Council Rejects Police Commission Nominees, Advances Business Tax Liens Amid Homeless Provider Payment Crisis

Oakland's City Council rejected a slate of Police Commission candidates while approving millions in delinquent business tax liens, but the session's sharpest moment came from homeless services workers describing bounced checks and split paychecks caused by city payment delays.

• Police Commission selection panel slate rejected 6–2 after contentious debate over process and outreach

• $5.58M in delinquent business tax liens approved unanimously, with payment window through August 2026

• East Oakland Community Project staff testify that city funding delays displaced 80 families and caused repeated payroll failures

• Councilmember Gallo opposes letting OPD officers work Super Bowl in Santa Clara, arguing city needs every officer at home

• Mayor's Police Commission appointee Judge Griot advances while second nominee separated from consent vote

The council delivered a rare rebuke to its independent Police Commission Selection Panel, voting 6–2 to reject the panel's resubmitted nominees for commissioner and alternate commissioner positions.