From Empathy to Agency: Highlights from the RHA Annual Meeting 2025

The Redwood Heights Association (RHA) held its 2025 RHA Annual Meeting on November 5, bringing neighbors together for an evening of reflection, learning, and celebration. The theme, “Empathy to Agency,” captured the spirit of the event, helping residents better understand how Oakland’s government operates and how they can play a more informed role in shaping their community’s future.

It was a lively, engaging, and informative evening that brought together City Auditor Michael Houston and Councilmember Janani Ramachandran for a rare joint conversation. Hearing from both leaders provided valuable insight into how accountability, policy, and implementation intersect, as well as how residents can play a meaningful role in this process.

Celebrating 10 Years of RHA 🎉

This year also marked a significant milestone: 10 years of RHA! Over the past decade, the association has hosted dozens of neighborhood events and projects that strengthen community ties and enhance local spaces, including Movies and Music in the Park, blood drives, maker events, park improvements, Earth Day cleanups, and the new mosaic mandala installation. Over the years, RHA has helped bring neighbors together—building friendships, improving parks, and strengthening our sense of community.

Programs such as Welcome Neighbor, Micro-Grants, and Emergency Preparedness have supported neighbors in both everyday life and times of need. RHA’s success over the years has been entirely volunteer-driven, proof that when residents come together, great things happen.

As we celebrate this milestone, RHA is also looking ahead. The organization is seeking new board members and volunteers to bring fresh perspectives, new ideas, and renewed energy to continue the work of building a vibrant, connected community. If you’ve ever thought about getting involved, now is the perfect time to join in.

Auditor Houston: Accountability and Transparency

Auditor Michael C. Houston shared how his office works to safeguard public resources and strengthen transparency in Oakland. His team conducts independent financial and performance audits, investigates whistleblower complaints, and identifies ways the city can operate more efficiently, equitably, and effectively.

Performance audits — such as those addressing emergency response times, illegal dumping, and IT cybersecurity are designed to improve services for residents. Auditor Houston also described the Audit Recommendation Follow-Up (ARFU) process, which tracks whether city departments have acted on recommendations made in prior audits.

While the Auditor’s Office identifies issues and recommends improvements, implementation depends on the City Council and City Administration, underscoring the importance of collaboration between oversight and policymaking.

Councilmember Ramachandran: Policy, Budgets, and the Human Side of City Work

Councilmember Janani Ramachandran joined the conversation to share her perspective on how the City Council and the Auditor’s Office intersect. She explained that the Council’s role centers on budgeting, financial oversight, and drafting laws, while the City Administrator holds the authority to implement those policies.

Councilmember Ramachandran emphasized that Council cannot direct individual departments to take specific actions — a distinction that often surprises residents. Understanding this separation helps clarify how accountability and implementation work in practice.

She also spoke about ongoing staffing challenges across city departments, which affect service delivery and implementation of policies. Additionally, she highlighted the upcoming Oakland Charter Reform discussions, an opportunity to explore how the city’s structure might evolve to improve efficiency and transparency.

On a lighter note, Councilmember Ramachandran expressed her appreciation for RHA’s active involvement in the community and shared that she still has two plants thriving from an RHA Plant Share event!

Looking Ahead

As RHA celebrates a decade of connection, the RHA Annual Meeting reinforced what community engagement can achieve — from neighborhood cleanups to civic education.

Both Auditor Houston and Councilmember Ramachandran emphasized the importance of understanding how city systems work as a foundation for effective advocacy. Whether it’s auditing performance or shaping policy, accountability in Oakland depends on collaboration — between residents, elected officials, and city staff.

🎥 Couldn’t make it to the meeting?

You can watch the full recording of the RHA Annual Meeting below to catch the presentations from Auditor Houston and Councilmember Ramachandran, along with highlights from RHA’s first 10 years of community impact.

💛 Learn more, get involved, or express interest in joining the board

We can’t wait to see you at our next event! Check back in late January for the 2026 event schedule.

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