Principles for Governing

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Vision for Oakland

I am putting Oaklanders first and rebuilding Oakland as a great city again: This is common sense!

 “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.” Declaration of Independence-July 4, 1776

I, Mindy Pechenuk, pledge to lead Oakland with an “America First” Common Sense approach, rejecting the corrupt political machine that has plunged our city into chaos–open-air drug markets, fentanyl, illegal cannabis warehouses, homelessness, garbage in our streets, potholes, and $265 million deficit through 2027. My platform restores safety. I will take on drug cartels and open-air drug markets with the help of the Federal government. I will create a growth economy by reviving business and creating new manufacturing and other business opportunities. I will bring in a professional outside company to audit Oakland finances. I will work with the school districts to ensure our children have a real education and trade schools. 

It is time to stop the flood of money to nonprofits, NGOs and others who are putting our tax dollars in their back pockets with projects that do nothing and are responsible for many of the problems that are destroying Oakland. 

Oaklanders come first and with a commitment to the next generations: I hold true to Genesis 1:26-28. Join me and we shall make a great future!

Oakland’s open-air drug markets in East Oakland and Downtown shatter residents’ sense of safety, leaving them haunted by the constant threat of violence. crime and homelessness. Families live in fear, avoiding streets where dealers operate openly, while children grow up witnessing addiction and chaos. Local businesses suffer as customers stay away, and communities feel abandoned by decades of failed leadership and corrupt politicians who benefit from backroom deals or are governed by their “progressive” ideologies. 

My *Oakland Safety Empowerment Act* will:

• Repeal Restrictive Ordinances, for example: Eliminate OMC 2.45 (Police Commission), OMC9.52 (sanctuary limits on felony arrests), DGO J-4 (50 mph pursuit cap), and OMC 2.29(excessive force reporting), empowering officers to dismantle drug markets and clear encampments.
• Hire 1,000 Officers:  Grow OPD from 714 to 1,000 by 2027, funded by $30 million in federal COPS grants and reallocated budgets from failed programs. Also, this program will ensure the police academies are open and stay open. 
• End Federal Oversight: Terminate OPD’s federal monitor, saving millions of dollars, and also ensuring our police officers freedom to do their duties. Also reorganize the police commission. I will work with the OPD and the officers directly to allow our OPD to be a shining example and create a safe Oakland.
• Close programs like MACRO which are costing the taxpayers millions of dollars and are not accomplishing what is needed to aide our police in helping our mentally ill and Oaklanders being destroyed by drugs.
• Instead of MACRO, we will create treatment centers for existing drug users, as well as competent centers for those who need mental health. We do not have enough of those facilities today. 

Crush Fentanyl, Cartels, Cannabis Warehouses and Open-Air Markets

Fentanyl and illegal cannabis warehouses fuel Oakland’s crisis, with open-air markets in West Oakland and Fruitvale enabling cartel-driven overdoses (97% of U.S. fentanyl from Sinaloa/CJNG, per DEA). Lee’s globalist focus ignored local trafficking. Take the case of the recent fire on July 4, 2025 at a cannabis warehouse: “Massive fire burns Oakland warehouse containing marijuana growing operation. Some 75 firefighters were battling the fire at 5309 E. 8th Avenue, which is registered to a company called H&Q Furniture LLC. Oakland Fire Chief Damon Covington said the site was challenging as it was bordered by both commercial and residential buildings, along with multiple vehicles on the street. ” CBS San Francisco

My *Oakland Anti-Cartel and Fentanyl Enforcement Initiative*, inspired by the Halt Fentanyl, will: 

• Launch a  Drug l Task Force**: Deploy 50 OPD officers with DEA and CHP to target dealers and raid cannabis warehouses, which often mask fentanyl operations.
• Our OPD are great but they cannot do this alone!
• Adopt San Francisco’s DMACC Model  (Drug Market Agency Coordination Center)**: Establish a hub in East Oakland for coordinated enforcement and treatment, funded by $15 million in DOJ grants, $10 million from CHP surge funds, and $25 million reallocated from ineffective NGOs.
• Enforce Community Zones**:  Clear drug markets in record time, replacing OMC 8.24’s delays, and shut down illegal cannabis warehouses posing as legal dispensaries.

Oakland’s $265 million  structural deficit reflects mismanagement!

My common sense fiscal plan will: 

The only way to solve our economic problems is with Growth; that is the American Way.

• Remember Oakland was once a great, productive and beautiful city. 
• My vision for Oakland is to allow our small and medium businesses to reopen. 
• I want to see new manufacturing and increase the productivity of our Oakland Port.
• My vision is to redevelop East and West Oakland. Clearly this would require Federal Government help.

At the same time as Mayor I will work to do the following:

Renegotiate Debt to Restructure city debt interest payments.

Impact: Close deficit, avoiding bankruptcy while funding safety and growth. 

Conduct a Full  Audit involving outside agency : This includes all nonprofits and NGOs. 

Fund Priorities Efficiently: Redirect funds from failed programs. For example, the MACRO program and direct those millions of dollars into police, fire and support for our small and medium businesses.

 If necessary, create an investment bank in Oakland which can provide the way for new technology and manufacturing to be developed in our city.

provide tax incentives for both our small and medium businesses to re-open and for new businesses and manufacturing to make Oakland their home.

While this is not in the job description for Mayor, I will work with the appropriate agencies.

As a classical musician and educator, I will prioritize Oakland’s children over the current failed systems of education in Oakland.

It is a crime that Oakland Public Schools rank some of the lowest in the country: 

• Test Scores and Proficiency: Oakland’s public schools, managed by OUSD, have an average math proficiency score of 27% (compared to California’s 33%) and a reading proficiency score of 38% (compared to California’s 47%) for the 2025 school year. This places Oakland’s public schools in the bottom 50% of California public schools, with an average ranking of 5/10.
• For Black and Brown students, who make up 69% of OUSD’s student body, only 25% are proficient in reading, compared to the state average of 36% for these groups. This gap highlights significant equity challenges.
• High School Rankings: Among Oakland’s high schools, performance varies widely. For example:
• Oakland Technical High School ranks 239th in California and 1,431st nationally.
• Oakland High School ranks 743rd in California and 6,071st nationally.
• Other high schools like Castlemont, Fremont, and McClymonds rank in the bottom tier (1,317–1,652nd in California).

As Mayor I propose the following: 

• Overhaul Education:  Fund specialized classes for struggling students and expand arts/science curricula, ensuring after-school programs for all.
• Community Investment: Redirect $5 million from underperforming NGOs to youth programs, fostering skills and creativity.
•  Create more trade school for our youth 

Impact: Improve graduation rate with students that will be great citizens to contribute to building a productive future. 

I firmly believe the homeless problem was created by failed political leaders, bankers, businessman and what is called the “homeless industrial complex”. This is related to the drug problems in Oakland.

As Mayor my actions will be the following:

• Immediate rehabilitation for those on drugs and who have mental issues. For those who are completely disabled or mental issues are too severe they will be housed and cared for in proper facilities. 
• Through my policies of job creation, jobs will be offered to those who are currently unemployed and/or homeless. One requirement is you must be an American citizen.
• The city will provide trade schools and on the job training, including trade schools for all ages. 
• Those who are currently working and cannot afford housing. The city will provide the means for accessible housing. One requirement is you must be an American Citizen.