While votes still remain to be counted, the trend is clear that the people of District 2 have re-elected me to serve as their Council representative. I couldn’t be more humbled and overjoyed for the privilege of continuing the work that we’ve been doing together towards the goal of an Oakland for All of Us.

Our creatives and cultural workers truly hold down the Town — bringing neighbors together, speaking truth to power, and beautifying and healing our community.

New 120 ft. Community Mural at San Antonio Park!

My heart is full from gathering last weekend with San Antonio neighbors, muralists Cece Carpio, Leslie Lopez, Shi Shi Madriz, ARTogether, Trybe and Eastside Arts Alliance to unveil a stunning 120 ft. mural at the park's tennis courts.

The mural pays homage to Oakland, the neighborhood’s rich history, the incredible community organizations supporting wellness among local families, and even includes imagery of Serena and Venus Williams who played at these courts!

 See a video here of the entire span of the artwork. 

I am proud to have helped fund this participatory mural and championed the project through City Council and Commission approval processes over the last two years.

Keeping you and your family safe is my top priority. Our community is grieving, frightened, and angry and I am too. We have to hold ourselves and one another accountable to a high standard of leadership and results for all Oaklanders.

My team and I have been partnering across our district to listen, connect and take action together. We are building a holistic public safety system, where police can more effectively focus on responding to and solving serious and violent crimes, and we make deeper investments in alternative crisis response for non-violent issues like mental health; violence prevention programs; and the root causes of violence and inequality. Working together, we can and will get through this crisis.

Like you, I am devastated by the relentless gun violence and the tragic school shooting our community have endured over the last two weeks.

My heart aches for the families who feared for their children's safety, the loved ones of so many lives lost, those injured, and all of us impacted by these traumas.

This level of gun violence is outrageous and unacceptable. We must do everything possible to solve these crimes, get guns off our streets, and give kids and families the resources and stability they need.

As we return from Council's summer legislative recess and recent devastating incidents of violence in District 2, I am thankful for our community's partnership in crafting solutions to achieve peace and healing.

Dear San Antonio neighbors,

I’m reaching out to make sure you are aware of four important updates regarding (1) the E. 12th median encampment cleaning and closure operation to transition residents into shelter, (2) closure of an illegal gambling operation at the 1900 block of 17th Avenue, (3) traffic safety updates for International Boulevard, and (4) the San Antonio Park draft master plan.

As my team and I take advantage of Council's summer legislative recess and prepare to return mid-September, we wish you and your loved ones a restful, joyful summer and an enriching back-to-school season.

It was a joy to help send D2 families at La Escuelita Elementary back to school with supplies and backpacks, thanks to the Oscar Grant Foundation!

This past week, Council voted to place a set of measures on the November ballot to achieve a more democratic and resourced Oakland.

The measures I authored aim to get results by: 

• improving residents’ access to democratic, fair elections and more transparent government,
• investing $850 million in affordable housing and infrastructure improvements for safer streets and facilities, and
• creating a progressive business tax raising $20M+ annually for critical city services.

Thank you to our community partners, city staff and my Council colleagues for your continued commitment and work toward a more just Oakland for all!

Last week, we united as a Council, unanimously passing a balanced mid-cycle budget that continues the work to shift our City resources more equitably to our flatland communities, and to expand our public safety infrastructure to address residents' holistic wellness and solve serious and violent crime.

This budget keeps Oakland focused on our core goals — housing people, providing economic opportunities, creating safer neighborhoods, cleaning our streets and parks, programming our libraries and recreation centers, and providing quality services by our valued city workers.

As we celebrate the Juneteenth holiday, let us not forget that true racial, social and economic justice is still a goal to be achieved, not one that has been met. Let’s renew our call to action for justice, continue the struggle for liberation, and keep building Black, Asian and multi-racial solidarity.