Oakland could be getting a new city hall, in addition to the current one.
The Oakland City Council has voted unanimously to move ahead with a plan that could create a so-called "City Hall East." The goal is to bring city services closer to an under-served half of Oakland.
More than half of all Oaklanders live in East Oakland, and about 90 percent of them are people of color.
"Travel from deep East Oakland to City Hall, to do a number of interactions, access to services, can be inhibited, from a cost standpoint, from a transportation standpoint, from a time standpoint," said City Councilmember Loren Taylor, who introduced the proposal.
So now city staff is going to study the feasibility of creating a new facility, a place where people can get building permits, possibly pay parking tickets or other fines, and learn more about things like Oakland's rent adjustment program.
It's not that unusual. According to City Councilmember Dan Kalb, Los Angeles has two such satellite city halls because of the city's size.
"I imagine it would start part-time with limited hours, certain selected services," he said.
Kalb guessed the Eastmont Mall, located in East Oakland, could serve as a possible location.
Staff will come back with a proposal for "City Hall East" for a vote in November.
