Oakland Mayor Lee hosts Bay Area mayors at gun violence prevention conference

East Bay city leaders convened in Oakland for a day-long conference aimed at preventing gun violence, organized by Mayor Barbara Lee. The meeting emphasized collaboration among cities to disrupt the flow of illegal firearms. Kris Brown, president of the Brady gun violence prevention group, noted that while violent crime has decreased, gun violence continues to devastate communities. Vallejo Mayor Andrea Sorce recounted a recent shooting that spurred her commitment to combat gun violence, while Berkeley Mayor Adena Ishii shared a child's fear after witnessing a shooting. Richmond Mayor Eduardo Martinez underscored the need for community involvement in identifying gun sources.

Lee expressed her goal to establish a collaborative regional strategy for addressing gun violence as a public health concern. Staff from local police and violence prevention departments participated in the discussions. The group plans to report back on their objectives and future actions.