The City of Oakland is in the middle of a 10-year battle with developers who want to build a coal export terminal in West Oakland. Oakland’s City Attorney must lead the strategy to defeat the coal developers. Ryan Richardson, as the current Assistant City Attorney, is poised to continue the excellent leadership of retiring City Attorney Barbara Parker, who has given the case her full attention and hired a top-notch law firm to defend the Oakland City Council’s unanimous vote against the coal terminal.

Ryan has pledged not to take any money from coal interests, but his opponent, Barbara Harbin-Forte, has refused to make this pledge. She is also promising to cut back on “outside law firms,” which would be disastrous in this case.    

Oakland needs a City Attorney who will continue to uphold city policy against the coal terminal, not one who will negotiate to “cut your losses,” as Harbin-Forte has suggested.  

Website: https://www.ryanforoakland.com/ 

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