Hodge For Oakland

With My Deepest Gratitude, Thank You!

Dear Friends:

Thank you for all of your support over the last few weeks as I pursued the office of City Council in Oakland. It has been an amazing experience full of lessons and reflections for the future. Unfortunately, we did not receive enough votes be elected or to enter a runoff. The incumbent, Nancy Nadel, received 52% of the vote in an historically low turnout election. I called Councilmember Nadel to congratulate her and wish her good luck going forward.

On a more upbeat note, Jumoke Hinton-Hodge, my partner, did get elected to succeed me on the Oakland Unified School Board! She is grateful and excited about her new role and is making plans to work on education issues as an elected official.

I cannot express adequately my appreciation and thanks to all of you made a contribution of your time, energy and money to support Hodge for Oakland. I especially want to thank my family - Jumoke, Chinaka Hodge, Chukwudi Hodge, Kumi Hodge - for supporting this effort and putting up with me for these last few months as I was distracted from family time to pursue public service.

A special thanks to Michelle Matos who served as the campaign manager and worked tirelessly with good humor to make it happen. Thanks to volunteers like Damian Diaz, Surlene Grant, Nick James, Rolando Brown, Gay Plair Cobb, Imani Lott, Gary Borden, and many others for the roles that you played to bring our message of listening, lifting and leading to our community.

I intend to get some rest, stay involved and offer my skills in a variety of ways to our city and our community. There are so many opportunities to change the nature of how we grow our city.

Thanks again and stay strong, positive and beautiful!

With My Deepest Gratitude,

Greg Hodge

Oakland Has A Amazing History - Let’s Tell It June 3rd

Change Oakland Forever

Dear Fellow Oaklanders,

You can help us Change Oakland forever!

For the first time in decades, we have the opportunity to initiate a transition in the composition of the City Council and the School Board in a City aching to emerge from the cocoon of “potential”. I have lived here since 1982 and though, I have never done a scientific assessment of how many times the “P-word” has been used to describe Oakland, it is almost a slogan for us - “The City with Potential”. That possibility has been squandered time and time again, but this moment in our history, could and should be different.

Voters in District 3 - West Oakland, Downtown, Lake Merritt, Jack London & Adams Point - will have the opportunity to select leadership to help guide the next few years of our development, growth and prosperity as we address some of the most intractable problems of our time. As I have talked now to hundreds of you over the last several weeks, you have talked about crime - both against people and property - as the most compelling issue that we must grapple with. You have shared lots of concerns, ideas and dreams of how to make ours a city where children can once again play on their block, where elders can take a peaceful walk and where all of us can live without undue fear. You told me what you want to see to ensure that our development is sustainable, green and balanced. We have talked about what would make better schools for our kids.

You told me and I listened. I need you to speak clearly on Tuesday, June 3rd when you cast your vote. Most of you have rejected the notion that more of the same will do. Most of you are not willing to take a risk on someone who will need “on the job training” to do the necessary work of revitalizing our district and taking full advantage of the opportunities that lie ahead. You understand what is at stake.

If your honor me with your vote, know that I will continue to listen to you. Know that I will elevate and lift up our best collective thinking. Know that I will lead with courage, compassion and cheer. Know that, working together, we can make our change…now!

Believe that your voice matters. Believe in the possibilities. Believe in Oakland, again!

I would be honored to serve as you City Council representative. Vote for Greg Hodge on Tuesday, and for a candidate that understands every voice matters.

Greg Hodge

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PS: Votingonly takes a few minutes of your time. Polls are open until 8pm on June 3rd. You can find your polling place address the Voter Pamphlet and Information Guide that you received in the mail. For more information, call the Alameda County Registrar of Voters at 510.267.8683 or visit the website at www.acgov.org.

East Bay Express endorses Greg Hodge.

East Bay Express endorses Greg Hodge.” 

 

The Express, in it’s endorsements stated, “In District Three, Downtown-West Oakland, we’re recommending Oakland school board member Greg Hodge over incumbent Nancy Nadel and challenger Sean Sullivan. We think Hodge, who is an inspiring speaker and all-round smart guy, can champion progressive ideas and get things done.” 

 

Regarding Greg’s competitors, the Express stated, “”[Hodge’s] political views are not that much different from Nadel, but he possesses neither her prickly personality nor her penchant for holding grudges, which have harmed her effectiveness and alienated parts of her constituency. As for Sullivan, he has received some significant support in this campaign, but he’s also given indications that he may turn out to be another rubber stamp for the council majority.”

 

Here’s the link to the story:

 

http://www.eastbayexpress.com/news/endorsements_and_predictions/Content?oid=737511

 

Oakland Council Debate | Hodge Takes It Home.

Our Talk with Phil Tagami

Alice Walker & Greg Hodge::Poetry Prize Committee::May 16

Alice Walker, Greg Hodge and the Poetry Prize Committee

You are invited to attend the gala award celebration of the June Jordan Poetry Prize on Friday, May 16th from 7-9 pm, at Oakland Tech High School’s Auditorium.

At the event, winners read their poems and Alice Walker presents them with awards. All finalists receive award certificates and are invited on stage with Alice Walker.

The ceremony is emceed by OUSD School Board member and City Council Candidate, Greg Hodge, and promises to be inspirational and celebratory.

*Please be advised that winners and finalists have been notified prior to the Awards Ceremony and that only the winners and invited finalists are will recite their poems at the event. There is no open mic. Thank you.

When: Friday, May 16, 7:00pm

Location: Oakland Tech High School (enter through 42nd Street at Broadway), Oakland, CA

Arts, Activism and Education::May 15

Greg Hodge :: Globe Newspaper Hour :: Listening, Lifting, Leading.

Listen to the Globe Newspaper Hour

We’ve Been Doing The Work…

Friends & Supporters

Believe it or not, there is one month left to share the Hodge for Oakland message before voters go to the polls.

We trust that we can depend on you to show up at the polls. We are also excited about the possibilities that new voters will continue to participate in this crucial election season.

While there is a lot of interest in the presidential elections in November, the city races – council, school board and others- are just as important locally.

Our City Council Needs Ideas & Fresh Energy ::

We have a City Council that needs to be re-energized with new ideas and fresh energy. There is a need for  compassionate leadership who know what the people want and work hard to give it to them.

We have attended lots of candidate forums, some of which have more candidates than voters! I have been hearing a lot of great speeches and one liners, with incumbents touting how great a job they have done.

It’s all very interesting. Most of them, including Ms. Nadel, ask for more time to finish what they have started. Many have had at least 12 years to do what they have promised to do.

It’s understandable but not acceptable.

Requesting Time… Our Communities Problems Persist ::

There are many intractable problems that we face, with public safety being the thorniest. But what concerns me the most with their requests, is that they have not talked about how to get it done if voters give them 4 more years.

Some have lost a good sense of how to talk to residents. Many feel shut out or unheard.

The Streets Are Talking… We Know, We Walk Them ::

We have walked some of the most economically challenged parts of the District as well as the most affluent and we hear that comment in both kinds of places.

We are hearing from ministers with street outreach programs that they have been ignored by the current leadership when they have offered to partner to work with some of the people who are suffering the most.

We have heard from a small private school director that her requests for help to deal with the drug dealing and use in an empty building across the street from her school have fallen on deaf ears…

We have heard that West Oaklanders really want a full service grocery store in their neighborhood and are still waiting…

We have heard from youth that they still want a youth center but think that they will be adults before it happens…

We’ve Been Doing This Work ::

This campaign has been an extension of the work we’ve been doing for years now, and throughout it we’ve had some great volunteer support.

Now, we need all of our friends to come out and help. Please donate some of your time, money and talent to help us get voters out on June 3rd to support real change, right now in City Hall.

We have had a lot of fun with our rolling drummers on the flat bed truck making music. We have had fun working at the Lakeshore Farmers Market on Saturdays. We have walked and talked and are hopeful that we can and will make a difference…

See you soon!

We Really Need You To ::

Host A House Party ::

You can also host a House Party and help us with online outreach. If you are interested, please
email michelle@hodgeforoakland.com or call (510) 380-8692.

Again, we would love to have your support. Thank you and we hope to see you this Saturday! Bring a friend or family member with you.

Visit our website, watch the new videos, and make a donation of $25 today.