Communities

By John Russo

Pragmatic, Progressive Leadership

John Russo is a life-long Democrat and an independent leader who is not beholden to any special interests. His independence allows him to put petty politics aside and work to get results.

Oakland

John Russo is running for Assembly with a focus on improving education and on issues affecting Oakland's neediest children. More than half of Oakland's 9th graders don't graduate from high school, and more than 85% of our sophomores are still not proficient in algebra and English.

As Oakland City Attorney, John Russo created the award-winning Neighborhood Law Corps program, awarded a statewide prize for innovation and achievement on October 6, 2005. The program sends young legal advocates into Oakland neighborhoods to fight blight, shut down drug hot spots, and eliminate unsafe nuisance businesses. The program has made a real difference in many of Oakland's neediest areas, creating healthier, safer neighborhoods.

John Russo has been a champion of women's issues. He has fought for tougher penalties and new laws for sex crimes and sex slavery. He worked to implement "Megan's Law" in Oakland + ensuring that parents are notified when there are dangerous sex predators near our schools and in our neighborhoods -- and fought the use of toxics that could endanger pregnant women in our area. As a member of the Assembly, he will continue to fight and advocate for women's rights.

John Russo has been active in public service in our area for more than 10 years, serving on Oakland's City Council before becoming Oakland's first elected City Attorney. He is a principled leader who gets results and has the experience and knowledge we need representing us in Sacramento.

Piedmont

Piedmont has done an excellent job establishing a strong, viable community. It is important for successful cities to protect and preserve their hard-fought gains. As a past President of the League of California Cities, John Russo understands that every city is different, but that we must work together to protect local control and precious resources. All politics is local. So is good government. As a former Oakland City Councilmember, current City Attorney and past President of The California League of Cities, John understands that the state cannot solve all problems. Rather, the state should work to facilitate local governments' and regions' work, empowering them to make the decisions appropriate for their communities and constituents. Even in this Assembly district, what works for Oakland does not necessarily work for the City of Piedmont.

John led the effort and strategy to guide the League of California Cities, 478 member cities with diverse goals and agendas, to support and work to win Prop. 1A in November 2004. This measure alone saved Piedmont millions of dollars. It is just this type of leadership that the Legislature needs to address the complex issues facing the state.

Alameda

Oakland City Attorney John Russo is running for Assembly with a focus on improving education and issues affecting children. In Alameda, schools have suffered for decades from the state's unfair funding formula, which has resulted in Alameda schools getting less funding than other comparable school districts. As Alameda's Assemblyman, John will fight to get Alameda schools the funding they need.

John will also address some of the important access and transportation issues unique to Alameda, specifically, traffic and congestion related to the tube. He is proposing a plan to build a new tunnel at the north end of Alameda, near the Naval base, to increase access to and from the greater East Bay, thereby easing Alameda's traffic gridlock.

As City Attorney, John Russo directed an unprecedented governmental legal strategy coordinating local efforts to oppose building a casino near the Oakland Airport. John knows Alameda as an important part of the East Bay and will fight to preserve local land-use decision making in Alameda, for Alamedans.

John will be an Assemblymember who will fight for improving Alameda's local schools, protecting Alameda's children, and improving access to Alameda from Oakland and the East Bay.