‘Can’t isn’t in the dictionary’: Oakland Mayor Barbara Lee discusses her first 100 days

Oakland Mayor Barbara Lee faces a metropolis with sky-high expectations. 

Residents demand rapid options to crime, unlawful dumping, homelessness, and a struggling native financial system. Additionally they need their new chief to make native authorities extra clear and accountable. And plenty of hope to see the mayor unify a metropolis that turned deeply polarized throughout the 2024 recall elections. 

Lee unveiled her political technique proper after the election. It was a 10-point plan for her first 100 days. 

Lee’s record was mild on metrics and milestones. As an alternative, it emphasised listening to native stakeholders, advocating for extra sources, and stabilizing the town’s funds. 

Her roadmap additionally didn’t account for the entire challenges that might emerge. Inside weeks of Lee taking workplace, President Donald Trump deployed National Guard troops to Los Angeles as a part of an aggressive immigration crackdown. Trump took a swipe at Oakland and hinted that it and different cities could face comparable remedy sooner or later. Lee has more and more pushed again on Trump’s threats. 

After we sat down with Lee on Wednesday at Metropolis Corridor, the mayor shared plenty of the identical factors she’s been making since she launched her marketing campaign again in January. She is laser-focused on the meat-and-potatoes work of presidency, together with sustaining funding for public security packages and retaining streets clear. And she or he is optimistic that her many group listening periods are serving to heal a divided metropolis. 

However there are plenty of unanswered questions on how she’s going to spend the subsequent 12 months in workplace, together with whether or not she plans to run for a second time period. 

We’ve edited the next interview for readability and size. 

Throughout your marketing campaign and after your election, you hit on a theme of unity. We all know from the election outcomes that there’s a actually stark divide in Oakland. What have you ever carried out thus far to attempt to bridge this longstanding divide? 

In Congress and the state legislature, I represented areas I didn’t win within the mayoral election, so individuals know me there — they simply determined to not vote for me. 

We’ve held Ceasefire educating and listening periods and have been current at occasions. Considered one of our first listening periods was at Italian Colours restaurant, and it was actually good. A number of individuals got here as much as me later. They usually stated, “We didn’t vote for you. However thanks for being right here, and we’re glad you gained.” 

We’re doing our teach-ins as a result of lots of people don’t know the way our public security system works. We’ve been holding conferences above 580 and under 580. We’ve been to the Cypress Mandela Coaching Middle and completely different church buildings — Montclair Presbyterian Church; we went as much as the church off of Skyline. We’ve simply been in all places within the metropolis to attempt to convey this metropolis collectively — by my presence, listening, and taking recommendation and enter from everyone. 

What I stated throughout the marketing campaign has been validated: individuals have the identical considerations wherever they’re. I talked to at least one pastor after one in all our periods, and he or she says, “I’m simply attempting to determine how we are able to get individuals right here to grasp what’s happening in deep East Oakland, as a result of they’re the identical considerations which might be being raised.” In every single place I am going, it’s the identical points. 

Editor’s be aware: A 2025 survey performed by the Oakland Finances Advisory Fee discovered that throughout virtually all demographic teams, the largest priorities for residents are security, housing, and cleanliness. Extra particularly, many individuals requested for well timed response by fireplace and police and the cleansing of graffiti and trash.

One other large subject on individuals’s minds is Trump deploying National Guard troops to main cities in current months, for immigration enforcement and to struggle crime. He’s hinted that Oakland could possibly be one other goal. What are you and Police Chief Floyd Mitchell and different public security leaders doing to arrange? 

We now have our plans. They only haven’t been rolled out but for apparent causes.

A part of our plan is to ensure that we have now prompt areas for peaceable protests. We all know that this federal intervention, if this occurs, is to impress chaos. And we’re attempting with the police power, and likewise with our violence interrupters and others, to ensure that if this occurs, the peace is stored, and to not let Donald Trump provoke plenty of chaos. That’s the large piece. 

