For many years, business and property owners, and increasingly, new residents have wondered how the City of Oakland could be such a magnificent place, endowed with so much natural and architectural beauty, and simultaneously not appear to “work” like a City.

Much has changed for the good over the past ten years in Oakland.  New property developments, a surge of new businesses, and a flourishing artist community are some of Oakland's high points.  However despite positive changes, the elements that make a City livable and orderly, are lacking.  It is not new developments and structures that make a City great, but rather the people who fill those structures, the quality of commerce, the attractiveness of the neighborhoods, and the interaction of individuals, that determine the success of a great city.

The “general benefit services,” or items that have historically been funded by the
Oakland City general fund, have been lacking and sporadic for many years.  One can see this in the decapitated parking meter poles, dead or damaged trees, abandoned news racks, unattended graffiti, trash in the public rights of way, and most importantly, through a feeling of uncertainty when one walks down the street.

That all began to change in February, with the creation of two new Community Benefit Districts in the Downtown area.  Last summer, property owners in both Downtown Oakland and the Lake Merritt/Uptown districts voted by a margin of almost 8 to 1 to support assessing themselves on their property tax bill to fund a bundle of new services that pick up where the city has left off.

During our first year in 2009, both districts generated almost 2 million dollars to fund new special benefit services, or services that go above and beyond those provided by the City of Oakland.

These new Community Benefit Districts (CBD’s), are allowing local stakeholders to “reinvent” the City of Oakland.  The assessments, paid by local property owners, businesses, and residents, fund services that create a new system of order and  new programs for beatification and safety that span from Old Oakland all the way up to Whole Foods on Harrison Street.

The Downtown and Lake Merritt/Uptown Community Benefit Districts are not the first of these types of districts in the Bay Area, but they are certainly the largest, the best funded, and the most significant in the entire East Bay.

These two districts are led by two distinct non-profit organizations, comprised of a Boards of Directors, who are adamant in the belief that Oakland is a great City, deserving of national recognition for its assets—not its liabilities.

The two districts seek to fund special services which will:
• Provide supplemental security services through an excellent ambassador program which works 7 days per week throughout the two districts.
• Provide maintenance services including ongoing cleaning of the sidewalks and gutters, graffiti removal, removal of abandoned news racks and parking meters, and new landscaping services throughout the district.
• Promote programs and events that create a positive district identity for both districts.
• Create safe havens to and from the BART stations, particularly during the rush hour periods.
• Work on the creation of new, dynamic, and attractive public spaces that make property owners, businesses, employees, residents, and visitors proud to be part of these two districts.

The tasks are many, and the time is short.  We are trying to reverse decades of negative
images of Oakland within a one to two year time.  We have a great district management organization in place, with competent staff, and excellent service providers, who are driven by results, rather than the process.

We truly believe that once people become used to these higher level of services, this will raise the bar for the types of businesses in Downtown and Lake Merritt.  We believe our efforts will open up an entirely new chapter of entrepreneurial activity and commerce for the City as a whole.

Most importantly, the City is a very strong supporter of these two districts and contributes assessments as property owners within each of the districts.  The working relationship with the City of Oakland has never been better, and people will begin to see the results of this cooperation as the work within the district evolves. 

So watch our work, give us your input, and realize that property owners and businesses are funding these new efforts to take Downtown and Lake Merritt/Uptown into the 21st Century, with high aspirations.  Our success will lead to the overall benefit of the City of Oakland, and generate the pride that all of our property owners, businesses, and residents deserve.

Marco Li Mandri
Executive Director
Downtown Oakland Association
Lake Merritt/Uptown District Association