Lots of upcoming City meetings!!!

Lots of upcoming (rescheduled) meetings before the Thanksgiving holiday! I'll be attending by Zoom this week. Please participate in Tuesday's meeting about Flock cameras!

Please reach out with any questions or comments, and sign and share this petition to end federal oversight of OPD (deadline Monday).

UPCOMING MEETINGS:

Public Safety Committee meeting

Tuesday, November 18, 6pm, City Hall, Council Chambers or Zoom

The OPD-Flock camera policy and contract will be presented to this committee for initial presentation and review. This will prove to be a contentious discussion - with attendance from many (paid) out-of-town activists who are against surveillance and the police.

Please participate! Click here to find out how to submit an EComment, sign as a Zoom speaker, and attend in person! Sample statements are included.

OPSPOC (Measure NN Committee) meeting

Monday, November 17, 6pm, City Hall, Hearing Room 2 or Zoom

This group of appointed volunteers controls the allocation of $45 annual Measure Z funds, and is in charge of developing the City's Violence Prevention Plan. Its Vice Chair (a mental health professional) will present a proposal to pilot a program where mental health professionals will patrol with OPD, which will involve hiring over 20 people (there is no mention of duplication of the existing MACRO program or Alameda County Mental Health Mobile Crisis Teams).

Police Commission meeting

Thursday, November 20, 6:30pm, City Hall Council Chambers or Zoom (observe only)

Tonight's meeting was canceled due to illness and injury amongst three commissioners. The meeting is tentatively scheduled for next week, however the agenda may change.

Case Management Conference (federal oversight of OPD)

Tuesday, December 9, 3:30pm, Courtroom 2, 17th floor, 450 Golden Gate Ave, San Francisco

Join me at the latest hearing with the federal judge in charge of federal oversight of OPD. Hear from the Mayor, City Attorney representative, Interim Police Chief (yet to be announced) and (possibly) the Police Commission.

OTHER NEWS

Crime statistics - OPD's recent crime report shows decreased crime in all categories. However, Area specific crime reports show different trends (e.g. Area 2 showed a 20% increase in residential burglaries in Santa Fe, Golden Gate, Rockridge, Temescal and North Hills neighborhoods).

Shootings on school/college campuses - In the past two days, there has been a shooting at Skyline high school and Laney College. The victim at Laney is a beloved athletic director and football coach John Beam.

580 Truck Access study - A recent community meeting was attended by over 300 residents to hear Caltrans' proposed study of lifting the truck ban on 580. Sign up for their mailing list here. A community group has formed that is opposed to trucks on 580 - more here.

Charter Reform - The Mayor's working group continues their city-wide meetings, sign up here. You can also chat with members of the Oakland Charter Reform Project this Saturday @10am at Poppy Bagels in Temescal. Of note, a recent survey found that most residents support a "Strong Mayor" form of government.

Bias in local media - Oaklandside's recent article about the Privacy Advisory Commission criticized those who ask for reform of civilian oversight. They also used it as a platform to discredit OPD's proposal for Flock cameras. They quoted outgoing Privacy Commissioner Brian Hofer (who "resigned" the same day his replacement was appointed)

“Everybody’s blaming civilian oversight for their problems,” he said. “It’s a perfect storm — we’ve got these unsophisticated, loudmouthed people beating on the walls of City Hall, and the electeds love it.” I've created a rebuttal document.