The political debate surrounding the future of Oakland's streets has recently turned up a notch.
"Oakland’s City Council president wants to cut the city’s new Department of Transportation and fire its director, just as he embarks on a $100 million plan to fix deteriorating roads and fill potholes," report Rachel Swan and Sarah Ravani.
City Council President Rebecca Kaplan proposed the changes in a draft budget released as an alternative to a budget proposed by Oakland Mayor Libby Schaaf in May.
The political spat is putting focus, again, on the city's infamously pothole-ridden streets, the subject of a controversial $100 million repair plan that made news in March in part because of its innovative approach to equity.
"Schaaf created the Department of Transportation three years ago, intending to transform the urban environment in Oakland, create a bike lane network and secure funding for major infrastructure projects," according to the article, but progress has been slow and resistance has been strong.
FULL STORY: Oakland council president proposes cutting Department of Transportation, firing director
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