FAQ: The Truth About Loren Taylor

Don't believe the lies being told about Loren

The race for Oakland Mayor is extremely close and the political establishment knows it. They’ve funded mailers full of lies about this campaign to stop our momentum. Instead of talking about real solutions to Oakland’s biggest challenges, they play their usual political games to muddy the water. Below you will find the facts about Loren and the truth behind their lies and deceptive claims.

THEIR ATTACK: Loren is just more of the same

THEY SAY… As a four-year member of the Oakland City Council, Loren presided over the city’s decline into budget and public safety crises. Loren is to blame for creating the mess Oakland is in today. He’s not a “change” candidate, he’s more of the same.

THE TRUTH: Loren is the opposite of status quo in Oakland politics

First, Loren joined the City Council as an outsider in 2019, unseating a 16-year incumbent.
Second, Loren stood against efforts to defund the police. Loren stood against defunding the police when other council members moved to reduce the police budget by $50 million without a plan in place to ensure the safety of Oakland residents. As a result, he was targeted by far left protesters aligned with Oakland’s political establishment who picketed his home.
Third, Loren took on thorny issues that other council members refused to take on, including homelessness and housing policy. Before Loren, the city didn’t have a comprehensive plan for homelessness b/c the council and city had piecemeal approaches to individual homelessness challenges. As chair of the Life Enrichment Committee, Loren worked with the city staff to deliver a comprehensive plan on homelessness (2019 Permanent Access to Housing Program), and the city’s first Encampment management policy to document the city’s approach to managing homelessness encampments so housed and unhoused neighbors understood and could rely on the rules the city will follow in managing encampments.
Fourth, Loren worked with city staff and partners in public, private and nonprofit sectors to deliver common sense solutions to District 6 problems:
- Championed the funding of 48 new officers in East Oakland
- Designed and installed blockades, barriers to deter side–shows and improve street safety in District
- Helped activate ESO Ventures’ entrepreneurship program through early funding including $8M for to support Oakland small businesses.
- Established Liberation Park & Akoma Market an urban oasis at a formerly vacant lot in partnership w/ black cultural zone
- Helped secure funding to establish a new commercial kitchen at Arroyo Viejo Recreation Center to support aspiring restaurateurs.
- Authored the Local Business Empowerment through contracting legislation including 3 new FTEs to improve certificate & compliance processes

Council members are responsible for policy and plans; the Mayor and city administrator are responsible for execution. Unfortunately, this is where Oakland has historically failed. Oakland has no shortage of great ideas, but we fumble on delivering. The reason Loren is running for Mayor is to help the city improve how we execute and deliver results.

THEIR ATTACK: Loren is Anti-LBGTQ

THEY SAY… Loren is anti-LGBTQ and sides with homophobic Seneca Scott.

THE TRUTH: Loren has never wavered in his support of LGBTQ+ rights

Like many of us (progressives watching what is unfolding at the national level), Loren is appalled by the targeting of the transgender community and the most vulnerable within the LGBTQ+ community. Love is love.
Loren has publicly called out homophobic and incendiary comments aimed at the LGBTQ+ community as vile and reprehensible and will continue to do so.
Loren believes, everyone should be afforded equal rights under the law – and those with privilege have a special responsibility to ensure the LGBTQ+ community gets the extra support it needs because when one of our neighbors is attacked, we are all under attack. Loren has committed to working to protect LGBTQ+ rights as Mayor

THEIR ATTACK: Loren is against organized labor

THEY SAY… Loren is anti-union

THE TRUTH: Loren grew up in a union home and has delivered many wins for unions and for working families.

Loren grew up in a union home right here in Oakland.
Loren has delivered many wins for union members as a Councilmember and has consistently had an open door policy for labor leaders to discuss and deliberate on key city issues and legislation. Loren believes that we need all stakeholders to contribute, unions and city vendors included, to save Oakland from bankruptcy.
Those who suggest he may be attacking labor take issue with him saying the city may need to open up existing labor contracts as it finds solutions to balance the budget. Loren is not attacking unions – he is asking for labor’s help in saving our city. In the same way, businesses that have contracts with the city must also be willing to open up their existing contracts to help saving our city. In the long run, restoring the city’s financial health is key to protecting these essential jobs.

THEIR ATTACK: Loren can't work effectively with the existing city council

THEY SAY… Loren won’t be effective in working with the City Council.

THE TRUTH: Loren has a strong track record of working with all colleagues on the council

First, Loren has a strong track record on the council of working with anyone – those who are close allies on policy and those who aren’t – and will continue to do so.
Second, there is a difference between public endorsements and conversations that leaders have behind the scenes. The current council is clearly committed to Oakland and to solving our challenges regardless of who the Mayor is.
As Mayor, Loren will continue to be honest and open about the challenges we face – an approach that can be liberating for the City Council. His commitment to radical transparency on department level data can empower the council, as it will empower Oakland citizens. A hands-on Mayor with a practical approach will be a useful ally for the council.

THEIR ATTACK: Loren is in the pocket of developers and tech money

THEY SAY… Loren’s campaign is funded by real estate developers and tech executives.

THE TRUTH: Loren’s campaign is powered by Oakland residents

80% of Loren’s donors come from individual Oakland residents – compared to Congresswoman Lee’s campaign, which is primarily funded by individuals and organizations based outside of Oakland.
75+ Oakland neighborhoods: Loren supporters come from over 75 Oakland neighborhoods

THEIR ATTACK: Is Loren against Ranked Choice Voting?

THEY SAY… Loren is opposed to Ranked Choice Voting.

THE TRUTH: Loren has publicly stated that Ranked Choice Voting in Oakland is flawed.

Loren has publicly stated that ranked choice voting the way Alameda county has implemented and delivered is flawed. Ranked choice voting in Alameda County has lead to voter disenfranchisement and certification errors. This was proven out in the past few elections cycles.
That said, Ranked Choice Voting is the system we have and Loren encourages voters to know how to vote to ensure their votes are counted.
Specific instructions to ensure your vote is counted include:

- Don’t put anyone anywhere on your ballot that you don’t want to see as Mayor

- - Note: it’s OK if you JUST have Loren on your ballot, you do not need to have a #2, #3, … choice

- Rank anyone else you are comfortable with having as Mayor BELOW LOREN in your order of preference
- Encourage friends to rank Loren as their number 1 choice.
- If friends are compelled to rank someone else number #1, have them Rank Loren #2

THEIR ATTACK: Loren has been spreading lies about Barbara Lee

THEY SAY… Loren is dishonest and misleading, spreading lies about Barbara Lee.

THE TRUTH: Loren’s campaign makes it a point to be accurate, honest and truthful and encourages others to do the same

Our campaign makes it a point to be accurate, honest, and truthful, and we encourage others to do the same. We have no affiliation, connection, or coordination with Independent Expenditure committees.
The Loren Taylor campaign was not responsible for the fake Oaklandside story Loren’s opponents are trying to tie him to. That was an independent expenditure —candidate campaigns have no affiliation, connection, or coordination with Independent Expenditure committees.
Like mailers from our campaign, political mailers to Oakland voters from Independent Expenditures must be clear on the sources of the funds. One recent mailer attacking Loren, for example, shows that three organizations (all of which supported Sheng Thao in her 2022 race and are now aligned to Barbara Lee) contributed a total of $250,000 with the actual cost of that specific mailer listed at $44,851. We can’t let them succeed again!