Oakland Establishes Race and Equality Department

OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) - Oakland city leaders unanimously approved a department of race and equity during a City Council meeting Monday night.

The San Francisco Chronicle reports Tuesday that Councilwoman Desley Brooks proposed the department earlier this year.

The department, modeled after similar entities in Portland, Ore., and Seattle, would help other city agencies come up with their own strategic plans to address racial disparities in services.

It would require each branch of the city to deliver regular progress reports.

Both Council President Lynette Gibson McElhaney and Councilwoman Rebecca Kaplan supported the department Monday night, the newspaper reported. There have also been critics of the department on the council.

The department would cost between $600,000 and $800,000 to establish and would include four full-time positions.