MEMO
T
o: The Honorable Barbara Lee, Mayor
Council President Kevin Jenkins and Members of the City Council Fr
om: Christopher Townsend, President, Townsend Public Affairs, Inc.
Niccolo De Luca, Vice President
Alex Gibbs, Grants Manager
Ben Goldeen, Federal Advocacy Manager
Carlin Shelby, Deputy Director
Kerri West, Senior Associate
Joe Hansen, Federal Legislative Analyst
Kami Martin, California Legislative Analyst
D
ate: November 25, 2025
Subject: 2026 State and Federal Legislative Agenda
SUMMARY
Townsend Public Affairs, Inc. (TPA) has prepared this report for the City of Oakland as we look ahead to 2026. TPA met with City leadership and based on those meetings has prepared a recommended State and Federal Legislative agenda for discussion and adoption. This includes the framework for legislative proposals for the 2026 legislative year, including City -sponsored legislative proposals, legislative and funding priorities, and projects for consideration for competitive grant programs.
I
t is expected that the State Legislature in 2026 will maintain its focus on its recent priorities including efforts to counter federal actions, homelessness and b ehavioral health, housing and greater access, public safety, and t ransportation and infrastructure. This will also be Governor Newsom’s final year in office. The State Legislature is currently in interim recess and will reconvene on January 5, 2026 to resume legislative activities. Legislators may begin introducing new pieces of legislation, many of which may be like bills that did not advance in 2025, the second year of the two-year legislative cycle.
I
n Washington, DC, Congressional Leaders and the White House have primarily focused on non- local issues, though opportunities remain in infrastructure, transportation, housing, and public safety. Many funding opportunities and programs are restarting operations following mass layoffs of federal civil service employees and structural changes to program administration. The federal government shutdown having significantly delayed legislative action this fall, we expect substantive activity in the Spring of 2026.
C
ity of Oakland Legislative Priorities for 2026
This report reflects the City of Oakland’s legislative agenda for 2026, but it will be necessary to remain nimble and responsive as we move through the state and federal legislative year. In this report, TPA has included input from the Mayor, City Council, and City Administration. This report is compiled into three sections:
1. C
ity of Oakland Specific Legislative Priorities for Sponsorship;
2. State and Federal Legislative Priorities and Funding Opportunities to Support; and
3. One- time State and Federal Funding Priorities for “Member Request” Consideration.
ATTACHMENT A
2 The City of Oakland also works closely with and support various measures that are of importance to our regional partners such as: Oakland Unified School District, Port of Oakland, Alameda County, Metropolitan Transportation Commission, Alameda County Transportation Commission, Oakland’s transit agencies, as well as other cities, employers, and key sectors. We also partner with local institutions such as the Oakland Museum of California, Oakland Zoo, Chabot Space and Science Center, Children’s Fairyland and others.
City of Oakland Specific Legislative Priorities
If the City Council is supportive of the proposals listed below, TPA will continue to research what can be accomplished through legislation, regulations, or direct advocacy with State/Federal agencies and other organizations.
1. Supporting the Unhoused – Based on extensive discussions with the Mayor, City Council, and City Administration, addressing homelessness continues to be the City’s foremost legislative and funding priority. The City remains committed to protecting and expanding the Homeless Housi ng, Assistance, and Prevention (HHAP) funding stream while advocating for the continuation and enhancement of proven programs such as Project Homekey and Encampment Resolution Funding. Efforts will also focus on ensuring sustainable operational support for transitional and permanent supportive housing, including wraparound services that promote long -term stability and self -sufficiency. The City will pursue state and federal resources to strengthen housing navigation, mental and behavioral health support, and workforce development programs that help residents transition out of homelessness. In addition, seek to create opportunities that help provide forms of income for the unhoused while focusing on interim and permanent supportive housing. In partnership wit h regional and nonprofit partners, the TPA/ Oakland will continue advancing comprehensive, coordinated solutions that prevent displacement, increase access to affordable housing, and promote equity and dignity for unhoused individuals and families.
2. Illegal Dumping and Blight – Addressing illegal dumping and urban blight remains a critical priority for improving Oakland’s quality of life, advancing economic development, and strengthening public confidence in neighborhood safety. The City seeks to pursue a comprehensive approach that combines enforcement, prevention, education, and investment. Key strategies include strengthening penalties for individuals and entities responsible for illegal dumping, expanding collaboration with contractors, property owners, and waste haulers to ensure compliance with local ordinances, and increasing public education and outreach to deter dumping and promote responsible waste disposal.
Working to remove abandoned autos, RVs, and trailers off of city streets. Additionally, the City will advocate for state and federal funding to support capital improvements such as barriers, lighting, and surveillance infrastructure to help prevent recurring dumping in known hotspots. In addition, graffiti vandalism is at times an initiator o f blight and tools and funding are required to help adequately address it.
3. Public safety- This remains a top priority for City leaders, with a continued commitment to fostering safe, resilient, and well -supported communities. The City is enhancing partnerships with the California Highway Patrol (CHP) to provide expanded coverage and coordinated enforcement support throughout Oakland. This collaboration aims to improve response times, deter crime, and strengthen overall neighborhood safety. In addition, the TPA/Oakland team will investigate opportunities to fund police academies, seek efforts to fund technology enhancements to help modernize policing efforts, most effective ways to address sex trafficking and sexually exploited minors, and other such program s. In 3 addition, the City is expanding proven community -based safety initiatives such as the Street Ambassadors Program, which provides on- the-ground engagement, conflict mediation, and resource connections to residents and visitors. These programs have been instrumental in building trust, reducing low-level disturbances, and improving public spaces. The City is also intensifying its focus on fire prevention and emergency preparedness, particularly in the Oakland Hills, where reducing wildfire risk remains a critical priority. Ongoing initiatives include targeted vegetation management, home hardening education, enhanced community outreach to promote defensible space, emergency readiness, working on the High Fire Hazard Severity Zone maps, and other efforts.
4. Economic Inclusion – To strengthen Oakland’s economic foundation and promote inclusive growth, the City remains committed to empowering small businesses and local entrepreneurs. Efforts include expanding access to grants and financial assistance for capital improvements, security enhancements, technical support that help stabilize and grow neighborhood-serving enterprises, support for the Coliseum development and other projects that will help grow local businesses, and other efforts . These initiat ives aim to revitalize commercial corridors, enhance safety and visibility for small business owners, and foster equitable participation in the city’s economic development. In addition, the City will continue advocating for state and federal funding opportunities that support minority- owned, women-owned, and emerging local businesses, ensuring that Oakland’s diverse entrepreneurial community can thrive in an increasingly competitive marketplace, along with support for retail organizations and their footprint in Oakland.
Federal and State Legislative Themes for Potential Action The following legislative priorities have been identified by the Mayor, City Council, and City Administration. As legislative proposals are put forward, the TPA Team researches these opportunities and makes recommendations on potential action/next steps. The Mayor and/or City Council may choose to take a formal position on specific legislation, continue monitoring without a position, or determine that no further action is needed.
TPA also maintains and provides up- to-date matrices of state and federal bills relevant to the City’s priorities, providing analysis and information to support the development of informed policy positions. These legislative and funding themes include:
Homelessness
Policy Priorities Funding Priorities
Prevent displacement of tenants and residents Ongoing support for successful state programs such as Homekey, Encampment Resolution
Funding, HHAP reauthorization, and other
programs
Support regulations relating to abandoned and
decommissioned RVs
Funding for homeless services (e. g. , the wrap
around services necessary for transitional and
permanent housing with operating subsidies)
Support the development of new policies which better
align federal requirements of Coordinated Entry
Systems with the needs of people living in
encampments
Funding for interim housing efforts such as
creating an RV buy back program, Safe Parking
Programs, Tiny Cabins, other similar
opportunities
Support regional legislative efforts to address poverty, help build more affordable housing
Defend federal entitlement grants (CDBG,
HOME, ESG, HOPWA and others) from cuts
4 Support federal programs allowing for “housing first” policies, increasing flexibility and local control for
transitional and permanent supportive housing.
