Is anyone else tracking the flurry of labor deals coming out of City Hall this week? As a community organizer, seeing SEIU 1021 and IFPTE Local 21 reach tentative agreements—and averting that November 5th strike—feels like a massive win for the workers who keep our city running. With an 18% vacancy rate, we can't afford to lose more staff to uncompetitive wages.

But here’s what’s weighing on me: the lack of transparency regarding the price tag. The SF Patriot reported that while we have the raise percentages, the actual cost to the General Purpose Fund remains hidden behind 'council-directed financial authority.' Given our structural deficit, we deserve to see the numbers before the final vote.

We need to pay our public servants a living wage—especially our firefighters who are still fighting for parity—but we also need a sustainable budget that doesn't trigger 'me too' clauses we can't afford. Collective bargaining shouldn't happen in a vacuum. Let’s support our workers while demanding the fiscal clarity necessary to keep Oakland whole. Solidarity always, but let’s keep our eyes on the data.