Downtown Oakland is the heart, soul, and economic engine of our great city. It has long been the place where residents and visitors from all walks of life gather to work, live, play, and create. The area accounts for over 60 percent of Oakland’s workforce and is the largest contributor of tax dollars to the city, helping fund critical infrastructure and programs across the entire city.

  Yet Downtown Oakland finds itself at a crossroads, buoyed by the entry of new corporations, start-up businesses, and residents, yet facing challenges related to a reduction in the daytime workforce and increased crime and blight. 

 In early 2023, a cross-sector group of Downtown Oakland stakeholders—including corporations, nonprofits, real estate owners, and local merchants—was formed to foster collaboration and dialogue around public safety.

Since its inception, the group has:

• Successfully advocated for $1,000,000 in public safety funding, resulting in a $500,000 investment in the Downtown Oakland Partnership (DOP) service area, matched by member contributions.
• Formalized its structure, establishing partnership agreements, service boundaries, and membership.
• Engaged a respected public safety professional to lead the integration of technology solutions across five Business Improvement Districts (BIDs) and multiple Chamber geographies—marking it the first coordinated effort of its kind.
• Successfully advocated to Oakland’s Privacy Commission and City Council for responsible use of public safety technology infrastructure.
• Secured matching financial commitments to support coordinated safety efforts.
• Established a direct communication channel with City Hall and Mayor Barbara Lee.
• Led the creation of the Downtown Corridor Safety Program - This equity-focused initiative is unprecedented in Oakland. Historically, critical safety infrastructure depended on voluntary private property contributions and the efforts of discreet BID’s operating in specific noncontiguous geographies. This program fills those historical gaps—targeting underserved areas and hotspots—by aligning community insights with OPD data and Oakland’s broader equity goals.

Impact of the Downtown Corridor Safety Program:

• Expanded Surveillance Network: Added 75 new camera locations to a modernized, integrated network.
• Unified Safety Operations: Built a growing coalition of aligned participants with standardized operations and procedures.
• Community Technology Ambassadors: Deployed local experts to support new participants, process data requests, and ensure system access for public officials and community members.
• Transparent Guidelines: Developed best practices for system use, shared across city agencies and neighborhoods.

The Downtown Oakland Partnership continues to convene bi-monthly meetings with city, county, and state leaders to ensure partnership priorities are reflected in legislation and policy-making.

The ongoing and future work of this group will include the identification and advocacy of critical issues and opportunities to create the safe, vibrant, and diverse commercial corridor that’s needed for Oakland’s economy to flourish.