The opposite piece is ensuring our immigrants [are supported]. That is actually arduous. I used to be speaking to somebody immediately about how some kids want coronary heart surgical procedure, and so they’re afraid to take the youngsters for the surgical procedure, as a result of they suppose that ICE may choose them up. They’re not going to work, they’re shedding earnings, and so they haven’t any cash for providers. And so a part of our technique is defending our immigrants and supporting our immigrant group. We’re elevating cash to do this, to assist with authorized providers. However we’re setting out methods to function and what the security plan ought to be if, actually, this occurs. 

So there are completely different legs of this, which require our Metropolis Lawyer Ryan Richardson, he’s doing the authorized technique, what we are able to do with the legal professional basic — how we might reply legally, what we might do to ensure we maintain the peace. 

In some cities, there have been reports of masked ICE agents who typically don’t present identification whereas they’re detaining individuals. Have you ever talked to the police chief or different public security leaders about how you’d cope with a state of affairs the place masked males began taking individuals off the road in Oakland? 

We’re engaged on that. That’s one of many issues we are able to’t discuss proper now, as a result of we don’t need them to know what our plans are. However we’re going to have to have the ability to defend immigrants from being unfairly snatched from their houses. We’re going to should have individuals watching, witnesses, and a authorized document. , a few individuals have already been arrested. So we form of know the way they’re working and can function based mostly on different jurisdictions. It’s horrible what’s happening, and it’s fallacious.

You talked about Ceasefire earlier, which you’ve emphasised is a confirmed technique to cut back violent crime. You additionally promised to convene public security and enterprise leaders to develop different initiatives to deal with crime. Are there different concrete plans you’ve developed that you simply wish to spotlight?

One of many largest items is attempting to ensure that we get to 700 cops, as a result of we’re short-staffed. We funded 5 academies. We want extra, however the finances disaster makes that troublesome. And recruitment and retention are very troublesome, so we’re layering on new methods to recruit cops from Oakland. 

There’s some organizations that wish to assist us recruit. I’ve talked with members of the NAACP. I’ve talked with members within the LGBTQ+ group, individuals who actually imagine that there are different individuals who would wish to be cops who we haven’t recruited. 

Additionally, while you have a look at our non-sworn ambassadors, for instance, they’re individuals who have that have in public security, who’re desperate to be recruited to enter policing. So I feel one of many large items of public security is recruiting and retention.

Editor’s be aware: In accordance with the mayor’s workplace, the town plans to extend nighttime and weekend police and group security ambassador presence downtown. Oakland can be constructing a seven-city regional partnership to stop gun and gang violence, however officers didn’t instantly determine which cities can be part of this technique. A July 2025 OPD staffing report laid out a number of the steps taken by metropolis officers to recruit new cops.

Why do you suppose traditionally Oakland has had bother recruiting and retaining police? What do you suppose is the foundation drawback? Additionally, are you taking any steps to enhance the efficiency of the academies when you do get these of us in?

It’s multi-faceted. To start with, some cities or jurisdictions supply bonuses. For instance, one provides a $75,000 signing bonus. The Oakland finances, you recognize, we balanced it. We nonetheless needed to do plenty of chopping, however we elevated funding for police, which OPOA gained’t acknowledge, however we did improve funding. 

Secondly, the price of dwelling. A whole lot of cops should commute from lengthy distances. Lots of them say they will’t afford to dwell in Oakland. Thirdly, we have now plenty of extra time, and plenty of the cops wish to not work extra time a lot. So if there’s one other jurisdiction that creates a greater work schedule, then that appears extra interesting. 

Editor’s be aware: In accordance with a July 2025 OPD staffing report, solely 22% of Oakland police dwell within the metropolis. Oakland’s new biennial finances allocates $72 million for police extra time. OPD routinely exceeds its extra time finances, which OPOA claims is a results of understaffing and excessive crime. However a recent analysis by a number of the metropolis’s unions discovered that when OPD’s sworn staffing ranges elevated, extra time spending continued to rise, and that extra time spending grew in years when crime dropped. 

Whenever you maintain a police academy, you anticipate a share of cadets to drop out. Some have dropped out, however they weren’t for any purpose that needed to do with the police division or Oakland. However nonetheless, you need to take that under consideration. 

