350 Bay Area Action is pleased to endorse Charlene Wang for Oakland City Council District 2. Charlene has had a love for Oakland since she was a child. As an adult, she has worked to create positive social change for disadvantaged communities in many places before returning to Oakland to rededicate herself there. Her training is in Environmental Engineering and in Public Policy from Harvard’s Kennedy School of Government. 

Charlene is currently working for the EPA on environmental justice and civil rights. In Oakland, she has a vision for building up the green economy. “My first climate priority will be hiring new grant writers to ensure that Oakland gets its fair share of Inflation Reduction Act funding. Bringing in federal dollars is one of the best ways to get new projects off the ground, especially in a budget-constrained environment. I’d also immediately get to work trying to bring renewable energy companies to Oakland.” This was written last summer; and now, with the new federal budget and policy issues, Charlene is also looking at state programs and grants as well as local funding sources to make sure Oakland gets needed earmarked climate and transportation dollars.

She also stresses a platform of advocating for an affordable, walkable city, with housing design that reduces the carbon footprint and creates more vibrant options for those who choose to be car-free. 

Wang has also worked on environmental justice for the US Department of Transportation under the Biden administration, including work to reconnect Oakland communities divided by highway design policy. With a range of policy and government experience, we know Charlene will be a climate champion on the Oakland council.

Charlene is one of two candidates whom we have endorsed for this seat, along with Kara Murray-Badal. Oakland has ranked-choice voting. We strongly encourage you to rank both candidates, in whatever order you prefer. And, both candidates are car-free.

Website: https://www.charleneforoakland.com/

Volunteer some time: https://www.charleneforoakland.com/get-involved