City Government
Homicides Tarnish Oakland’s Sunnyside Image
24 hours, 12 shootings, 10 injured, 3 dead.
Oakland has become a war zone, a modern day battlefield where children are toting guns instead of books. Crimes primarily done in the dark are now happening in the light and seems like nothing is being done to stop it.
Last Saturday afternoon, a man shot up a barbershop in downtown Oakland, moments after being caught breaking into a customer’s car and trying to steal her purse. Four people were wounded but expected to survive. Hours later, a woman was shot and killed in front of her boyfriend and 5-year old son, after a gunman walked up and fired numerous shots at the car.
Both shootings came less than 24 hours after gun fire erupted at an East Oakland party Friday night; two men were killed.
Friday’s shootings came just hours after mourners filed into Fuller Funerals to pay respects to 16-month-old Drew Jackson. Jackson was sleep with his father, Andrew Thomas, when a gunman fired shots through a bedroom window killing them both.
This double homicide was just days after Alaysha Carradine, 8, was laid to rest after being shot and killed at a friend’s sleep over.
Over the weekend, a video surfaced of another shooting happening in broad day light. While no injuries were reported, the young man walking right pass the gunfire, unaffected by what was happening, dismayed many that watched the video.
Community members question the crime-prevention efforts of the Oakland Police Department (OPD) but more are concerned about the lack of leadership shown by Mayor Jean Quan.
Dominique Bobineaux, the aunt of the slain 16-month old, does not feel Mayor Quan understands the effects the violence is having on families and communities. In a Facebook post, she claims Mayor Quan was inattentive at the babies funeral services.
“Big shout out to Mayor Jean Quan of Oakland for falling asleep in the funeral,” she wrote. “[and thanks]for her support and kind words she DID NOT offer our family.”
Mayor Quan and OPD Chief Sean Whent have met in recent weeks to discuss the implementation of Ceasefire throughout the city but is that enough? According to Councilwoman Brooks, Ceasefire only represents a strategy and not a comprehensive crime reduction plan.
She says OPD’s lack of “proactive enforcement” is the problem. The Mayor needs to get a permanent chief, someone like Ron Davis, an expert on racial profiling and who is recognized for his community building enforcement, Brooks added.
“We need to be vocal with the Mayor and City Administrator that we want a competent Police Chief,” said Brooks. “If we are silent, then it means we are ok with the status quo. Demand that they explain their plan and then let’s hold them accountable.”
So what is Mayor Quan’s plan? What is she doing to help Oakland streets become safer for residents? Is she afraid to say something or has the upcoming election taken priority over the safety of Oakland residents?
Sean Maher, Communications Director for Mayor Quan, was contacted numerous times for comment from the Mayor but did not return a call.
Activism
Oakland Post: Week of April 24 – 30, 2024
The printed Weekly Edition of the Oakland Post: Week of April 24 – 30, 2024
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Alameda County
DA Pamela Price Stands by Mom Who Lost Son to Gun Violence in Oakland
Last week, The Post published a photo showing Alameda County District Attorney Pamela Price with Carol Jones, whose son, Patrick DeMarco Scott, was gunned down by an unknown assailant in 2018.
Publisher’s note: Last week, The Post published a photo showing Alameda County District Attorney Pamela Price with Carol Jones, whose son, Patrick DeMarco Scott, was gunned down by an unknown assailant in 2018. The photo was too small for readers to see where the women were and what they were doing. Here we show Price and Jones as they complete a walk in memory of Scott. For more information and to contribute, please contact Carol Jones at 510-978-5517 at morefoundation.help@gmail.com. Courtesy photo.
City Government
Vallejo Welcomes Interim City Manager Beverli Marshall
At Tuesday night’s Council meeting, the Vallejo City Council appointed Beverli Marshall as the interim city manager. Her tenure in the City Manager’s Office began today, Wednesday, April 10. Mayor Robert McConnell praised Marshall’s extensive background, noting her “wide breadth of experience in many areas that will assist the City and its citizens in understanding the complexity of the many issues that must be solved” in Vallejo.
Special to The Post
At Tuesday night’s Council meeting, the Vallejo City Council appointed Beverli Marshall as the interim city manager. Her tenure in the City Manager’s Office began today, Wednesday, April 10.
Mayor Robert McConnell praised Marshall’s extensive background, noting her “wide breadth of experience in many areas that will assist the City and its citizens in understanding the complexity of the many issues that must be solved” in Vallejo.
Current City Manager Michael Malone, whose official departure is slated for April 18, expressed his well wishes. “I wish the City of Vallejo and Interim City Manager Marshall all the best in moving forward on the progress we’ve made to improve service to residents.” Malone expressed his hope that the staff and Council will work closely with ICM Marshall to “ensure success and prosperity for the City.”
According to the Vallejo Sun, Malone stepped into the role of interim city manager in 2021 and became permanent in 2022. Previously, Malone served as the city’s water director and decided to retire from city service e at the end of his contract which is April 18.
“I hope the excellent work of City staff will continue for years to come in Vallejo,” he said. “However, recent developments have led me to this decision to announce my retirement.”
When Malone was appointed, Vallejo was awash in scandals involving the housing division and the police department. A third of the city’s jobs went unfilled during most of his tenure, making for a rocky road for getting things done, the Vallejo Sun reported.
At last night’s council meeting, McConnell explained the selection process, highlighting the council’s confidence in achieving positive outcomes through a collaborative effort, and said this afternoon, “The Council is confident that by working closely together, positive results will be obtained.”
While the search for a permanent city manager is ongoing, an announcement is expected in the coming months.
On behalf of the City Council, Mayor McConnell extended gratitude to the staff, citizen groups, and recruitment firm.
“The Council wishes to thank the staff, the citizens’ group, and the recruitment firm for their diligent work and careful consideration for the selection of what is possibly the most important decision a Council can make on behalf of the betterment of our City,” McConnell said.
The Vallejo Sun contributed to this report.
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