Thank you for attending and supporting our events!

Thank you to everyone who joined us and showed their support at last month’s Senior Technology Day and our annual Thanksgiving Basket Giveaway. Your energy, generosity, and commitment to our community made both events a true success. We’re grateful to each neighbor, volunteer, and partner who helped us uplift seniors, support families, and strengthen the bonds that make our community so special.

Oakland Successfully Issues $334M Bonds

to Fund Capital Projects

The City of Oakland has reached an important milestone with the successful sale of $334 million in bonds that will support essential projects citywide — from street paving to affordable housing to community facility upgrades.



For the past two years, Oakland was unable to issue bonds due to significant financial challenges, leaving many critical projects on pause. After making difficult but necessary budget decisions in 2024 to stabilize the City’s finances, Oakland has now returned to the bond market — and the response was strong. Investor demand was nearly double the amount offered, signaling renewed confidence in the City’s financial direction.

How the funding will be used:

• $50.5 million for repaving streets across Oakland — approximately 50 miles of long-delayed road improvements
• $30 million to acquire and preserve affordable housing
• $33 million for the Mandela Transit Oriented Development
• $28 million for improvements at Liberation Park in East Oakland
• $13 million for Complete Streets upgrades on high-injury corridors
• Additional investments in libraries, senior centers, the Oakland Ice Center, and other community facilities

City leaders have emphasized that renewed financial discipline is paying off and helping Oakland build positive momentum.

Read the full press release here.

Oakland’s Housing & Community Development Department is announcing more than $63.5 million in new investments to create 325 affordable homes across the city. A full press release will be issued early next week. Read the full press release here.

These awards, supported by the Measure U affordable housing bond passed in 2022, include 96 homes for formerly homeless residents and those with special needs. Five developments were selected:

• 285 12th St. (D2) – 64 units, 13 homeless/special needs
• 500 Lake Park Apts. (D2) – 52 units, 20 homeless/special needs
• 430 Broadway Building A (D2) – 64 units, 13 homeless/special needs
• 3135 San Pablo (D3) – 72 units, 36 homeless/special needs
• East 12th Senior Housing (D5) – 67 units, 14 homeless/special needs

These projects follow earlier awards from the December 2024 NOFA round, which included major developments like Mandela Station Affordable (238 units), Liberation Park Residences (118 units), and The Eliza (96 units), among others.

Several additional developments remain in the pipeline for future funding consideration across Districts 2, 3, 5, and 6.

Next Steps:

City funding will help these projects compete for Alameda County Measure W Home Together Fund awards, due December 8, 2025. Two additional projects — Liberation Park Residences and 77th & Bancroft — will also apply with City support. Projects awarded by the County will then advance to apply for competitive Low-Income Housing Tax Credits in 2026.

Air District Offers Up to $12,000 in

“Clean Cars for All” Program

Looking to upgrade to a cleaner vehicle? The Bay Area Air District’s Clean Cars for All program recently relaunched with $10 million in new funding. The program provides up to $12,000 for eligible residents to retire their old vehicle and replace it with a new or used electric, plug-in hybrid, or fuel cell electric vehicle. Participants can also choose to get a pre-paid public transit card or an e-bike and bike accessories. Participants may also receive additional funding for EV charging, including home charger installation, a portable charger, or a public EV charge card. Participants who purchase a qualifying vehicle may also be eligible for up to $5,000 towards adaptive equipment for accessibility needs.

The Air District launched the program in 2019 as part of a broad effort to ensure clean air vehicles are affordable options for residents across the Bay Area. Equitable access to clean air vehicles also ensures that all Bay Area residents benefit from lower fuel and maintenance costs as well as the improved driving experience.

Applicants must live within the Air District’s jurisdiction and meet income limits based on household size. The highest incentives are available to participants living in disadvantaged community census tracks. For more information or to apply for Clean Cars for All, visit www.baaqmd.gov/cleancarsforall.

Clean Cars for All is part of California Climate Investments, a statewide initiative that puts billions of Cap-and-Invest, formerly known as Cap-and-Trade, to work reducing greenhouse gas emissions, strengthening the economy, and improving public health and the environment — particularly in disadvantaged communities.