So it’s a multi-faceted problem that we have now to deal with. And naturally, after I was in Congress, I introduced in some huge cash from the feds for group policing, for the Division of Violence Prevention. We nonetheless have some funding pending that I acquired appropriated from final 12 months, that thus far continues to be there. It hasn’t been clawed again.

OPD staffing seems to be at a document low. However as you’ve famous, the town’s crime charge has been dropping considerably for greater than a 12 months. Does that increase any questions for you about how a lot cash Oakland ought to put money into the police division?

Sure, the crime charge is coming down, however we have now to maintain that. Doing so requires sources, however it additionally requires us to deal with the excellent public security technique and maintain this trajectory going. And meaning we have now to get to 700 cops, which goes to take a few years. We now have to completely fund the Department of Violence Prevention and Ceasefire and anti-human trafficking. All of that has to remain on monitor. 

Whenever you have a look at the cities that Donald Trump trashed, like Baltimore, the strategy they’re using could be very comparable. We now have the identical technical help group serving to us right here in Oakland that’s serving to Baltimore. 

Crime is coming down, however individuals don’t really feel it. I imply, you have a look at what’s happening. The sideshows – sideshow prevention had not been funded within the prior 12 months, however I made positive on this finances that we put again in sources for sideshow patrols. Folks don’t really feel protected as a result of we have now all of this happening in Oakland, like each different metropolis has. So it’s a problem, however we’re working each single day.

Even infrastructure is a part of crime prevention. , by way of ensuring that vehicles can’t come out and in and do sideshows. It’s kind of like a whole-of-government strategy.

Our colleague Jose Fermoso has actually enlightened all of us on how typically, actually, simply the place the curve is within the street utterly adjustments the extent of exercise that occurs in a single place versus one other.

Proper. Infrastructure is one thing that we’re placing forth as an extra add-on to policing.

A part of your 100-day plan was staffing blight discount crews. You’ve talked about partnering with the district legal professional to prosecute unlawful dumping. Beneath your administration, has the town but referred any unlawful dumping circumstances to the DA. In that case, what number of?

We established a working group with the DA. We’ve had a few conferences, and we’re growing that protocol now. However the DA’s workplace has to employees up now to deal with this drawback. So we’re engaged on it, however I don’t imagine we’ve seen any actual prosecutions. 

However we’re doing code enforcement and extra digicam monitoring, attempting to determine the individuals within the autos doing unlawful dumping.

Editor’s be aware: We requested Alameda County District Lawyer Ursula Jones Dickson whether or not her workplace has prosecuted any circumstances for unlawful dumping. In a press release, Dickson stated her workplace shares group considerations about unlawful dumping and can evaluation all circumstances introduced by native police companies and “vigorously prosecute” those that may be proved past an inexpensive doubt. In accordance with Lee’s workplace, the town eliminated 30 tons of waste from areas by faculties in Oakland over the previous 100 days and cleared an unspecified quantity of trash from 30 miles of Oakland streets. Oakland’s new finances contains $1 million in extra funding to pay for unlawful dumping enforcement know-how and officers. In accordance with recent media reports, Oakland has issued practically 3,000 unlawful dumping citations totaling roughly $1.3 million since 2021, however solely collected about $109,000 in penalties.

One other subject that was a part of your 10-point plan was ensuring the town audits contracts to make sure that public funds are being spent successfully by contractors and nonprofits. Have you ever requested the auditor to launch an investigation?

We’re within the strategy of organizing this forensic audit, which goes to inform us loads about contracts. 

Secondly, the info system right here is admittedly difficult, to simply determine contracts and what their scope of labor is. On my employees, I’ve an individual [Erica Joy Astrella] who’s doing knowledge and know-how transformation, who’s digging deep. So we’re getting there, however we haven’t carried out that but. We’re within the strategy of it, however we have now regarded on the audit stories, and we’re taking a look at learn how to prioritize enacting suggestions of the previous. A few of these haven’t even been addressed.

The information and tech function is a brand new one for this workplace. What else will that particular person be wanting into?

The 311 system, for one. Techniques aren’t speaking with one another. 

