Oakland Leadership and Bay Area Council Coalition Work to Advance Shared Public Safety Goals

President & CEO Jim Wunderman led the Bay Area Council’s Oakland safety coalition in a convening with city leadership on Monday, October 27, to align on shared priorities and develop a coordinated action plan for improving public safety across Oakland. The meeting marked a significant step forward in the partnership between the business community and city officials to address one of Oakland’s most pressing challenges.

Mayor Barbara Lee and key Oakland leadership, including Chief of Staff Miya Saika Chen, Department of Violence Prevention Chief Dr. Holly Joshi, Public Safety Director Rev. Damita Davis Howard, Oakland Police Department Assistant Chief James Beere, and Public Works Interim Director Josh Rowan, presented their five-pillar public safety plan, which aligned closely with many recommendations from the Bay Area Council Economic Institute’s Oakland crime trends study released this summer. The overlapping priorities between the coalition and city leadership created a clear foundation for action.

Attendees identified three key shared priority areas for immediate focus: rebuilding the Oakland Police Department by increasing sworn officers through enhanced recruitment and retention, stabilizing OPD leadership, and reestablishing the cadet program; significantly expanding the use of technology as a crime prevention and deterrence tool; and preventing violent crime by investing in and expanding the proven Ceasefire model.

The Bay Area Council will now develop a shared action plan with Oakland leaders and launch a cross-sector implementation effort. This collaborative approach reflects the coalition’s commitment to turning research into results and supporting Oakland’s path toward becoming a safer, more vibrant city. For more information, contact VP of Public Policy, Laura Hill.