MEET DAN
Currently in his third term on the City Council, Oakland Councilmember Dan Kalb has earned his reputation as a hard-working, committed public servant and effective policy advocate and lawmaker.
Dan has worked as a policy director; environmental, public interest, and social justice advocate; practical progressive reformer and engaged community service volunteer. In his more than eleven years on the Oakland City Council, Dan has proven what can be accomplished as a proactive and effective elected leader.
Dan is a three-term City Councilmember who has led legislative and budget efforts to address the real challenges we face head-on. Dan authored laws to stop ghost guns, create an independent police oversight commission, raise tens of millions for affordable housing, protect tenants from displacement, ban coal in Oakland, strengthen the Public Ethics Commission, create a progressive real estate transfer tax, require seismic retrofits of apartment buildings, expand library services/hours, create a partnership to keep kids in school, and so much more.
Dan has over 30 years of policy experience, including 10 years experience crafting state legislation and successfully engaging in the entire legislative process in Sacramento. Dan worked for the Union of Concerned Scientists for several years as their statewide policy director. Previously, he worked for the Sierra Club and other advocacy groups. With a deep background in social and environmental justice, Dan is committed to promoting data-driven solutions to the toughest problems facing our communities, including resolving housing affordability and homelessness crisis, enhancing wildfire prevention and disaster resiliency, acting statewide to combat climate change, investing in public safety, promote walkable communities and access to public transit, and setting the education table for our youth.
Dan has been active in interfaith coalitions in the East Bay and used to serve on the board of the Jewish Community Relations Council for several years.
Dan received a Baccalaureate of Science degree in Conservation of Natural Resources from U.C. Berkeley and a Master of Public Administration from the University of San Francisco. He also has ten years’ experience as a community mediator resolving neighborhood disputes.
Dan is committed to serving the public with dedication and integrity — something he learned from his father, Marcus. Dan's mother Charlotte Levine lived in San Pablo and Oakland until passing away in 2015. Dan and his wife Valarie, a Deputy State Public Defender, enjoy hiking in our beautiful East Bay Regional Parks in their free time.
