MAYOR KEVIN JENKINS RETURNS FROM WASHINGTON, D.C. TRIP TO ADVOCATE FOR OAKLAND
For Immediate Release - February 28th, 2025
Press Contact
MayorsPressOffice@Oaklandca.gov
OAKLAND, CA – Mayor Kevin Jenkins has concluded a successful trip to Washington, D.C., where he and Councilmember Janani Ramachandran met with key federal officials and congressional staff to advocate for critical resources for the City of Oakland. The trip focused on securing funding already awarded to Oakland and pushing for additional investments in public safety, wildfire prevention, housing, and economic development.
During the visit, Mayor Jenkins and Councilmember Ramachandran met directly with California Senators Adam Schiff and Alex Padilla, Bay Area Representatives Sam Liccardo, Lateefah Simon, and Mark DeSaulnier, and House Appropriations Committee Member Glenn Ivey. They also held meetings with staff from the offices of Bay Area Representatives Eric Swalwell and Ro Khanna, plus House Appropriations Committee Member Bonnie Watson Coleman. Discussions covered pressing issues such as improving public safety and reducing crime, regional collaboration in issues including wildfire prevention and homelessness, and investments to support revitalizing our downtown and small business corridors. In addition, they met with representatives from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to discuss land revitalization efforts to advocate for public safety investments.
“This trip was about making sure that Washington delivers for Oakland,” said Mayor Kevin Jenkins. “We met with key decision-makers and their teams to advocate for funding and resources that will directly impact our community—investments in housing, public safety, and small businesses. I appreciate our federal partners for their time and commitment to ensuring Oakland gets the support we need.”
Councilmember Ramachandran added, “Despite challenges in our federal budgetary environment, it was clear during our trip that several of our federal legislators representing the broader Bay Area were eager to work with us and do all that they could to make Oakland a thriving economic opportunity zone. There is ample opportunity to place Oakland back in the national spotlight for all the right reasons.”
Mayor Jenkins will provide a report on the trip at the next Oakland City Council meeting during the Council Reports section at the end of the meeting.
Mayor Jenkins and Councilmember Ramachandran’s advocacy ensures that Oakland remains at the forefront of federal investment discussions, strengthening partnerships that will benefit residents in the months and years ahead.
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Monday, February 24
4:15 PM Arrival of Alaska Airlines Flight 8
Washington National Airport (DCA)
6:30 PM Welcome Dinner and Briefing
National Democratic Club
30 Ivy Street SE, Washington, DC 20003 (Capitol South Metro)
Ben Goldeen, Townsend Public Affairs
Tuesday, February 25
11:00 AM Office of Representative Eric Swalwell
174 Cannon House Office Building
Ben Burnett, Legislative Director
11:30 AM Office of Representative Sam Liccardo
1117 Longworth House Office Building
The Honorable Sam Liccardo
Eric Henshall, Deputy Chief of Staff
12:00 PM Lunch
1:15 PM Office of Representative Lateefah Simon
1023 Longworth House Office Building
The Honorable Lateefah Simon
Diala Jadallah, Chief of Staff
Mike Bauduy, Legislative Director
2:00 PM Office of Senator Adam Schiff
112 Hart Senate Office Building
The Honorable Adam Schiff
Jamie Thompson, Policy Advisor
Olivia Oo, Policy Advisor
3:00 PM Office of Representative John Garamendi
2428 Rayburn House Office Building
The Honorable John Garamendi
Bradley Bottoms, Chief of Staff
3:30 PM Office of Representative Bonnie Watson Coleman
House Committee on Appropriations
Subcommittee on Transportation, Housing and Urban Development
168 Cannon House Office Building
Brad Korten, Senior Adviser
4:15 PM Office of Representative Mark DeSaulnier
2134 Rayburn House Office Building
The Honorable Mark DeSaulnier
Wednesday, February 26
9:45 AM U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Office of Brownfields and Land Revitalization
Brian Thompson, Deputy Director
10:45 AM Office of Representative Glenn Ivey
Committee on Appropriations
Subcommittees on Commerce, Justice, and Science and
Financial Services and General Government
1610 Longworth House Office Building
The Honorable Glenn Ivey
12:00 PM Office of Senator Alex Padilla
331 Hart Senate Office Building
The Honorable Alex Padilla
Jacob Huls, Policy Advisor
2:00 Office of Rep. Ro Khanna
306 Cannon House Office Building
The Honorable Ro Khanna
3:00 PM End of Program – Travel to Airport
5:15 PM Departure of Alaska Airlines Flight 7
Washington National Airport (DCA)
Meetings In Progress
TBC U.S. Department of Agriculture
TBC House Committee on Small Business
TBC U.S. Small Business Administration
TBC U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS)