Trusted experience, empowering leadership for East Oakland

Public safety is the most urgent priority in Oakland today, with a critical need to combat violent crime and property crime so that all residents feel safe. I’m committed to returning Oakland’s policing practices to a Community Policing model, where officers build lasting relationships with community members. I’m determined to ensure that East Oakland receives its fair share of policing and public safety resources, recognizing that despite facing disproportionately higher levels of crime, East Oakland has often been overlooked in the city’s public safety initiatives.

Iris’s extensive experience in public safety underscores her commitment to this cause. As the author of Oakland’s first sideshow ordinance, she has already taken bold steps to address public safety concerns. Her involvement in the Measure Y and Ceasefire Think Tanks, where she helped bring innovative violence prevention strategies to OPD, demonstrates her ability to create meaningful change. Iris’s strong relationships with OPD and the Oakland Police Officers Association (OPOA) further position her as the candidate who will most effectively enhance public safety in our community.

Tied with public safety in importance is the need to uplift Oakland’s economy by creating well-paying jobs for East Oakland residents. I’m committed to developing technical training programs for youth and expanding opportunities for Black and Brown contractors. I also support increasing programs for first-time homebuyers, helping them build wealth and stability.

Iris’s track record in economic development speaks for itself. She spearheaded the development of East Oakland’s first transit-oriented developments, including Coliseum Connections and Palm Villas Court, both led by African American developers. Her leadership in projects like Allen Temple Arms and numerous other affordable housing initiatives has had a lasting impact on the community. Additionally, Iris’s advocacy for and leadership in the PG&E Undergrounding project on MacArthur, the first of its kind in the flats, illustrates her ability to deliver on complex infrastructure projects that benefit residents.

Public health, homelessness, and wellness for youth & seniors are deeply interconnected with public safety. I’m acutely aware that many of Oakland’s encampments have been overtaken by the street economy, involving criminal activities, human trafficking, and unchecked drug trade. I believe in the need to strengthen relationships with the County, which has primary responsibility for public health and homelessness services, to better address these critical issues.

Iris’s experience in addressing these complex challenges is extensive. She spearheaded the “Feed America” initiative in Foothill Square and led the District 7 annual Turkey giveaway for seniors, ensuring that vulnerable populations received the support they needed. Her work in establishing hundreds of free senior classes and programs, as well as leading the construction of a full-service health center near Castlemont High School, highlights her dedication to the well-being of East Oakland’s residents. Additionally, Iris successfully leveraged her strong relationship with the County to re-establish joint meetings between the County and Oakland City Council on homelessness, a critical initiative that she drove forward when other elected leaders did not.

East Oakland’s streets have suffered from poor service delivery due to misguided City decisions that have mismanaged our limited resources. It’s essential that city departments proactively address the worst potholes on main roadways rather than waiting for complaints to come in.

With her deep understanding of past city practices under different leadership, Iris knows what strategies have worked in the past and can advocate for better approaches to street maintenance. Her practical experience and historical knowledge make her the ideal candidate to ensure that East Oakland’s infrastructure receives the attention it deserves.

Illegal dumping is a persistent problem in East Oakland, exacerbated by the City’s current complaint-driven system. I’m committed to deploying the Oakland Public Works (OPW) department differently to ensure equitable city services reach East Oakland and advocating for returning to a proactive system of area-focused dumping cleanups. Additionally, I’ll fight to bring back Bulky Waste Pickup services, which were recently eliminated in the City’s budget, particularly in areas like East Oakland that rely heavily on them. Iris also believes in restructuring illegal dumping fines to create meaningful deterrents.

Iris’s extensive experience with city operations, gained through her leadership in the city’s union and her hands-on work with city staff, gives her a clear understanding of what works and what doesn’t. Her deep familiarity with the day-to-day challenges faced by city workers equips her to implement effective solutions that will improve services and address the problem of illegal dumping head-on.