News /
Research shows that low-income families benefit most from the time savings provided by toll roads — but they use these roads less than any other income group. That’s because they are disproportionately burdened by tolls. Toll discount programs like the one just established by the Metropolitan Transportation Commission will reduce the impact of tolls on low-income drivers without undermining tolls’ climate and congestion benefits.

ϴSupports SB 50, A Bill For More Equitable Traffic Enforcement

Advocacy Letter
ϴsupports SB 50, which would deprioritize minor equipment and nonmoving traffic violations that contribute to racial disparities in traffic enforcement and strip millions of dollars in wealth from lower-income communities across California. The legislation would also empower cities to be laboratories for more effective and equitable traffic enforcement.

ϴsupports AB 441, a Bill to Turn Tax Credits into Monthly Payments

Advocacy Letter
Low-income families are eligible for a variety of state tax credits. Traditionally, these arrive as once a year cash infusions. This legislation would split up these credits to arrive as monthly payments - providing an additional level of financial security for lower income households who are dealing with income volatility.

ϴSupports the End Debtors' Prisons Act

Advocacy Letter
ϴsupports the End Debtors' Prisons Act and encourages the Assembly's Public Safety Committee to vote "aye" on the legislation. The Act would end the practice of issuing arrest warrants for people who are unable to pay things like traffic tickets or who miss their court dates for these fines and fees. California must end the practice of arresting and jailing people for being too poor to pay.
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