Loren Taylor

Loren Taylor (born July 1977) is an American politician who served on the Oakland City Council from 2019 to 2023. A Democrat, He represented the 6th district, which includes the East Oakland neighborhoods of Maxwell Park, Millsmont, Havenscourt and Eastmont.[1] He was a candidate in the 2022 Oakland Mayoral Election narrowly losing by 0.6% to fellow city councilmember Sheng Thao.

For the New Zealand actress, see Loren Taylor (actress).
Loren Taylor
Member of the Oakland City Council
from the 6th district
In office
January 7, 2019 – January 2, 2023
Preceded byDesley Brooks
Succeeded byKevin Jenkins
Personal details
BornJuly 1977 (age 46)
Oakland, California, U.S.
Political partyDemocratic
EducationCase Western Reserve University (BA)
University of Connecticut (MS)
University of California, Berkeley (MBA)
WebsiteGovernment website

Early life and education

Taylor was born in Oakland, California, in 1977. A third-generation Oaklander, he spent his childhood in Oakland and went to high school at The College Preparatory School, graduating in 1995.[2]

Taylor later earned a bachelor of arts from Case Western Reserve University and a master of science in biomedical engineering from the University of Connecticut. He later earned a master of business administration from the University of California, Berkeley.[3]

Engineering and business career

Taylor worked as a biomedical engineer and management consultant for businesses and nonprofit organizations.[4] His community involvement included serving as a board member of the 100 Black Men of the Bay Area and the West Oakland Health Center.[5]

Political career

Taylor first ran for public office in 2018 and defeated 16-year incumbent Desley Brooks and three other candidates earning 64.3% of the vote after 5 rounds of ranked choice voting.[6]

Taylor's stated priorities during the election were (1) creating economic opportunities in East Oakland, (2) stop the pushing out / pricing out of Oaklanders, and (3) making government more effective and efficient.[7][8] Among Taylor's proposals to make government more effective was civilianizing certain police jobs and strengthening the existing Neighborhood Crime Prevention Councils[9]

Policy and legislation

Homelessness
  • In response to the 68% increase in Oakland's unhoused population, and the explosion of encampments in the city, Taylor partnered with other Councilmembers to enact the Permanent Access to Housing (PATH) plan that seeks to close the racial disparities of homelessness with a multipronged approach around (1) prevention, (2) crisis response, (3) transitional housing, and (4) long-term supportive & affordable housing.[10]
  • Taylor voted for the creation of a new homeless encampment management policy that would designate high and low sensitivity areas. The homeless would be allowed to camp in low sensitivity areas. [11] The measure was approved in October 2020 by unanimous consent of the city council.[12]
  • Taylor worked with the Black Cultural Zone, a community development corporation consisting of 20 Oakland nonprofits, to establish the Akoma Outdoor Market one of several programs it runs on a city owned lot in East Oakland.[13][14]

Public safety
  • Taylor coauthored a resolution creating a Reimagining Public Safety Task Force charged with developing the plan to defund the Oakland Police Department by 50% and reallocate those funds to alternative public safety and crime prevention services.[15]
  • Taylor coauthored a resolution that placed a measure on Oakland's November 2020 ballot to strengthen the Police Commission by retaining its autonomy and independence including during public safety emergencies.[16]

Personal life

Taylor lives in East Oakland with his wife, Dr. Erica Taylor, with whom he has two children. He has served as PTA president, soccer coach, and Boy Scout leader.[17][18]

References
  1. "District 6 Councilmember Loren Taylor". City of Oakland. Retrieved July 24, 2020.
  2. "Loren Taylor | College Prep". www.college-prep.org. Retrieved November 11, 2022.
  3. "District 6 Councilmember Loren Taylor". City of Oakland. Retrieved November 11, 2022.
  4. Debolt, David (November 7, 2020). "Longtime Oakland Councilwoman Desley Brooks loses in upset". The Mercury News. Retrieved July 24, 2020.
  5. "Loren Taylor Wants More Support for East Oakland Black Business". Post News Group. April 16, 2020. Retrieved July 24, 2020.
  6. "Municipal elections in Oakland, California (2018)". Ballotpedia. Retrieved July 24, 2020.
  7. "City of Oakland Candidate for City Council, District 6". Voter's Edge California. Retrieved July 29, 2020.
  8. Dirks, Sandhya (January 6, 2019). "The New Oakland City Council Members Who Beat the Incumbents (and the Odds)". KQED. Retrieved July 29, 2020.
  9. BondGraham, Darwin (September 3, 2020). "The Fight for Oakland's District 6". Oakland Magazine. Retrieved August 2, 2020.
  10. Sekiranda, David (October 25, 2019). "Oakland committee approves new plan to address homelessness". Oakland North. Retrieved October 22, 2020.
  11. Rendon, Cristina (September 21, 2020). "Oakland City Council will consider where to allow homeless encampments". Fox KTVU 2. Retrieved October 17, 2020.
  12. Ravani, Sarah (October 21, 2020). "Oakland restricts locations where homeless encampments can set up". San Francisco Chronicle. Retrieved October 22, 2020.
  13. Tyska, Jane (September 27, 2020). "New Black Cultural Zone helps East Oakland neighborhood thrive". East Bay Times. Retrieved October 22, 2020.
  14. Boerner, Dean (October 13, 2020). "Is This Oakland Group CRE's Answer To Gentrification?". BizNow. BizNow. Retrieved October 22, 2020.
  15. Kawamoto, Jon (July 28, 2020). "Oakland City Council OKs task force – with goal of defunding police by 50%". East Bay Times.
  16. Kawamoto, Jon (July 23, 2020). "Oakland City Council puts measure to strengthen police commission on November ballot". East Bay Times. Retrieved July 29, 2020.
  17. Taylor, Otis (November 8, 2020). "The low-key East Oakland booster who unseated Desley Brooks". San Francisco Chronicle. Retrieved July 25, 2020.
  18. "City of Oakland Candidate for City Council, District 6". Voter's Edge California. Retrieved July 29, 2020.
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