The American Lung Association supports the rapid transition to zero emission vehicles to reduce air and climate pollution and achieve California’s climate goals. To learn more about the health benefits of electric vehicles, visit Lung.org/EV or call 1-800-LUNGUSA (1-800-586-4872).

NEW Toolkit: Navigating ICE Presence in Oakland

Available resources in multiple languages.

We’re sharing an important resource for Oakland business owners, workers, and community members. This Oakland Business Preparedness Toolkit helps you:

• Understand what to do if ICE is present near your business
• Know your rights & responsibilities
• Access clear, bilingual guidance for staff, including "Red Cards" in 56 languages
• Share accurate info during emergencies or community alerts
• Prepare staff and your business locations

🔗 Access the toolkit here:

English: Oakland Small Business & Community Toolkit - Doc

Spanish: Spanish Oakland Small Business & Community Toolkit - Doc

Please share widely with your teams and networks to help keep our community informed and supported.

Fill Out the City Auditor's Survey

Community Input Form for Audit of Oakland's Fire and Medical Response Times

by the Oakland City Auditor

We hope you can join us at these great events this month! Click the flyers to learn more!

Oakland Public Library

POLICY UPDATES

Vacant Property Tax Ordinance Updates

The City is updating the Vacant Property Tax rules to make the process fairer and more transparent for property owners. Under the new changes, people who purchase a property after it has already been labeled “vacant” will no longer be liable paying the previous owner’s tax—this protects new buyers when a sale happens near the end of the year or the year after the assessment. The amendments also require hearing officers to clearly explain the reasons behind their decisions, strengthening transparency and due process. Finally, property owners will now have a clear 12-month window to challenge an assessment, apply for an exemption, or request a refund. These updates are designed to improve fairness, simplify procedures, and ensure the community has a clearer and more accessible process.

Approving Ongoing Cooperative Purchase Agreements 

The City is advancing a resolution to support the upkeep of Oakland’s fleet of about 1,900 vehicles and equipment by authorizing an additional $6.3M for cooperative purchasing agreements. These agreements allow the City to buy parts, supplies, and repair services through competitively awarded contracts that other public agencies have already negotiated, saving both time and money. Extending these contracts ensures critical services—like street maintenance, emergency response, and facility operations—can continue without interruption. This approach also supports long-term cost efficiency and meets all required environmental review standards under CEQA. 

Oakland Municipal Code Chapter 10.20 (Speed Limits) Administrative Updates

The City is updating its speed limit laws to align Oakland’s Municipal Code with new state requirements under Assembly Bill 43 and the California Vehicle Code, while also correcting outdated street names and removing obsolete roadway segments. These amendments extend the 20 mph zone on Broadway from 27th Street to Piedmont Avenue and formalize a 25 mph limit on International Boulevard from 1st Avenue to 42nd Avenue, both based on community feedback. The changes are build on Ordinance 13709 C.M.S., require only signage updates funded through an existing project, and are exempt from CEQA review.

Economic Activation Zones

Oakland’s new Town Alive Initiative will activate commercial corridors with Entertainment Zones in Jack London Square, Broadway Valdez/Northlake, Temescal, and Uptown/Downtown, allowing outdoor alcohol consumption during special events under SB 969. The Initiative also launches AI Activation Zones at Laney College, Unity Tech Hub, and Mills College to provide workforce training, student programs, and small business support for historically underserved communities. The City has allocated $1M through FY 2027 for these zones, including funding for operations, a Program Manager, and administrative costs, with OFPI overseeing implementation.

⭐Community Leader Spotlight - Nominate Your Neighbor!⭐

Do you know someone in our community who’s making a difference, big or small? Maybe it’s a neighbor who always checks in on others, a local business owner who goes the extra mile, or a volunteer who keeps things running behind the scenes. We want to celebrate them!

Nominate your friend, neighbor, or local hero for our Community Spotlight feature — a chance to share their story and shine a little light on the people who make our neighborhoods great.

Respond to this email with their name and why they should be featured!