Mayor Barbara Lee’s First 100 Days of Action

08/31/2025

[ Article originally appeared in https://blog.oaklandca.gov ]

When I took office 100 days ago, I made a commitment to you: to tackle Oakland's biggest challenges with urgency, transparency, and measurable results. Today, I'm proud to share how we've transformed that promise into real progress on the issues that matter most to your daily lives and your family's future.

Working hand-in-hand with our dedicated city staff, committed community partners, and the thousands of residents who actively shaped our priorities, we've built momentum across public safety, homelessness solutions, economic revitalization, and accountable governance. Here's how we've delivered on our shared vision for Oakland.

Increased Public Safety

Priority: Bring together Police Department leadership and representatives from all business corridors to coordinate and improve public safety strategies.

What We Accomplished

United 100+ business leaders in powerful safety coalition
Funded five police academies and authorized 678 officers toward 700-officer goal
Funded the expansion of Oakland’s Community Safety Ambassador program
Revived sideshow enforcement patrols
Forged major employer partnerships for citywide safety
Connected merchants with Business Improvement District advisors to activate “Block Captain” model including Police and community ambassadors
Developing personalized security plans for hospital campuses in partnership with Oakland Police Department

What's Coming

Increasing nighttime and weekend Police and Community Safety Ambassador presence downtown
Training community ambassadors as block captains across Oakland’s business corridors
Expanding “Clean and Safe” model citywide in partnership with the Business Improvement Districts, OPD, businesses, and community
Building seven-city regional partnership to prevent gun and gang violence
Developing citywide task force on immigrant community support and protections

Added Homelessness Resources

Priority: Focus on securing Oakland’s fair share of money from Alameda County to address our homeless crisis

What We Accomplished

Established Office of Homelessness Solutions to prevent homelessness, connect people to services, and help people find permanent housing
Worked with community and Board of Supervisors to ensure 80% of Alameda County’s Measure W funds are dedicated to reducing homelessness
Secured state Homeless Housing Assistance and Prevention funding for affordable housing projects
Joined Alameda County Conference of Mayors homelessness working group
Partnered with Governor’s Office, California Highway Patrol, Caltrans, Alameda County, and city leaders for progress on homelessness solutions and trash removal

What's Coming

Hiring Office of Homelessness Solutions leadership team
Leveraging all available resources for proven solutions for homelessness and housing
Ensuring the Home Together 2030 Plan, which will guide countywide resources for homelessness, is deeply informed by what works for Oaklanders
Strengthening partnerships across County and City homelessness and housing teams

Prioritized Economic Development

Priority: Convene the CEOs of the 10 largest Oakland employers to discuss public-private initiatives that can improve Oakland's economy and increase public safety.

What We Accomplished

Rallied Oakland’s largest employers for bold investment commitments in Oakland’s future
Delivered $3 million Business Incentive Program and funded Economic Activation Zones in partnership with Council
Fast-tracked 22 bright new streetlights around Fox Theatre
Reinstated Mayor’s Summer Youth Employment Program for 200+ Oakland youth
Employed 75 justice-involved residents to remove 30 tons of trash
Reinstated funding for Cultural Affairs Division Manager in partnership with Council
Boosted graffiti cleanup resources for business corridors in partnership with Council
Partnered with Jack London Square merchants for business growth
Initiated Sister Cities Program revival and international trade connections
Partnered on green business incubator serving 25 small business owner

What's Coming

Creating Arts and Entertainment Districts to support Oakland businesses
Implementing comprehensive clean and safe streets with coordinated enforcement teams
Uplifting business districts through streamlining permits, filling vacant storefronts, and cultural activations
Expanding Mayor’s Summer Youth Employment Program to serve 500 participants in 2026
Launching narrative campaign showcasing Oakland as a world-class destination city
Launching Green Business Accelerator, supporting 25 underinvested entrepreneurs in sustainability and green jobs

Reduced Fire Risk

Priority: Deploy vegetation management crews to clear hazards in the city’s high fire danger zones

What We Accomplished

Supported Oakland Fire Department to clear brush from 1,300+ high-risk acres
Partnered with Council to invest $10.3 million to keep all fire stations open
Secured $1.5 million CAL FIRE grant and expanded coverage to East Oakland hills
Appointed first Wildfire Prevention Commission members

What's Coming

Coordinating fire prevention efforts with all city departments and recruit more community volunteers to help with fire prevention and land stewardship

Led Good Government, Charter Modernization

Priority: Appoint a taskforce of League of Women Voters, ethics, and good government experts to modernize Oakland’s Charter and strengthen government accountability.

What We Accomplished

Assembled working group to provide Charter reform, specifically for recommendations for accountability and transparency, co-chaired by the League of Women Voters of Oakland and San Francisco Bay Area Planning and Urban Research Association

What's Coming

Engaging the public and presenting Charter reform recommendations by January 2026, ahead of anticipated November 2026 ballot measure

Removed Roadblocks to Support Small Businesses

Priority: Direct permitting reform to streamline city processes and reduce bureaucracy for small businesses.

What We Accomplished

Introduced same day permits for six permit types
Slashed digital building permit wait time from 7 to 1 day
Streamlined “by right” permit approvals for Downtown, Broadway Valdez, and Lake Merritt, as well as for residential affordable housing in all districts
Increased Permit Center hours to 8:30am-4:00pm daily
Partnered with Council to invest $3 million for permit system upgrades in Accela

Visit Oakland website to read the full article: https://blog.oaklandca.gov/the-pulse-of-the-town/100-days-of-action?utm_campaign=Mayor&utm_medium=email&_hsenc=p2ANqtz-8cC44NjD5yY8PJjPWdWxfkiZUb-IfnLOmHQqZVs4KMb5rdaV6Rp8ijePEgsbyj9N6bvZkhFCK9Emrt3X2t6ra-J6F98g&_hsmi=13036466&utm_content=13036466&utm_source=hs_email

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