About Us

“We cannot seek achievement for ourselves and forget about progress and prosperity for our community”

– Cesar Chavez

The Lake Merritt-Uptown and Downtown Oakland Community Benefit Districts, launched in 2008, are committed to revitalizing Oakland’s historic downtown by maintaining cleanliness and order in the public rights-of-way, promoting district identity, building community, promoting business attraction, fostering cultural opportunities, and creating and maintaining new public spaces as well as advocating on behalf of the district stakeholders.

Vision

The desire to create a thriving 24/7 business, retail, entertainment and residential district in the heart of Oakland for the betterment of Downtown and Uptown and the greater Oakland community, is the guiding vision of the Uptown/Downtown CBDs. In 2019 and beyond, we will focus our place-making energies on growing our revenue and impact, refining and streamlining our essential clean and safe services, furthering the reach of our Oakland Central marketing campaign, and creating additional support services for our local small business and residential communities. We encourage all Oakland stakeholders to partner with us in this effort by directly engaging with the people in your local community, by contributing your time and resources, and by helping spread the word.

Our Values

Enhance and Support Oakland’s Diversity and Charm
Celebrate Oakland’s Specific History and Legacy of Multiculturalism
Facilitate Economic Development and Community Building

2022 Year In Review

VIEW REPORT

VIEW PREVIOUS REPORTS

2020 Annual Report

2019 Annual Report

Our Board

The Uptown Downtown CBD is governed by a volunteer Board of Directors comprised of individuals that represent property and business owners, residents and community partners.

Downtown Oakland

Lake Merritt Uptown

Mike Guerra

Lincoln University
President

Carmen Benjamin

City Center

Secretary

Sarah Fox

Old Oakland

Greg Pasquali

Carmel Partners

Adam Chall

TMG Partners

Mark Morell

Oakland Marriott

Tamira Twilie

Property Owner

Felicia Scruggs

EBALDC

Jamie Flaherty-Evans

Chromata Retail

Vice President

Courtney Belanger

Shorenstein
Treasurer

Kurtis Hanson

Oakland Marriott

William Goodman

Strada Investment Group

Durell Coleman

Resident

Matt Klimerman

Tidewater Capital

Cortt Dunlap

Business Owner
Awaken Cafe

Sara de la Riva

Rubicon Point Partners
President

Ruth Simon

Resident/Broadway Grand
Treasurer

Deborah Boyer

Resident

Terry Wood

Kaiser Permanente

Ke Norman

Nailphoria Day Spa
Business Owner

Chris Kwei

2424 Webster Street

Kim Bardakian

Kapor Center for Social Impact
Vice President

Nicole Price

Starwood Capital Group
Secretary

Don Rogers

CIM Group

Yvette McCoy

BART

Ramsey Wright

Community at Large

Tederal Glover