Oakland boosts security ahead of First Fridays street festival

Oakland officials introduced a multi-agency security plan involving police, highway patrol, and sheriff's departments to address late-night violence during the First Fridays festival. The initiative includes increased staffing, drone monitoring, and collaboration with the Department of Violence Prevention to tackle traffic violations and unauthorized youth gatherings. Business leaders, including Fox Theater manager Tony Leong, had urged the measures, while festival director Venessa McGhee expressed concerns about the event's future due to prior incidents.