[2] Prior to her service on the city council, Brooks served Chief of Staff to Alameda County Supervisor Keith Carson.
[4][5] In 2002, Brooks listed endorsements by a number of individuals, including sitting city council member Nancy Nadel and civil rights attorney Dan Siegel.
[8] In 2011 Council member Brooks was among the protestors sleeping in tents on the inaugural night of the Occupy Oakland encampment.
[9] In 2012, Brooks put forward a public safety proposal calling for, among other things, better lighting in high crime areas of the city.
[citation needed] In 2017, Brooks was found liable for $3.75 million for assaulting former Black Panther Elaine Brown.