Crime

OP-ED: Too Important to Fail

Published

11 years ago

August 26, 2013

We must deem Oakland “too important to fail” and take immediate action to restore order in our City

This past weekend, 12 people were shot in Oakland. The reverberations from these horrifying acts are sending shockwaves through Oakland. In one daytime incident, four people were shot at 17^th & Telegraph. Even in a city where the murder count will likely reach unprecedented levels this year, this brash display of gun play and attendant violence stands out.

Tensions among our residents have reached a boiling point and the time has come to move beyond outrage to action. This action must both account for the need to immediately curb this current rash of shootings, and include an honest examination of the deeper, systemic reasons, these shootings are occurring.

Approximately 80% of shootings in Oakland involve a black or brown person shooting another black or brown person. The truth is, that race still matters in society. These “black on black” shootings have been occurring for some time, with no real moral outrage. This fact, underscores the ongoing truth of this narrative. The shooting at 17^th & Telegraph brings needed attention to this issue. That is, shootings are not just an East or West Oakland issue; if left unchecked, these shootings are an entire Oakland city issue.

The truth is that inner cities in America are failing people of color all over our country. Oakland is no different. Unemployment rates in East and West Oakland have sailed to over 30%. Our education system, particularly in these areas, is in a similarly poor condition. When you combine an uncertain job future, with an education system that is failing our residents of color, many exist in an environment of hopelessness.

We must realize, that unless we restore hope, these acts of violence, robberies and shootings will continue to pose problems for Oakland as whole. In this regard, an analogy to the federal stimulus package is appropriate. We must have declared, all of Oakland, but particularly, East and West Oakland, “too important to fail”. In so doing, we can begin the long term process of rebuilding these areas, and in so doing, Oakland as a whole. Without a strong urban core, our middle class will continue to disappear.

We should demand the same type of stimulus package, given by the Feds to the big banks, for Oakland and our urban core. This stimulus package must provide aid for businesses and job creation, and also focus on bringing up our schools, particularly, in East and West Oakland, to acceptable standards.

In the interim, we need actions that can immediately curb the gun violence in our City. Some of these items may be unpopular. However, given the state of our City, we should not remove anything from the discussion. We must be innovative and decisive in our actions, yet the protection of our resident’s civil liberties must remain our top priority.

Actions for consideration should include: requesting the Governor declare a state of emergency (and sending additional police); potential use of anti-loitering laws and gang injunctions; resources to engage in a far reaching gun buyback program; and creating a tighter alignment with the faith community.

I am ready to stand with my fellow residents of Oakland and demand these solutions. Will you stand with me?

Bryan R. Parker, Oakland Port Commissioner and 2014 for Candidate of Mayor of Oakland

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Activism

Oakland Post: Week of April 24 – 30, 2024

The printed Weekly Edition of the Oakland Post: Week of April 24 – 30, 2024

Published

3 days ago

April 26, 2024

Oakland Post

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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.

Published

6 days ago

April 22, 2024

Oakland Post

District Attorney Pamela Price with Carol Jones

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.

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California Black Media

Anti-Theft Bill with Jail-Time Requirement Gets Wide Ranging Support

Fed up with the alarming frequency of retail theft across California, including smash and grabs, a diverse group of business leaders, law enforcement officials, policymakers and public safety advocates joined their efforts in Sacramento on Jan. 24. Their purpose: to increase public support for Assembly Bill (AB) 1772, a bill that would make jail time mandatory for repeat theft offenders.

Published

1 week ago

April 20, 2024

Oakland Post

San Bernardino Police Chief Darren Goodman speaks as Asm. James Ramos (D-San Bernardino), left, stands beside him at a news conference in Sacramento concerning retail theft across the state.

By California Black Media

Fed up with the alarming frequency of retail theft across California, including smash and grabs, a diverse group of business leaders, law enforcement officials, policymakers and public safety advocates joined their efforts in Sacramento on Jan. 24.

Their purpose: to increase public support for Assembly Bill (AB) 1772, a bill that would make jail time mandatory for repeat theft offenders.

Co-authored by Assemblymembers James C. Ramos (D-San Bernardino), Avelino Valencia (D-Anaheim) and Devon Mathis (R-Tulare), AB 1772 would require jail time “of one to three years for theft crimes depending upon the circumstances.

“Offenses would include grand theft, theft from an elder or dependent adult, theft or unauthorized use of a vehicle, burglary, carjacking, robbery, receiving stolen property, shoplifting or mail theft,” the bill language reads.

Ramos said the need to act is urgent.

“It’s time for us to reverse the spikes in theft crimes since the pandemic. Our law enforcement members and district attorneys need additional tools such as AB 1772. We must reverse the trend before the problem grows worse. Last year I requested a state audit of the impact of Prop 47 on Riverside and San Bernardino counties,” said Ramos.

Prop 47 is the California initiative, approved by voters in 2014, that reclassified some felonies to misdemeanors and raised the minimum amount for most misdemeanor thefts from $400 to $950.

According to a Public Policy Institute of California (PPIC) report, the rate of occurrence of petty crimes like shoplifting and commercial burglaries have increased by double digits over the last four years.

In Orange County alone, commercial burglaries have spiked by 54%.

“Our communities are experiencing an increase in retail crime and deserve appropriate action from their legislators,” Valencia said.

San Bernardino County Sheriff Shannon Dicus thanked Ramos.

“This bill, designed to impose stricter penalties on serial retail theft suspects, responds urgently to the escalating consequences of shoplifting and related crimes on our communities,” he said.

AB 1772 supporters who spoke at the gathering included Sacramento Sheriff Jim Cooper and San Bernardino Chief of Police Darren Goodman. Listed as supporters are the California State Sheriff’s Association, City of Riverside Police Chief Larry Gonzalez and Redlands Chamber of Commerce.