Our knowledge and know-how chief, Erica, has recognized our strengths and weaknesses and the way we have to improve our know-how and methods. They discovered that some spreadsheets are nonetheless being carried out by hand. They’ve recognized loads, and it’s gonna price loads of cash. However we’re about prepared to begin speaking to some firms to see in the event that they can assist us by way of contributions, upgrades, and coaching. It is a large a part of our public-private partnership, additionally — the info piece for the town. 

We needed to ask about homelessness, too. That was an fascinating announcement this week on the brand new Workplace of Homelessness Options. We’re curious to see how that unfolds.

Previously, the homeless methods have been disjointed, and other people have come and gone. It hasn’t been a precedence. So the underside line is, we’re working to ensure that we have now this workplace now that can be built-in into our general housing building. However we’re going to have a separate technique, and that actually is a giant deal, as a result of individuals have felt prefer it hasn’t been a precedence for the town. It’s. And it sends the message that these silos are being damaged down. 

What I do know in regards to the metropolis — and I do know this as a result of I’ve labored with the town being a federal official — is that you’ve the town departments, you have got the council, you have got the mayor. There’s no alignment in any respect. And so we’ve been in a position to start to interrupt down these silos. That’s a giant piece, like working with the council on the finances, working with the council on homeless options, we have now to work constantly collectively.

On that be aware, one councilmember, Ken Houston, goes to suggest a coverage to extra aggressively clear encampments and tow automobile houses. Are you in favor of that kind of aggressive strategy?

Regardless of the council decides, I wish to ensure we’re aligned with what the county requires for funding. That’s the large piece that I’m targeted on, ensuring it’s aligned with Measure W funding and HHAP funding, and all of our state funding. That’s been my concern. So no matter occurs in that context, we simply have to ensure we’re eligible for the funding. 

Editor’s be aware: County officers just lately solidified a plan for Measure W, a virtually $2 billion gross sales tax. A lot of the cash will go towards homelessness providers and housing, with Oakland receiving a major chunk for tasks and packages within the metropolis that adjust to the county’s plan. HHAP is the Homeless Housing Assistance Grant program, one other supply of funds the town receives.

Extra broadly, whether or not the coverage complies with the funding necessities or not, there’s this existential query in homelessness proper now: Do cities want to supply shelter to of us earlier than clearing encampments? Two years in the past, the Supreme Courtroom stated no. 

Yeah, and that’s a part of Measure W. We now have to have transitional housing and supportive housing till we get to everlasting housing. Even now, when encampments are closed, we don’t have sufficient locations for individuals to go to. We’re taking a look at how to do this. So a part of this — the worldwide piece — is ensuring that when encampments are closed, there are options for individuals.

What was tougher to realize in 100 days than you anticipated, and did any new priorities emerge for you? 

The information methods, as a result of I’m actually into truth-telling. I’ve all the time been like that. I’ll examine numbers and drill down on numbers till I imagine they’re correct, as a result of I imagine individuals deserve the reality. In order that’s why I employed Erica. However I needed to drill down, means down, on that.

You’ve surrounded your self with so many alternative advisors and other people, each in and out of doors of your workplace. Is there one particular person, or perhaps one piece of recommendation they gave you, that’s actually helped information you on this new job, for those who needed to choose one? 

My mom handed away 10 years in the past. I hear her voice each single day. She’s my greatest advisor. 

I grew up in El Paso, Texas. Segregation was very troublesome, being a Black lady. And she or he all the time stated, regardless of all of the challenges, “Can’t isn’t within the dictionary. Look it up.” 

I’d whine about it. “I can’t, as a result of I’m the one Black particular person within the faculty, and so they’re taking a look at me” — that form of stuff. In order that’s my mother. She’s an angel. 

The mayoral election is just a 12 months away. Do you intend to run in 2026?

The voters and residents of Oakland, that’s their determination. That is all-hands-on-deck for me proper now, and we’re working arduous, and we’re delivering, and have to ship extra, and we’ll proceed to do this.

Editor’s be aware: Lee has created a committee to lift cash for a 2026 reelection marketing campaign.