Oakland Mayor Barbara Lee said that the work to decrease gun violence and other crime will continue, building on the momentum the city saw over 2025. As one councilmember put it, Oakland’s stakeholders now are rowing in the same direction, holding officers accountable, building numbers through a recruitment program through the Meritt Program, maximizing law enforcement partnerships with the CHP and the governor’s office. Additionally, an alternative response for non-violent crises has also been created. The city said it’s putting the commitment to public safety crystal clear in its bottom line. “In the 2026-27 budget, we made smart strategic investments, funding 5 police department academies in two years, $1.4 m for sideshow prevention detail and $700k for human trafficking operations,” Mayor Lee said. The mayor and other city leaders acknowledged that 2026 began on a deadly note, marked by a triple shooting that occurred Saturday at a market on International Boulevard. NBC Bay Area’s Kris Sanchez has more in the video above. ...read more read less