Planning, Housing and Land Use
Policy Priorities Funding Priorities
Help promote and support housing legislation that
provides incentives to approve more affordable housing
Support a funding stream to build more
affordable housing such as a housing bond
Support housing legislation that increases greater
height and density near transit and areas of job growth Support for soft-story seismic retrofits
Support legislation that advances the creation or
funding of affordable housing projects
Efforts to preserve the historic character of
neighborhoods
Support regulatory efforts to improve the Opportunity
Maps and tax credit eligibility
Support for increasing affordable housing
inventory including transit oriented affordable
housing
Support legislative and funding efforts relating to
housing preservation and acquisition, especially for
community land trusts
Support efforts that increase opportunities for
teacher housing
Support legislative efforts for Transit Oriented
Communities
Funding to support small businesses/churches
for predevelopment costs to help build housing
Support legislative efforts that encourage first right of refusal for affordable housing development relating to
county auctioned property
More funding for the State MHP program and
other programs
Support legislative efforts around Surplus Land Act
revisions to ensure more housing comes from the
various efforts
Funding or tax credits to create more modular
housing
Amend the Permanent Local Housing Allocation
(PLHA) program to either repeal the homeownership
set-aside requirement or increase total program funding sufficiently so that the requirement does not pose
challenges
Ensure appropriate FEMA reimbursement for
Coliseum Connections (or is reimbursed by State
if not)
Support legislation that revises the Health & Safety
Code to make it easier for cities to support their artistic communities, specifically the definition of joint living and work quarters to reflect how artists and creative
communities live and work today
Seek funding opportunities for operating
subsidies for deeply affordable housing projects
Support efforts to increase the number of housing
vouchers for the Oakland Housing Authority
Funding for safe and affirming shelter, housing,
and services for homeless and housing-insecure
transgender community members
Support policy efforts to utilize the enhanced, lower
bond finance threshold of 25% for the Low-Income
Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC), supplement other
affordable housing development programs
Support funding opportunities and legislative
initiatives to increase teacher housing
Support legislative efforts to ensure homeowners in
high fire areas are able to access homeowners’
insurance
Support funding opportunities and legislative
initiatives to increase housing for Transitional
Aged Youth (TAY)
Support legislative efforts to ensure affordable housing projects and permanent supportive housing projects are
able to access insurance.
Support legislative efforts to amend to the National
Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) for projects that are
5 infill affordable housing; This proposed infill affordable housing exemption from NEPA would parallel similar
state-level exemptions from the California
Environmental Quality Act
Work on the classification and amendments to the High
Fire Hazard Severity Zones maps to ensure residents
and future housing is not negatively impacted
Advocate for ADU policy to ensure they are not
permitted within High Fire Hazard Severity Zones
without further changes or qualifications
Notify City of any future changes to the RHNA process
and potential changes
Seek clarification of recent CEQA amendments relating
to human noise and it not being a qualification to slow down projects
Support legislative efforts to achieve CEQA and NEPA
cross-compatibility.
Clarify for any streamlining legislation that the project needs to meet all building codes
Support legislative efforts to streamline federal
permitting and environmental review processes for
affordable housing and transit development.
Potentially a legislative fix to Possessory Interest tax issues around middle income JPA deals
Expand the priority populations in the Workforce
Innovation and Opportunities Act to include LGBTQ+
transition-age youth, ages 18-26
Education
Policy Priorities Funding Priorities
Support efforts to establish an HBCU in Oakland as a
catalyst for expanded higher-learning opportunities,
improved workforce readiness, empowered future
entrepreneurs, and the growth of a new job-creating
industry
Support funding mechanisms necessary to
advance this initiative, such as infrastructure
improvements, land acquisition, facility leasing,
and other essential operational needs
Support efforts relating to Oakland Unified School
District
Increased funding for local municipalities to
address housing security and transportation
costs as they relate to both educators and
families
Support efforts to reduce racial inequities in education and address affordability of teacher housing
Support funding efforts to make safe school
environments for students and staff, due to toxic
contaminants found in the soil, traffic/pedestrian
safety, and more
Help support legislative efforts to fund the California Library Services Act (CLSA) which enables cost-
efficient resource sharing among public libraries
Efforts to fund critical libraries throughout
Oakland such as the Hoover Durant library and
others
6 statewide. Libraries are requesting an additional $3.2 million, raising total CLSA funding to $5 million, to better support statewide library services.
