KQED's Forum Ask Your Mayor: Oakland’s Barbara Lee
Sep 8, 2025
Barbara Lee, the newly inaugurated Mayor of Oakland, brings decades of congressional experience to her new role. She tackles pressing issues like crime and homelessness, emphasizing a community-driven approach to public safety. Lee shares insights on revitalizing abandoned properties and boosting local businesses while fostering youth employment. The conversation also delves into her initial months in office, where she learns from residents about their concerns and aspirations for a brighter Oakland.
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Stop Illegal Dumping With Tech And Community
- Increase enforcement, cameras, and code citations to deter illegal dumping and identify offenders.
- Expand community cleanup programs and beautification on business corridors to reduce trash hotspots.
Resisting Federal Troops As Political Tactic
- Federal intervention is viewed as a political provocation and illegal for policing a city, so Oakland plans to resist it.
- The mayor is coordinating a safety plan with county and attorney general to protect immigrant communities and protest rights.
Boost Public Safety With Mixed Investments
- Recruit aggressively and run multiple police academies to reach authorized staffing targets and restore patrol capacity.
- Fund non-sworn security, human trafficking operations, and sideshow prevention details alongside policing.