Barbara Lee holds 1st press conference as Oakland mayor-elect after winning tight race
OAKLAND, Calif. (KGO) -- Former congresswoman Barbara Lee says the results are clear: she is Oakland's new mayor. In her first remarks since winning the election, she reminded voters that she represented all of Oakland in Congress. And promises to do the same as mayor.
"I'm going to do the hard work. And make the tough decisions. I think you know me. I'm pretty tough," Mayor-elect Lee told the crowd to cheers.
RELATED: Barbara Lee wins tight race to become Oakland's next mayor-elect with Loren Taylor conceding
"Oaklanders deserve constituent services and core services. And I am going to address the structural challenges that impact everything here. From our budget to whether we can walk on our streets safely," says Lee.
Barbara Lee's 10-point plan for first 100 days includes:
Public safety
- Direct the City Council to adopt a budget that stabilizes Oakland's finances while prioritizing public safety and essential services.
- Bring together Police Department leadership and representatives from all business corridors to improve public safety strategies, fostering collaboration and trust to keep Oakland safe.
- Deploy vegetation management crews to clear hazards in high fire danger zones, protecting residents and property from the growing threat of wildfires.
Homelessness and Blight
- Work to secure Oakland's fair share of resources from Alameda County to address the homelessness crisis and provide meaningful solutions, including housing and support services.
- Staff up blight reduction crews and partner with the District Attorney's Office to aggressively prosecute illegal dumping, improving Oakland's neighborhoods and quality of life.
Economic Growth and Opportunity
- Convene the CEOs of the 10 largest Oakland employers to develop public-private initiatives that enhance economic growth and advance public safety.
- Direct permitting reform to streamline city processes and reduce bureaucracy for small businesses.
- Convene civic leaders from local, state, and national levels to generate entrepreneurial and philanthropic investment in Oakland, fueling innovation and creating opportunities citywide.
Good Governance
- Appoint a taskforce of ethics experts and good governance advocates to modernize Oakland's Charter, ensuring stronger accountability and transparency in city government.
- Conduct a forensic audit of city contracts to ensure public funds are spent effectively and responsibly by contractors and non-profits.
"That 10-point plan. It's exactly what we needed," says Interim Mayor Kevin Jenkins. "Illegal dumping is a crisis here in Oakland. And we have to work together with our county partners."
Lee's plan also addresses homelessness. And, she is calling to modernizing the city's charter to ensure more accountability and transparency in city government.
But Lee also takes over as Interim Mayor Jenkins is set to deliver his budget next week - a roughly $2 billion biennial budget. And over the past few months, city council has warned of job cuts and slashing funding for social services, as the city faces a $140 million structural deficit.
When asked how Oakland would implement some of Lee's polices if there is no money, Oakland City council member responded: "The reality is that Oakland brings a lot of money. I think the investigation and the audit she is calling for will reveal more resources than people actually believe exist."
Lee says she has not yet been briefed on the budget, so she can't comment further. The Oakland City Council has to pass the budget by June 30. Mayor-elect Lee will likely be sworn in by mid-May.