Support legislative efforts to make safe school
environments for students and staff, due to toxic
contaminants found in the soil, traffic/pedestrian safety, and more
Immigrant Protections
Policy Priorities Funding Priorities
Ongoing support and continuation as a proud and
established sanctuary jurisdiction and reaffirming our
steadfast commitment to safeguarding and supporting
immigrant communities
Support legal services and other efforts to
safeguard families and children
Support Congressional efforts that would make the
Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program
permanent, including a pathway to citizenship
Universal representation in deportation
proceedings
Support access to counsel and due process for all
undocumented immigrants, especially unaccompanied
minors
Legal services for those seeking asylum, refugee,
and other forms of protected status
Oppose efforts by the federal government relating to
immigration sweeps and other efforts
Economic Development/Economic Inclusion
Policy Priorities Funding Priorities
Bolster opportunities for entrepreneurs and small
businesses to create new jobs in the film and
entertainment industry
Ongoing funding for the cannabis equity program
to help support small businesses and equity
applicants
Measures providing for new tax increment financing
opportunities
Façade improvement, business assistance, and
support for neighborhood commercial areas
Measures to improve the Opportunity Zone Program
which could include greater equity provisions and
increases in local control over Qualified Opportunity
Fund usage.
Career Technical Education programs in fields
such as construction, information technology,
manufacturing, healthcare, transportation,
logistics, and other growing industry sectors
Efforts to encourage the development and expansion of
career technical education programs that align with
quality job opportunities in local manufacturing, light industrial, bioscience, and other priority industry sectors Funding for job training, placement, retention, and
related services aligned to the needs of Oakland
residents
Support for small business grant programs to help
address crime which could include funding for physical
improvements
Additional funding opportunities to clean up and
develop Brownfield sites
Support legislative efforts for workers protections Funding opportunities to support night markets and Downtown businesses
Cannabis regulations/legislation/ support efforts to
make it easier to pay the various state fees, reduce
waste in packaging, and lower state cannabis tax rate
at the retail level
Funding opportunities for business corridors of all
sizes
Support employment and workforce training
opportunities to help ensure a healthy pipeline for
businesses including new and emerging industries that
Funding to provide technical assistance and small
grant funding to Oakland restaurants to facilitate a
transition to reusable for dine in
7 provide supply chain and high wage, middle skills
employment opportunities
Support legislation relating to Online Sales Tax
Distribution Formula reform
Funding to support BIPOC small business to help
with labor law compliance and other operating
systems
Support efforts to recruit and retain more manufacturing jobs
Support funding efforts for the development of the
Coliseum Project Area and the surrounding
neighborhoods
Oppose proposals that cut Supplemental Nutrition
Assistance Program (SNAP) spending
Support investments from The Office Governor's
Office of Business and Economic Development for
small business financial assistance, facade
improvements, security measures, technical
assistance, marketing, and commercial corridor
revitalization
Oppose federal appropriations plans that would impose
across-the-board budget cuts to the federal budget,
thereby imposing cuts to vital safety net programs that help low-income working families, children, seniors,
students, and people with disabilities
Support funding and curricula requirements for
educational and workforce development programs
to prepare residents for careers in AI and
emerging technologies
Incentive Investment in Early Stage Small and Minority- Owned Enterprises
Support efforts such as Black Homeownership &
Reparations efforts which would include
downpayment assistance; credit repair and
financial counseling; and stronger prevention
measures for discriminatory lending and home
appraisal practices
Leverage all state opportunities as incentives for local cultural and creative development
Fund Senate Bill 628, the Creative Workforce Act of
2021, through the California Creative Corps program
and build a mechanism to support ongoing funding
Provide assistance for businesses to hire creative
workers; create apprenticeship pathways
Support for the development of the Coliseum Project
Area and the surrounding neighborhoods
Support legislative efforts that create a free one year certification for AI Program At California Community
Colleges (Simalar to AB19*20219)
Infrastructure/Transportation
Policy Priorities Funding Priorities
Support measures affecting funding for roads, transit,
“last mile” projects, and goods movement
Support efforts to secure funding for the
Transforming Oakland’s Waterfront Neighborhood
project
Support legislative efforts that would bring back a form of redevelopment for critical infrastructure and housing Transit-oriented development projects in both
residential and commercial areas such as West
Oakland BART, MacArthur BART, Coliseum
BART, and Fruitvale BART stations
Support efforts to help commuters and increase public
transportation
