OAKLAND, Calif. (KRON) — May 20 marks one year since Barbara Lee became Mayor of Oakland.
She was voted into office after Sheng Thao was ousted from the position in a recall election back in November of 2024.
Mayor Lee’s office held an anniversary celebration to mark the occasion. The event didn’t just focus on her accomplishments over the year, but also the idea that the best is yet to come while acknowledging the challenges that the community still faces.
“We know there is a lot of work ahead, but Oakland is making real progress, and we have many opportunities ahead of us,” Lee stated at the beginning of her speech.
Oakland Mayor Barbara Lee (Photo: KRON4 News.)
Since Lee took office, city released data shows violent crime is down more than 20%, homicides reached a 58-year low, and the administration expanded a ceasefire violence prevention strategy.
That’s something that Lee says other cities have noticed.
“Oakland is seen as one of the top cities in terms of what we’re doing here so be proud of what we’re doing even though we know we haven’t accomplished everything and we still have crime and we still have fear,” Lee explained. “But everyone is working on it every day.”
Despite that, the Oakland Police Department is still under federal monitoring, and it has been for more than two decades. Lee hopes that will change by the end of her administration.
“This is not the same police force as it was over 20 some years ago,” said Lee. “Right, it’s not. But we still are under the negotiation settlement agreement, but we are down to one task now.”
Lee also spoke about her plans to continue cracking down on illegal dumping, help to properly balance the budget, and protect immigrant families.
“This is a city that has, as its policy, that the police will not and cannot cooperate with ICE, and they don’t cooperate,” stated Lee.
She also acknowledged that homelessness is still a problem but says her team has reduced it by 20%.
Before taking office, Lee was in congress for nearly three decades. City Council President Kevin Jenkins says he’s grateful she decided not to retire from politics and took on the new role of mayor.
“This wasn’t necessarily what she needed, but it’s what Oakland needed,” explained Jenkins. “We needed healing. Oakland was an absolute laughingstock. A punching bag for the rest of the country. Mayor Lee in her short time has brough back normalcy. “
Lee’s current term ends in January of 2027. She could run for a full term in the November 2026 election.
Watch the full report from KRON4’s Amanda Hari in the video player above.
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