“My job is to lead our city out of a budget crisis and into a period of financial stability,” Lee said.
The mayor, who received strong support from labor unions throughout Oakland during her campaign, said she’s also been in talks with labor leaders. Everyone will need to make concessions so that the city can balance its budget, and labor groups will be a part of that, Lee said.
In terms of public safety, Lee previously said she plans to increase the city’s police force to 700 sworn officers while also introducing new violence prevention and mental health programs. She also proposed several solutions for addressing homelessness, such as job training and financial assistance.
“Public safety is a big priority,” Lee told reporters after taking the oath of office. “The mayor’s job … is to keep the city safe and to help address crime rates and bring down crime rates so people are safe.”
It marks a new chapter for a city that’s been troubled by months of instability. In November, Oakland voted overwhelmingly to recall Thao after an FBI raid of her home and criticisms over her response to the city’s challenges cast a dark shadow over Thao’s administration.
Lee, who will finish out the final year and a half of Thao’s term, announced her intent to run in January. Before representing Oakland in Congress, she also served in the California State Assembly for six years and the state Senate for two. She retired from Congress last year after an unsuccessful campaign for the U.S. Senate.
Lee’s mayoral campaign garnered enthusiastic support from most of the City Council and Jenkins. She emphasized her track record of bringing federal funding to Oakland and promised to use her political connections and reputation to attract more investments into the city.
However, the special election became unexpectedly tight when former Councilmember Loren Taylor, a moderate politician who appealed to voters frustrated by Oakland’s progressive tilt, took an early lead in the ballot counting process. While Lee eventually secured the victory, Taylor garnered significant support from the city’s affluent hillside residents.
KQED’s Alex Hall contributed to this report.
