We meet over Zoom. If you’d like to join us, and aren’t on our organizers’ list, drop us an email and we’ll send you an invitation.
The Friends of the Public Bank of Oakland was formed by members of Commonomics and Strike Debt Bay Area in August, 2016. By November 2018, we had persuaded the City of Oakland to fund — with contributions from Richmond, Berkeley, and the County of Alameda — a feasibility study for a public bank. The study deemed a public bank feasible, but city staff did not recommend moving forward. Notwithstanding that obstacle, the City Council voted unanimously in favor of examining next steps.
At that point, we decided to rename ourselves as Public Bank East Bay and work more directly with the County of Alameda, which we are doing now. Watch our Latest News for details.We are meeting regularly, have almost 1500 people on our mailing list in support of our goals (to join the mailing list, contact us). We are broadening our coalition by adding to our list of Oakland and East Bay organizations that support our efforts.
In 2018, we joined the California Public Banking Alliance. AB 857, the Alliance-sponsored bill enabling local public banks in California, has passed ALL of its legislative hurdles and was signed into law by Governor Gavin Newsom.
Working Groups
Some of our working groups meet between organizers’ meetings, and others just confer by phone and email. You can come to our meetings and plug into any one of these:
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Search for Interim Board Members
Help us find interim board members for the Public Bank of the East Bay. We are building an Interim Board to facilitate the transition to an approved, operating Board of Directors. Review the requirements for Board members. If you would like to be on the Interim Board, or you know someone you think would be good, you can email us or use the contact page linked above.
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Outreach to Organizations & Individuals
Help us with outreach (tabling at events, farmers’ markets, etc.) and spread the word about public banking! We also need help encouraging organization(s) to join us as supporters. -
Fundraising Operations
Help us raise money from individuals and foundations, find major donors, donate to our efforts. -
Digital Outreach Advocacy
Help us work with politicians to put public banking legislation on the table.
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Governance
Join the larger California Public Banking Alliance (CPBA)