The politics of Affordable housing
July 11, 2025
This event has passed. Watch the recording above.
Petaluma resident Ali Gaylord, Assistant Housing Director for the City of Oakland, will speak about the future of affordable housing—locally and beyond. She’ll discuss the impacts of pending state legislation, California’s increasingly constrained budget, and growing uncertainty at the federal level.
She’ll also offer a comparison of the housing challenges in Oakland and Petaluma, including the role of historic preservation in shaping local policies.
Mayor Kevin McDonnell will introduce Ms. Gaylord and moderate the Q&A session.
Ali Gaylord
Meet our speaker!
Ali Gaylord | Deputy Director for Housing, City of Oakland
Ali Gaylord is the Deputy Director for Housing at the City of Oakland’s Housing and Community Development Department, where she oversees a 20-person team and a $180 million housing capital budget. She leads the development and compliance of affordable housing across four key programs: new construction, preservation, acquisition and conversion, and quick-build housing for individuals exiting homelessness. Ali brings a practitioner’s lens to her work, with deep experience navigating complex funding sources and delivering impactful housing solutions.
Prior to her role in Oakland, Ali was Director of Housing Development at MidPen Housing, where she helped expand the affordable housing pipeline in the North Bay and San Francisco by 793 units from 2018 to 2023. She also played a key role in the creation of Shirley Chisholm Village, an innovative housing development for educators. Earlier in her career, she held leadership roles at BRIDGE Housing Corporation. Ali is currently a member of the Petaluma General Plan Advisory Committee and continues to serve on boards and committees focused on housing and community development.