Safe Routes to School funding for additional
school sites
8 Advance or support legislation that increases funding for storm drain upgrades
Increased traffic safety and sustainable
transportation investments in multi-modal urban
environments
Support opportunities to increase funding for Safe
Routes to School
Funding for the Improvements to the Lincoln
Square Recreation Center, second phase of the
East Oakland Sports Complex, African American
Museum and Library, Malonga Casquelourd
Center, and other parks/facilities on the City’s
approved CIP list
Coordinate with AC Transit to monitor and support
legislative efforts that would enhance transit reliability and access for Oaklanders
Funding for the Black Cultural Arts District and
support for artists in general
Support legislative efforts to curb the abuse of disabled parking placards
Funding for on street and off-street parking
management strategies
Support efforts to ensure that the region is getting as much support as possible and that funding programs
within the federal 2026 Surface Transportation
Reauthorization Act will support locally controlled urban infrastructure projects, multi-modal projects, and
projects in disadvantaged communities
Increased investments in bridges
Monitor legislation regarding abandoned vehicles
and/or 72-hour towing policies
Help secure funding for library upgrades and
enhancements
Monitor scooter-related legislation Funding for traffic calming measures near BART stations
Support legislation relating to abandoned autos
including RVs and ensuring the ability to tow non
inoperable vehicles and RVs
Funding for the revitalization of the Henry J Kaiser
Center and hub of the arts
Support legislative efforts that give municipalities
greater control and flexibility relating to autonomous
vehicles, while also considering pedestrian and bicycle safety
Funding for transportation projects such as the
Embarcadero West Rail Safety & Access
Improvement Project and the International
Boulevard Pedestrian Lighting and Sidewalk
Improvement Project
Public Financing for Improvements to City-owned
Facilities
Funding to ensure our libraries are enhanced and
their CIP needs are addressed
Zoning and Building Modernization for Commercial
Reactivation
Environment, Energy and Sustainability
Policy Priorities Funding Priorities
Measures pertaining to clean energy and waste
reduction
Urban Forest inventory and urban greening
Measures that provide new tools and potential revenue
opportunities to address illegal dumping and unlicensed haulers
Funds to help address illegal dumping, littering,
graffiti, and illegal hauling
Legislation to limit and/or ban the use of neonicotinoids. Clean energy funding Encourage efforts relating to state funding for park
maintenance
EDA brownfields cleanup for sites
Measures that would support creating and sustaining of
proactive “Healthy Homes” inspection programs and
programs that reduce lead exposure
Support efforts to create more funding for
Community Choice Aggregation (CCA) programs
9 Support measures that allow cities and counties to buy and/or generate electricity for residents and businesses within their areas and oppose legislation or regulation that seeks to limit the viability of “community choice” energy programs
Support efforts to create more funding streams to
support Climate Action Plans
Support legislative efforts that could increase grid
capacity to meet data center and research demand
Support efforts to secure EV infrastructure funding
with a focus on large scale vehicles (fleet
electrification)
Support legislative efforts that allow for local control over data center development and limits potential
environmental impacts of higher energy demand
Funding for urban forestry, urban forestry
masterplans, and ensuring the regulations ensure
that lower income neighborhoods are positioned
to secure more funding
Measures that support regional planning for a climate
change strategy
Support efforts to partner with other jurisdictions
and government entities to address illegal
dumping (railroad property, state property, etc)
Some amendments to CEQA primarily focused on
comprehensive vegetation management plans
Funding to help maintain the urban forest
Support efforts to cut down on pollutants by requiring
businesses that help with junk removal have a license
Funding to renew and expand on the current two-
year CCMA contract. The scope of work consists
of cleaning 57 Caltrans-approved assets
comprising of freeway on-ramps, off-ramps,
overpasses, and fenced areas
Legislative restrictions/options to ban or restrict coal Funding for the Citywide Storm Drainage System Toxic Material (PFAs, PCB, etc) cleanup,
compliance, planning, programs, and projects
implementation
Support efforts to help address various regulations and efforts that impact storm drain runoff and firefighting efforts
Funding for water quality improvements to and
around Lake Merritt
Support efforts to transition to green energy and
upgrade infrastructure with a focus on PGE and its
ownership
Funding for park improvements to San Antonio
Park, Vantage Point Park, Prescott Park, and
many other parks in Oakland
Address particulate pollution by planting more trees and enhancing the urban forest
Support efforts to work more closely with DTSC and
EPA to address contaminated sites
Support efforts to ensure jurisdictions within the City such as Caltrans, UP, PGE, and others maintain their
properties
Support regional efforts on land-use issues pertaining
to the Old Oakland Army Base closure and land
remittance from the Department of Defense to EBRPD
and the City.
