The Downtown Oakland Community Benefit District is comprised of a 19-block area extending from 18th Street between Clay and Franklin to 8th Street between Franklin and Washington.  Broadway Avenue runs through the center of the district.  The District office is located at 388 19th Street in downtown Oakland.

In 2008, property owners in both Downtown Oakland and the Lake Merritt/Uptown districts voted by a margin of almost 8 to 1 to support a 10-year voluntary property tax to fund additional services to improve the quality of life in their respective communities.  This led to the formation in March 2009 of two new community benefit districts:  the Downtown Oakland Association and the Lake Merritt/Uptown District Association. The associations meet and function jointly. Services funded by the Districts include maintaining cleanliness and order in the public rights of way, improving district identity and advocating on behalf of the area property owners, business owners and residents.

The Downtown Oakland Association is a non-profit corporation with a Board 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 district seeks to fund special services which will:
Provide supplemental security services through a seven-day a week ambassador program;
Provide maintenance services including: ongoing cleaning of 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; Create safe havens to and from BART stations, particularly during the rush hour periods, and Create new, dynamic and attractive public spaces that make property owners, businesses, employees, residents and visitors proud to be part of these two districts.

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