Outgoing Oakland Port Commissioner Colbruno confident about Oaklands future

Michael Colbruno, who recently completed his third and final term as an Oakland Port Commissioner, remains optimistic about the future of the Port of Oakland. Compared to Los Angeles, Long Beach, Seattle and Tacoma, the Port of Oakland is seeing a much smaller impact from the chaos created by a random tariff policy: “The fact that we are a 50/50 import/export port has protected us against bigger volume dips. We also have perishable agricultural goods that need to be boxed and shipped.”

Colbruno said the Port’s agricultural exports remain vital “because the proteins and other agricultural commodities are in high demand in Asia.”

In an interview with AJOT, Colbruno said: “The Port of Oakland is less dependent solely on imports than the other West Coast ports. Therefore, the state of the Port is in better condition during these tumultuous times.”

GSC Demise

He admitted the recent demise of Oakland harbor trucker GSC “was deeply upsetting, but there are several trucking companies that can pick up the slack.”

Howard Terminal Ballpark Proposal

Colbruno said he supported the establishment of a baseball park for the Oakland A’s at the Port of Oakland’s Howard Terminal, because the property had been vacant for the entire 12 years that he served on the Port Commission and that, as a Port Commissioner, he saw the importance of the ballpark as a revenue generator. “My oath of office included a fiduciary responsibility to the Port and no one else came forward with a viable financial proposal for Howard Terminal. It was frustrating to be on the receiving end of endless criticism from stakeholders who never offered a solution.”

After the Oakland A’s withdrew their proposal, the Port issued an RFP for new projects and proposals. “It’s been narrowed down to two or three projects, stated Colbruno, “Each of which will have maritime uses. I never was comfortable with housing being near maritime industrial uses, so I am pleased to see these new proposals.”

New University & New Maritime School at Oakland?

At the State of the Port of Oakland earlier in 2025, Colbruno challenged the ‘doom loop” accusation from media sources across the San Francisco Bay who cited the loss of Oakland’s sports teams, including the Golden State Warriors basketball team, the Oakland Raiders football team, and the loss of the Oakland A’s baseball team.

Colbruno told AJOT: There is no doom loop in Oakland. There needs to be a reset thinking about new opportunities and what is most viable for Oakland.”

Colbruno referenced the importance of education and how the Eastern San Francisco Bay is an educational center. It has its proximity to the University of California at Berkeley and other educational institutions.

Colbruno is hopeful about attracting a maritime school to Oakland. He said that historical black universities are well-represented on the East Coast, but there are no major HBCUs on the West Coast. Oakland “is the obvious place to establish such a university as well as a maritime school. A new maritime school in Oakland would complement the Port of Oakland’s manpower needs, attract young people to Oakland, and potentially create a new black middle-class with high-paying jobs.”

He hopes that a consortium of political leaders and financial interests, including foundations, will come together to support a new university in Oakland and the maritime school.

Colbruno is very hopeful that under the leadership of newly elected Mayor Barbara Lee, that her alliances and her relationships will create a renaissance in Oakland in terms of housing, in terms of education, and terms of new economic development, attracting young people and making Oakland an educational center for African Americans on the West Coast: “Barbara Lee's historical connections after 35 years of public service including in the House of Representatives, will help facilitate bringing together resources that will support the effort to establish a new university and maritime school.”

I hope that both the new commissioners continue my advocacy for maritime training on the waterfront.

Crime

Colbruno said the crime spree that beset Oakland over the last couple of years appears to be subsiding: “Although crime stats appear to be improving, perception remains an issue and until that changes, Oakland will continue to face challenges from the investment class.”

Colbruno cited the work that has been done by the cooperation with the Alameda County Sheriff's Department and the California Highway Patrol. The continued support from Governor Newsom and the new leadership that has been provided by Mayor Barbara Lee has also helped.

Housing

Another focus needs to be on increasing housing density within the City of Oakland to make housing more affordable. As an Oakland Planning Commissioner, before becoming a Port Commissioner, Colbruno was a vocal proponent for greater density near transit and allowing for more height in the downtown.

Background

Michael Colbruno joined the Oakland Board of Port Commissioners in 2013, having been appointed by Mayor Jean Quan and reappointed twice by Mayor Libby Schaaf. He was elected twice as Commission President by his colleagues. He is a partner in the Milo Group of California, a government affairs firm. From 1999-2010, the Commissioner served as Vice President of Government Affairs for Clear Channel Outdoor/Northern California. Prior to joining Clear Channel, he worked in local and state government as a legislative director in the San Francisco Mayor’s office, and a chief-of-staff at the San Francisco Board of Supervisors and California State Assembly.

Commissioner Colbruno was appointed by Mayors Jerry Brown and Ron Dellums to serve on the City’s Planning Commission and during his tenure was selected to oversee the City’s rezoning effort. In addition to this prior public service, he has served as chair of the Chabot Space & Science Center and chair/founder of the Philharmonia Baroque Orchestra Corporate Counsel. Colbruno is a board member of the Merola Opera Program in San Francisco. He has been named the “Corporate Citizen of the Year” by the Oakland Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce.