Economic Development
I am a champion for growth, business and jobs in Oakland. We live in the center of a job and capital-rich region, and Oakland should be getting its share. I believe that through public policy and strategic investments in all our neighborhoods, we can make the City more livable and create jobs and housing for all kinds of Oaklanders. Some of my particular areas of focus are:

• Attracting private investment and creating public-private partnerships: Private investment is the main tool to fund quality City services, create jobs and revitalize communities.
• Creating jobs at the former Oakland Army Base: There are 165 acres there that can be used for jobs for all types of Oaklanders.
• A plan for the Central Waterfront: There are 300 acres in the central waterfront that we can turn into a world-class waterfront with modern industrial and office jobs, accessible open-space and recreation, retail and housing.
• Building Transit-Oriented Development/Districts: I continue to advocate for housing and jobs near transit stations and corridors. The benefits of this include less auto-dependence, “eyes on the street”, and increased livability.
• Increasing homeownership opportunities: I support an increase in the supply of housing for all income levels to meet the demand and increase the homeownership rate in District 5. Homeownership allows families to build inter-generational wealth and strengthens neighborhoods. I am an advocate for well-designed and well-located housing near services and transit.
• Livable Neighborhoods: I encourage mixed-income neighborhoods with quality parks and schools, transportation alternatives and services.
• Living Wage: Ensure that all jobs in the City of Oakland are quality jobs.

I convene regular meetings with the business community to find out how the City can better serve small and large businesses, create jobs and services, and revitalize neighborhoods that need investment.

Resources:
City of Oakland Community and Economic Development Agency
City of Oakland Major Development Projects
Doing Business with the City of Oakland
Meet Downtown Oakland
Assistance for First Time Homebuyers
Port of Oakland
Bay Area Council
East Bay Economic Development Alliance
Transportation and Land Use Coalition
San Francisco Planning and Urban Research (SPUR)

Economic Development Highlights

• Passed Resolution with the Mayor in support of a California High Speed Rail Project that serves Oakland. (2007)
• Supported by the Oakland Chamber of Commerce for implementing policies that enable Oakland to retain, expand, and attract businesses and investment opportunities in Oakland. These businesses not only generate tax revenues for public safety, parks, and libraries, but also provide jobs for Oakland residents.
• Joined with community leaders to design, finance, and build the beautiful Fruitvale Transit Village, recognized by The New York Times and the Urban Land Institute as a national model of community revitalization. New shops and housing are linked to regional transportation (BART) and provide a welcoming gateway to the bustling businesses of International Boulevard.
• Reduced bureaucratic barriers enabling East Bay Habitat for Humanity to clean-up a “brownfield” and build new homes for Oaklanders, a project recognized as a national model by the Environmental Protection Agency.
• Marshaled resources to fund “Main Street” and façade improvement initiatives to beautify the International Boulevard business district. These efforts increased revenues to the City and revitalized the neighborhood when the vacancy rate dropped from 40% to almost 0%.
• Crafted and enacted Oakland’s Living Wage Ordinance to encourage jobs with decent wages for Oakland families (1998).
• Crafted and enacted the “Hire Oakland Policy” to encourage businesses to offer job opportunities to local residents (1993).
• Encouraged livable communities with more open space and homeownership by down-zoning high density Oakland neighborhoods (1993)  
• Crafted and enacted legislation to regulate small, entrepreneurial businesses such as push cart and taco truck vendors. (2001).
• Identified investments to create an organized, one-stop shop for both day laborers and those seeking to hire them. Today, this center finds work for more than 200 people a day making it the most active and successful job placement program in the city. (2000).
• Crafted and enacted “Anti-Predatory Lending” law to protect consumers from predatory lenders and to encourage homeownership (2000).
• Crafted and enacted legislation to discourage “super” Wal-Marts with low-paying jobs from invading Oakland and diverting precious revenues from neighborhood business districts.
• Crafted and enacted law to stop the over-concentration of unsightly and exploitative Check Cashing / Pay-Day Loan establishments throughout Oakland (2004).
• Launched “Dirty Dozen” campaign forcing 71 problem-landlords to improve their properties, which not only benefited Oakland families but also revitalized their neighborhoods (1999).
• Saved the historic buildings and gardens of the Altenheim (Glenview / Dimond neighborhoods) by identifying city funds to enable the development of new senior housing (2004).