Oakland Mayor Barbara Lee made a rare appearance at a City Council meeting Tuesday, successfully presenting her legislation for a November ballot measure that would turn Oakland into a “strong mayor” city.
But before getting into the meat of the proposal, Lee sharply defended it against critics who’ve accused her of a “power grab.”
“Some of the rhetoric we’ve seen in recent weeks and months has really crossed a line,” she said. “There’s a long history in this country of describing Black leaders — particularly Black women leaders seeking executive authority or structural reform — as dangerous or unqualified.”…