Top Oakland business leaders collaborate on $10 million plan to add safety measures to downtown Oakland
This version is also available in Spanish. The CEOs of Blue Shield of California, The Clorox Company, Kaiser Permanente and Pacific Gas and Electric Company have announced plans to collaborate on a $10 million security enhancement program to improve public safety and protect their employees in downtown Oakland. The initiative is designed to complement efforts by Oakland Mayor Sheng Tao, the Oakland Police Department, Gov. Gavin Newsom and California Attorney General Rob Bonta to tackle crime, particularly in the inner city. The new measures include the creation of an uptown/downtown safe zone in partnership with the Oakland police Department, funding for on-demand friendly escort to and from local destinations, employee safety training and subsidized transportation for employees. The cost of the program will be implemented by 2024 at a cost of approximately $10m.
Publié : il y a 2 mois par admin dans Business
This version is also available in Spanish.
OAKLAND, CA (March 28, 2024) – The CEOs of four of Oakland’s largest employers 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, jointly announced by Blue Shield of California, The Clorox Company, Kaiser Permanente and Pacific Gas and Electric Company, is designed to complement and expand on recent efforts by Oakland Mayor Sheng Tao, the Oakland Police Department, Gov. of California Gavin Newsom and California Attorney General Rob Bonta to tackle crime, especially in the inner city. Data on Oakland’s government resource page shows crime remains a serious problem. Oakland is focused on public safety and crime reduction, and these new initiatives are expected to further help reduce downtown crime overall.
After input and support from Mayor Tao and now with the city’s new Chief of Police, Floyd Mitchell, the new security measures are being implemented 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, which will improve visible and responsive security in downtown areas to provide greater confidence in supporting residents, visitors, employees and the local business community.
• Funding for the Oakland Uptown Downtown Community Benefit District Ambassador Program for on-demand friendly escort to and from local destinations, including offices, restaurants or attractions.
• Employee safety training and subsidized transportation for employees to and from work and transit centers, nearby parking lots and local businesses.
The program elements will be implemented by 2024 at a cost of approximately $10 million, most of which will be distributed among the four organizations. The four companies also agreed to support Oakland’s Measure Z, the Public Safety and Services Violence Prevention Act, created in 2014.
“We have chosen Oakland as our headquarters and are proud to be a part of this community,” said Paul Markovich, president and CEO of Blue Shield of California. “It is important that we do what is necessary, not only to protect our people who live and work here, but also to 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’re committed to making the city better and safer for everyone,” said Linda Rendell, chairman and CEO of The Clorox Company. “We are 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 the home of Kaiser Permanente. We provide healthcare to the Oakland community and are deeply invested in the city’s health and prosperity,” said Greg Adams, Chairman and CEO, Kaiser Permanente. “We believe these actions are a necessary step to improve the current situation downtown for everyone who works in Oakland and calls 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 colleagues and neighbors in Oakland,” said Patty Pope, CEO of PG&E Corporation. “In the coming months, we’ll learn what’s working 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 significant contributions to the city of Oakland, including dozens of active partnerships with local nonprofits, 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 am so grateful for the deep cooperation of our four largest employers during this time of change and opportunity in Oakland, and I see this as an example of a strong public-private partnership,” said Oakland Mayor Tao. “I applaud their commitment as true civic leaders to improving conditions for all in the Uptown/Downtown community. Collectively, we share a deep love and commitment to this beautiful city, and hand-in-hand with the governor and our top executives, I know we will be able to quickly return safety, growth and vibrancy to our streets.”
Blue Shield of California strives to create a health care system worthy of family and friends that is sustainably affordable. Blue Shield of California is a tax-paying, not-for-profit, independent member of the Blue Shield Association with more than 4.8 million members, more than 7,500 employees and more than $24 billion in annual revenue. Founded in 1939 in San Francisco and now headquartered in Oakland, Blue Shield of California and its affiliates provide health, dental, vision, Medicaid and Medicare plans in California. The company has contributed more than $97 million to the Blue Shield of California Foundation over the past three years to make an impact in California communities. For more news about Blue Shield of California, please visit news.blueshieldca.com. Or follow us on LinkedIn, Twitteror Facebook.
The Clorox Company (NYSE: CLX) protects people to be well and thrive every day. Its trusted brands, which include Brita®, Burt’s Bees®, Clorox®, Fresh Step®, Glad®, Hidden Valley®, Kingsford®, Liquid-Plumr®, Pine-Sol® and Natural Vitality®, can be found in approx. nine out of 10 homes in the US and internationally with brands such as Clorinda®, Chux® and Poett®. Headquartered in Oakland, California, since 1913, Clorox was one of the first in the US to integrate ESG into its business reporting. In 2024, the company was ranked first on Barron’s list of the 100 Most Sustainable Companies for the second year in a row. Visit thecloroxcompany.com to learn more.
Kaiser Permanente is committed to helping shape the future of healthcare. We are recognized as one of America’s leading providers of not-for-profit health services and health plans. Founded in 1945, Kaiser Permanente has a mission to provide high-quality, affordable health care and improve the health of our members and the communities we serve. We currently serve 12.5 million members in 8 states and the District of Columbia. Care for members and patients is focused on their overall health and is led by their personal physicians, specialists and a team of Permanente Medical Group caregivers. Our expert and caring medical teams are empowered and supported by industry-leading technological advances and tools for health promotion, disease prevention, state-of-the-art care delivery and world-class chronic disease management. Kaiser Permanente is dedicated to innovation in care, clinical research, health education and public health support.
Pacific Gas and Electric Company, a subsidiary of PG&E Corporation (NYSE:PCG), is one of the largest combined natural gas and electric utilities in the United States. Based in San Francisco, with more than 24,000 employees, the company delivers some of the nation’s cleanest energy to nearly 16 million people in Northern and Central California. For more information, visit www.pge.com/ and www.pge.com/en/newsroom.html.