Incoming Oakland Mayor Barbara Lee appoints chief of staff

Oakland Mayor-elect Barbara Lee has appointed Miya Saika Chen as her chief of staff before her May 20 inauguration. With 20 years of experience in local, state, and federal government, Chen aims to unify Oakland's diverse communities and enhance collaboration across city departments. Previously, she served as chief of staff to former Council President Nikki Fortunato Bas and spearheaded initiatives that expanded the Ceasefire program and increased affordable housing options. Chen also authored a local funding measure that generated $124 million in revenue to support community projects. As a fellow at the Open Society Foundations, she focused on civil rights and legal counsel for various organizations.

Chen's role in President Barack Obama’s administration included relaunching initiatives for culturally competent services for Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders. She expressed enthusiasm for supporting Lee's vision for a unified Oakland. This appointment underscores Lee's commitment to engaging a broad spectrum of community stakeholders in her administration's work.