Youth
Policy Priorities Funding Priorities
Measures that support employment and career
development opportunities for youth, including
workforce development and entrepreneurship programs
with a focus on teens and opportunities in the
restaurant industry and others
Youth workforce and entrepreneurship, e. g. ,
Classroom2Careers, Mayors Summer Jobs
Program, and other similar efforts to provide work
experience and income
10 Oppose cuts to Child Nutrition Programs such as the
Community Eligibility Provision (CEP) that allow schools and districts with a high concentration of poverty to
serve universally free meals
Support for children of incarcerated parents
Measures that support trauma intervention and
advancement of trauma-informed care, holistic
strategies that support vulnerable children and families with economic security, health care and wrap-around
services
Trauma-informed care and efforts to address
childhood trauma from violence and other adverse
impacts
Support legislative efforts to create more housing for
commercially and sexually exploited children (CSEC)
and eliminate restrictions on funding (e. g. , no caps on lengths of stay)
Reduction of lead exposure and increased lead
level testing for children
Support legislative efforts to support homeless children gain access to Head Start and other related programs
as they are currently penalized for not having a physical address
Funding for a Citywide Storm Drainage System
Toxic Material (PFAs, PCB, etc) cleanup
Support legislative effort to enhance prevention
education for CSEC (e. g. , recognizing signs of
trafficking)
Support funding efforts for early childhood
education which also includes childcare
Support legislative efforts of decriminalizing young
women and men involved in human trafficking
Support funding efforts relating to Head Start
programs
Support federal legislative efforts that increase healthy food availability to families and youth.
$5M in funding to complete the Young People’s
Wellness Center, a dedicated, youth-centered
facility that will serve over 500+ young people
annually, offering confidential and comprehensive
care for ages 13-26. The YPWC will be the only
facility of its kind in East Oakland, providing
primary care, behavioral health services,
mentorship, and youth development programs in a
safe and affirming environment
Public Safety
Policy Priorities Funding Priorities
Support disaster preparedness efforts such as wildfires and seismic safety
Re-entry and anti-recidivism programs to support
rehabilitation of ex-offenders (Proposition 47
funds)
Measures that reduce and more strictly control access
to guns, ammunition, and gun devices that alter the
performance of a weapon
Support for the Wildfire Assessment District and
other urban forestry efforts including
undergrounding
Support access to high quality re-entry and
rehabilitation programs in all state and federal prisons Ongoing support for the Cease Fire program,
MACRO, and other violence prevention services
Measures that provide support to victims of trafficking for sex or labor.
Expansion of the crime lab and other needed
public safety facilities (e. g. , new Police
Administration Building, driving training facility)
Criminal Justice Reform including issues related to
youth offenders and re-entry and access to housing and
workforce development opportunities for justice
involved individuals
Support funding opportunities for traffic
enforcement efforts
11 Support gun control efforts such as stopping ghost guns or pushing to have serial numbers on each
manufacturing packet
Work towards funding to address backlog of bullet
tracing
Support efforts that reimagine public safety and
incorporate community-based organizations to help
address problems
Support funding opportunities for home ownership
programs for law enforcement to live in the city
they serve
Support legislation in line with the efforts related to the Wildfire Prevention JPA
Support funding efforts for the OPD Crime Lab
and investigations
Support legislative efforts to create new funding
opportunities for and incentivize private wildfire hazard mitigation measures
Funding for public safety equipment and crime
fighting equipment on city right of ways
Support legislation that creates a long-term fix to
Wildfire Insurance Protection
Expand Ceasefire investments across highly
impacted counties in the State
Support legislative efforts to provide tools to cities and law enforcement relating to side show reductions
Expand violence prevention programs like the
California Violence Intervention & Prevention
(CalVIP) grant
Support efforts to enhance gun charges from violent
offenders
Increase US&R readiness funding (approximately
$1.4M/yr, personnel and warehouse cost
increases have well outpaced grant increases
over the last 10 years)
Support efforts to address human trafficking and the
commercial sexual exploitation of children along with
reducing demand and survivor support
Support funding opportunities for community
violence intervention work and holistic approaches
to public safety that include street outreach,
violence intervention, and case management
approaches including focused deterrence
strategies
Provide legislative and financial support to assist with illegal dumping and abandoned autos in our
neighborhoods, and explore measures that the DMV
can take to strengthen enforcement on vehicle owners
Support to expand the DVP direct service gun
violence reduction team to increase our capacity
to fully implement the Ceasefire-Lifeline Focused
Deterrence Strategy
