Oakland officials on Thursday unveiled an enhanced, multi-agency public safety initiative designed to curb late-night violence ahead of the city’s monthly “First Fridays” street festival. The move follows several post-event fights and violent incidents in the downtown and uptown corridors, raising safety concerns for festival organizers, visitors and local businesses. “Violence is not an option in Oakland,” Mayor Barbara Lee said. “The safety enhancements that we are rolling out target the late-night hours.” The Oakland Police Department will increase staffing from Friday night into Saturday morning. The local deployment will be bolstered by support from the California Highway Patrol and the Alameda County Sheriff’s Office. Law enforcement officials said the collaborative effort will prioritize traffic violations, illegal parking and driving under the influence. Police will also deploy drones to monitor large gatherings and assist in identifying suspects if criminal activity occurs. “This is the first time in my time addressing these issues that all of our departments are coming together as one to serve our residents and our merchants and our visitors,” OPD Interim Chief James Beere said. “It’s a game changer in my view.” In addition to traditional law enforcement, the city’s Department of Violence Prevention will be on the ground to monitor unauthorized youth gatherings, known as “teen takeovers,” alongside the illegal sale of alcohol and drugs. The security strategy comes after members of the local business community demanded intervention. Tony Leong, general manager of the Fox Theater, was among several business leaders who recently petitioned city officials for specific enforcement plans. “These takeovers, they don’t come out of nowhere — they’re planned,” Leong said. “We know that they’re coming. We know when it’s happening. Hopefully we have a resolution for it, and over the course of time, what we’re asking for, too, is consistency.” Venessa McGhee, director of Oakland First Fridays, said the recent spike in nearby violence has already crippled sponsorships and the event’s future. “I do think it is a little late to the game — a lot of the damage, at least to our event, has already been done,” McGhee said. “In all transparency, we are scrapping together just to make tomorrow happen.” City leaders say the pilot program will continue to evolve with financial support from business partners. Assistant City Administrator Michelle Phillips noted that “there is a collaborative effort so that resource burden, financially, isn’t all on the city.” City council members also emphasized that security concerns in the entertainment district extend beyond a single monthly festival. “I also want to be clear that it is not just First Fridays,” Councilmember Carroll Fife said. “We need public safety infrastructure every single night of the week.” Officials said this weekend’s festival will serve as the initial test for the coordinated safety approach. ...read more read less