Make Oakland cool

Regarding “Where mayoral candidates stand on A’s ballpark” (News, Sept. 22): Bravo to Matt Kawahara’s insightful article polling all 10 Oakland mayoral candidates about their positions on the Howard Terminal Project.

Mind you, these are Oakland candidates, meaning each one holds a distinct and nuanced perspective. Elbowing into Oakland politics is not for the timid.

Council Member Loren Taylor’s clear-eyed and nuanced perspective crystalizes the potential gains from developing Howard Terminal, including jobs, affordable housing, and real financial returns — not “projected” gains, like the Raiders promised.

More importantly, Taylor points out the intangible gains, such as bringing back Oakland’s cool factor, something that’s desperately needed in light of a recent crime wave that threatens to undo all the cohesiveness and goodwill forged between Oakland’s diverse neighborhoods during the lockdown.