Top Oakland Business Leaders Collaborate on $10 Million Plan to Add Safety Measures in Downtown Oakland

OAKLAND, Calif. (March 28, 2024) - The CEOs of four of the largest employers in Oakland have announced plans to collaborate on a $10 million security enhancement program to improve public safety while protecting their collective employees.

This new security enhancement program, announced jointly by Blue Shield of California, The Clorox Company, Kaiser Permanente, and Pacific Gas and Electric Company, is designed to complement and augment the recent efforts of Oakland Mayor Sheng Thao, the Oakland Police Department, California Governor Gavin Newsom and California Attorney General Rob Bonta to address crime, especially in the downtown area. Data on Oakland's government resource page show crime remains a serious issue. Oakland is focused on addressing public safety and reducing crime rates, and these new initiatives are expected to further support overall crime reduction downtown.

Following input and support from Mayor Thao and now with the city's new police chief, Floyd Mitchell, in place, the new security measures are rolling out starting this month - and in the coming weeks - and will include:

• The creation of an Uptown/Downtown Safe Zone in partnership with the Oakland Police Department that will improve visible and responsive security in downtown areas to provide greater confidence in support of residents, visitors, employees and the local business community.
• Funding for the Oakland Uptown Downtown Community Benefit District's Ambassador program for on-demand buddy escorts to and from local destinations, including offices, restaurants, or points of interest.
• Employee safety training and subsidized transportation for employees to and from work and transit hubs, nearby parking lots and local businesses.

Program elements will be in place through 2024 at a cost of approximately $10 million, most of which will be shared among the four organizations. The four companies have also agreed to support Oakland's Measure Z, the Public Safety and Services Violence Prevention Act established in 2014.

"We chose Oakland as our headquarters and are proud to be a part of this community," said Paul Markovich, president, and chief executive officer of Blue Shield of California. "It's important that we do what's needed to not only protect our people who live and work here but support our community as we work together to revitalize this great city."

"Oakland has been our global headquarters for more than 110 years and we are committed to making the city better and safer for everyone." said Linda Rendle, chair and chief executive officer of The Clorox Company. "We're energized by our collaboration with Blue Shield of California, Kaiser Permanente, PG&E and the City of Oakland to help make it safer for our collective workforce and the entire community."

"For nearly 80 years, Oakland has been Kaiser Permanente's home. We provide health care to the Oakland community and are deeply invested in the city's health and prosperity," said Greg Adams, chair and chief executive officer, Kaiser Permanente. "We believe these actions are a necessary step to help improve the current downtown situation for all who work in Oakland and call Oakland home, including our employees and physicians."

"The partners involved in this effort saw a need to take quick, meaningful action on behalf of our coworkers and neighbors in Oakland," said Patti Poppe, chief executive officer, PG&E Corporation. "In the months ahead, we'll learn what works and what more may be needed to support our goal of creating a safer, more prosperous hometown for all."

All four companies have a history of making meaningful contributions to the city of Oakland, including dozens of active partnerships with local non-profit organizations, thousands of ongoing employee volunteer hours, tens of millions of dollars donated to charitable causes and many contracts with local small and diverse businesses.

"I'm so grateful for the deep collaboration with our four largest employers during this time of change and opportunity in Oakland and see this as an example of a strong public-private partnership," said Oakland Mayor Thao. "I applaud their engagement as true civic leaders to improve conditions for everyone in the Uptown/Downtown community. Collectively we share a deep love and commitment to this beautiful city and linked arm in arm with the Governor and our top CEOs, I know we will be successful in quickly bringing safety, growth and vibrancy back to our streets."

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