Oakland’s finance department has blocked the hiring of 30 staff members responsible for repairing nearly 1,000 parking meters, street safety improvement and other city services, according to a letter by the transportation director obtained by the Chronicle.
Josh Rowan, the transportation director, sent a letter Tuesday to the city administrator saying that the department has “severe challenges in filling vacant positions due to delays in routine approvals by the Finance Department.” Some positions have been waiting on the finance department’s approvals for more than 200 days, Rowan wrote, adding that the approvals are “routine.”
As a result, the city is losing potential revenue from parking meter collection and risking nearly $50 million in grant-funding for capital and street safety improvements, according to the letter…