As part of my research on an article about small business resources in Oakland, I attempted to connect with City Councilwoman Desley Brooks of District 6.

I left voicemails, emailed her several times and visited her office at the Eastmont Town Center, with no success. I am aware of her office downtown, but wonder why must I leave my district, fight and pay for parking when Eastmont is closer and parking is free. I never received a response, and the only contact I had was incredibly unprofessional and rude.

Part of my reason for contacting her office is that I too am a business owner in a city that has some of the highest sales taxes in the state. Like most small businesses, I don't have the time to navigate through mountains of red tape to learn if there are any resources that can be of benefit. My Council person should be a place to start, a person who can at least point me in the right direction. I had been previously informed that unlike other city of Oakland Council members, Desley Brooks does not have a staff, or a time when she is in her office.

On Jan. 31, I spent the afternoon calling various city offices to obtain small businesses assistance information, specifically on how East Oakland would be impacted in particular by changes with the new city administration, if any. I found the exchanges with the departments helpful and professional until I called Desley Brooks’ office at City Hall. The person who answered the phone refused to identify herself, only saying she "was the representative for Desley Brooks” and demanded that I spell out my name and why I was calling.

I explained that I was looking for answers on what the city plans to do about businesses in East Oakland and how are things going to change with a new mayor and if there will be cuts or additions to current programs. Defensively, the unidentified representative said that I was assuming nothing had been done.

I never said "nothing was done." I asked what changes, if any, would occur. She asked me what businesses had I spoken to, I explained I would have that conversation with Desley Brooks. She said “you can tell me now.” Not sure who this abrupt, unidentified person was, I refused.

The conversation went from terse to extremely rude and even the woman raising her voice. I explained that I had called and emailed several times to get in contact with Brooks and that I had been to the Eastmont Mall office. I was informed that I would not reach Desley Brooks at the Eastmont office, that’s not where she's based.

I asked then, what is it for? Why is money spent on keeping it open if it’s never occupied and why must constituents have to leave their district to access to her? Raising her voice, she said “If you call yourself a journalist you shouldn’t approach a story with a bias. You’re supposed to be unbiased, but you know everything already, so you go ahead and print your story.”

I did go ahead and write that story, with the assistance of the Business Assistance Center and not the Councilwoman.

But what were the reasons for the hostility? I had to hang up on this woman because I felt no need to follow through on a conversation that was rude and had no merit.

I’m aware that Councilwoman Brooks has no staff, even though the city of Oakland provides funds for this.

Getting someone to assist the busy Vice Mayor would be a good thing. Maybe that person would even have regular hours at Eastmont?

I'm also aware it is policy at the city of Oakland City Hall that employees identify themselves on the telephone, as everyone else I spoke to did. It is also understandable that anyone can have a bad day, and being impolite on the phone is an easy fix.

But to be cut off without ever fully explaining the reason for my call with, “I’m sure by now you know the error of your ways” or “I am a lawyer by trade and my job is to listen to people and I know what you said” that is completely unacceptable.

What I wanted to know is what types of programs are available from the city of Oakland for District 6.

What exactly is Brooks doing to help beautify the neighborhood of MacArthur between 71st and 98th?

How exactly has she helped business programs like East Oakland Merchant Association in their efforts to clean their neighborhood, update storefronts, participate in merchant solidarity and build community?

I was informed by the Business Assistance Center, that there is a lot that the city has to offer this particular part of District 6, and yet very little has happened.

Despite a very organized effort to involve her and what she may know, many businesses I spoke with had no idea these resources existed.

Lastly how do the residents of District 6, who do not have Internet access contact their Councilperson? Where should they find her downtown phone number?

Shouldn't that information be posted at her Eastmont office, with hours of when the Councilperson or an assistant will be available? It seems fiscally wasteful and counterproductive to have an office in a space that is never occupied.

I reiterate, since I was told that’s not where I will find the Councilperson, what is the office for?

My initial contact with Brooks was regarding her district, but now I’m curious to know if the level of unprofessionalism that I experienced with both of her offices will translate into her term as vice mayor.

How will this term affect her home district or politics within the city?

What is the future of East Oakland if her interests lie elsewhere?

Only time will tell.

About Venus

I go under the blog pseudonym Venus and write about music and Bay Area local artists of various types. I've had a podcast entitled Sunday Night Jam Sessions available on iTunes and http://sundaynightjamsessions.blogspot.com and I can be reached at both my blog and on twitter @BayAreaVenus