Oakland has taken the first step toward building entertainment zones similar to San Francisco’s to boost foot traffic and support night life in commercial corridors.
Oakland City Council last week unanimously approved investing $1 million in an economic revitalization package that will create two types of entertainment zones, including an artificial intelligence hub to advance workforce development and technological innovation.
The funding, which was approved in the 2025 budget, will be administered over two years, through a grant to the Oakland Fund for Public Innovation, a nonprofit that works with the city to pilot programs aimed at equity, economic opportunity, public safety, housing and community well-being. The grant agreement started on Nov. 1 and will run through October 2027.
Councilmember Rowena Brown, who authored the legislation, said the project represents a long-term commitment to rebuild Oakland’s commercial ecosystem and embrace innovation at a critical moment.
The legislation would create “economic activation zones” designed to make public spaces feel safer, livelier and more inviting. The entertainment zones will give businesses more flexibility to bring in outdoor music, cultural programming, markets and some outdoor alcohol consumption activities. City officials say they can keep businesses and streets active into the evening.
“This investment is about bringing Oaklanders back into their public spaces,” Brown said during a Nov. 18 committee meeting. “We are pairing economic revitalization with responsible technological growth, and we’re doing it in a way that builds community, supports small businesses and prepares our residents for the future.”
Brown noted that San Francisco began with four entertainment zones in 2024 and expanded to 21 within a year and a half.
The project was presented in vague terms, and a few residents at the Dec. 2 council meeting expressed confusion at what the activation zones would offer.
“I’m still unsure about what kinds of entertainment activities will actually be allowed in these areas, and whether they’ll truly engage the community as intended,” said David Mill.
AI hub
Brown’s legislation identified four pilot entertainment zones for early rollout: Jack London Square, Broadway Valdez/Northgate, Temescal, and the Uptown/Downtown Arts & Entertainment District. These locations were chosen because they already have a concentration of bars and restaurants, a history of hosting events, and geography that supports foot traffic and activities with minimal impact on transit and public safety operations, according to the city’s Economic & Workforce Development department.
A dedicated project manager will work across city departments to make sure each zone runs smoothly, with enhanced public safety and street and sidewalk designs, and also to ensure that alcohol service follows state law.
In addition, the legislation calls for the creation of AI activation zones, anchored by educational and cultural institutions such as Laney College, Mills College at Northeastern, the Oakland Museum of California, and the Unity Tech Hub at Fruitvale, according to the agenda report. The zones will host conferences, community workshops,and workforce development programs aligned with the city’s principles for responsible AI.
“Any neighborhood corridor in Oakland that wants to become an entertainment zone will have a path to do so,” Brown said.
Sharon Lai, chief strategy officer from the East Bay Local Development Corp, a nonprofit that builds and manages affordable housing, supported the legislation at the council meeting.
“I used to work with the economic development department in downtown San Francisco and I am very happy to hear that Oakland is taking such an initiative,” Lai said, adding that the project might work best in areas where there already is a lot of community engagement.
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