Support efforts to increase peace officer accountability and provide a means of decertifying police officers who engage in serious misconduct
Support efforts to create the trainings and
capacity building opportunities necessary to
ensure that frontline community violence
intervention workers are equipped with the best
and promising practices that keep them and their
clients safe
Support wildfire & community hardening legislation (AB
1075, SB 616)
Support efforts to expand our team of gender-
based violence specialists capable of working at
the critical intersection of gun violence and
trafficking
Support legislative efforts on Zone Zero Implementation
Support a formal regional collaboration on violent
crime. Oakland works with federal agencies and
the ACNTF, yet lacks a dedicated violent-crime
partnership. With added CHP resources, a Joint
Task Force combining OPD, ACSO, and CHP
could provide a focused, intelligence-driven
12 approach that leverages OPD’s expertise
alongside external support
Support efforts to remove Public Safety grants (US&R,
SAFER, PSGP, UASI etc.) from applicability to the DHS
Terms
Support funding efforts for an expanded Real-
Time Operations Center that would improve
coordination between field units, investigators,
and partner agencies by integrating tools like
ALPR, safety cameras, and Drone First
Responder (DFR) technology. These resources
enhance investigative efficiency, deter crime, and
enable precise enforcement. DFR is increasingly
essential as staffing declines, supplementing the
aging air unit and serving as a key de-escalation
tool during critical incident
Work with surrounding municipalities and other
institutions to address and help maintain the urban
forests
Funding to help address graffiti vandalism
Expand CRISES Pilot Program (Community Response
Initiative to Strengthen Emergency Systems) which is
the current CDSS funded ambassador program
Support efforts to make it easier to hire and retain
public safety employees
Oakland and the Bay Area have faced destructive
Sideshow events that lead to violent crime and property damage. Despite prior legislation and new
technologies, legal loopholes continue to limit the
effectiveness of existing enforcement tools
Miscellaneous
Support legislative efforts to enhance racial equality
and provide support to the many cultural and ethnic
groups in Oakland
Support Constitutional modifications which would
impact local governments, such as lowering the voter
threshold to 55% for various bond issuances and local
taxes
Support measures that are of importance to our
regional partners and lend opportunities to work
together. Regional partners include, but are not limited to, the Oakland Unified School District, Port of Oakland, Alameda County, Metropolitan Transportation
Commission, Oakland’s transit agencies, East Bay
Regional Park District, other California cities, and other like-minded groups
Support efforts by national groups, including the US
Conference of Mayors, National Association of County
Organizations, Association of Metropolitan Planning
Organizations, and National Low Income Housing
Coalition, and Local Officials in Transportation (LOT)
Coalition that align with City priorities
13 One Time State and Federal Funding Priorities for “Member Request” Consideration As we have seen at both the Federal and State level, new initiatives and various funding opportunities have taken form over the last few years. This also includes both legislative provisions that direct approved funds to be spent on specific projects, sometimes referred to as “Member Requests” or “Congressionally Directed Spending”, al ong with competitive grant applications. As it relates to the competitive grant applications, TPA will continue our proactive efforts and immediately notify the city of funding opportunities as they arise.
As it relates to state and federal “Member Request s/Congressionally Directed Spending”, our recommended strategy is for the adopted Legislative Platform to include a handful of funding buckets that capture various project themes. This provides the City with the highest amount of flexibility as it is important to not only reflect the priorities of the state and federal lawmakers who sponsor these requests, but also to ensure that the City’s projects fit the eligibility requirements of the various state and federal funding sources.
These buckets include:
• Affordable Housing/Homelessness, which may include funding for Oakland affordable housing projects that are nearing full financing, operating subsidy for deeply affordable housing, funding to support various efforts to address the unhoused, and other similar efforts.
• Reimaging Public Safety which could include funding for violence prevention efforts, community ambassadors, technology and communication enhancements, fire apparatus replacement, fire personnel protective equipment upgrades, and other similar efforts.
• Infrastructure Improvements which could include funding for enhancements to the Coliseum project area, capital improvements to reduce speeding, illegal dumping, and other public saf ety related concerns.
• Economic Development which could include funding for small business support, job training programs, career technical training, expansion of guaranteed income, and other related efforts.
• Climate Resiliency which could include funding for investments in nature-based climate adaptation, wildfire prevention and hardening, heat -resilience measures, flood- and stormwater -management upgrades, drought adaptation, and other projects that strengthen community resilience to climate impacts.