Activism
OPINION: What’s Really Driving the Oakland Police Department’s So-Called Staffing Crisis?
After decades of overspending on law enforcement, our nation’s police forces have now grown so large there’s simply no way they can keep themselves fully staffed. So, they’ve resorted to cannibalizing each other, poaching officers from neighboring departments. And Oakland residents are left to pay the price tag of training cadets who ultimately go on to work elsewhere, or out-of-towners whose records of conduct are difficult to unearth.
By Cat Brooks
Police forces around the country are complaining about staffing shortages. By and large, they’ve blamed the community and city leaders for not being sufficiently supportive — even though law enforcement receives the lion’s share of every city budget in the country.
We heard such disinformation recently when Oakland Police Officers Association President Barry Donelan blamed declining OPD staffing levels on “anti-police rhetoric” which is driving hard-working, dedicated Oakland police officers to leave in droves.”
While this is an obvious falsehood, it remains important to ask: why are so many cops leaving, who are they, and what is OPD spending its time on?
One major reason staffing is down is because so many cops have quit the force to escape discipline. “Heavy discipline” was among the top factors cited by departing officers in exit interviews, which OPD started conducting last fall.
What this means is that between OPD’s nonstop scandals — which range from sharing racist, sexist Instagram memes and pro-Trump insurrection posts, to teargassing kids, to overtime fraud, to murder — and Oakland’s community-led demands for accountability, the environment has become unfriendly to corrupt cops who could easily go do their dirt elsewhere without consequence. Good riddance.
Oakland’s COVID-19 vaccine mandate for city workers has also had an impact. On March 8, OPD Deputy Director Kiona Suttle revealed that 15 sworn officers will either be fired or forced to quit because of noncompliance with the mandate.
This seems to confirm the widely-held suspicion that vaccine refusal has contributed to the reduction in officer staffing in Oakland like it has everywhere else — a suspicion that grew when officer attrition spiked by 160% in October, the month the vaccine mandate took effect.
The top reason for leaving listed in exit interviews is “dissatisfaction with OPD leadership.” This shows that, despite Libby Schaaf’s gaslighting of Oaklanders with tall tales of OPD reform and the police association’s false narrative spin, OPD remains as dysfunctional as ever. Yet the City of Oakland fills their unaudited budget of almost $350 million every year.
Let’s be clear — while OPD is a terrible place to work, it is not unique in falling below its budgeted number of officers. A similar trend is happening all over the country. A national survey of nearly 200 law enforcement agencies last summer found that retirements went up by 45% and resignations went up by almost 20% in 2020-21.
After decades of overspending on law enforcement, our nation’s police forces have now grown so large there’s simply no way they can keep themselves fully staffed. So, they’ve resorted to cannibalizing each other, poaching officers from neighboring departments. And Oakland residents are left to pay the price tag of training cadets who ultimately go on to work elsewhere, or out-of-towners whose records of conduct are difficult to unearth.
Oakland will never be able to fill so many empty positions. Period. There’s just not enough people interested in working for OPD. The only solution is to scale back our police force. We’ve got to make do with fewer officers.
We can do this by ending the practice of making police be the ineffective first responders to every single social ill. They are not counselors, therapists, mental health workers, or animal welfare specialists. Sending them to do these jobs has proven not only costly but also deadly to Black and brown communities.
It won’t be a difficult shift. Right now, OPD only spends a fraction of its time on violent crime. The Anti Police-Terror Project published a report last year which found that OPD wastes significant amounts of time and money responding to nonviolent and non-criminal issues instead of focusing on violent crime.
The Department could free up the equivalent of over 60 full-time officers and save millions if it was no longer responsible for matters that don’t require an armed officer — like towing abandoned cars and catching stray dogs — as well as situations like mental health crises or interacting with unhoused neighbors.
The truth is we have too many cops, not too few. But OPD doesn’t want you to know this. That’s why they’re dragging their feet on releasing updated data about how they spend their time, which City Council demanded and is already past due.
We know what keeps us safe, and it’s not more police. It’s meeting the needs of our most vulnerable community members. That means housing, schools, jobs, mental health care, and violence prevention.
The way out of this manufactured staffing crisis is to tell OPD to do less with less — and to invest in what really keeps us safe instead.
Activism
Lend A Hand Foundation Celebrates 25th Anniversary
Lend A Hand Foundation Celebrates 25th Anniversary at the Scottish Rite Center in Oakland. On stage: KTVU Fox 2 Broadcasters Roberta Gonzales and Dave ClarkDance-A-Vision Founder, Carla Service, Vice Mayor Kimberly Mayfield-Lynch, California State Assemblymember Mia Bonta and Lend A Hand Foundation Executive Director Dee Johnson with the Dance-A-Vision Dancers. Photo By Carla Thomas
By Carla Thomas
The Lend A Hand Foundation (LAHF) celebrated the 25th anniversary of the organization’s Stay In School Program on May 9 at the Scottish Rite Center in Oakland.
Themed “Together We Can Empower Our Youth to Stay in School,” the event featured a pre-event reception featuring Oakland’s Kev Choice Ensemble.
The ensemble featured Oakland School for the Arts student, Ayo Brame, a 16-year-old, up-and-coming tenor saxophone jazz musician. The master and mistress of ceremonies were local broadcasters Dave Clark and Roberta Gonzales of KTVU Fox 2. Clark’s wife, Lucretia also supported the program.
A special appearance featured Dwayne Wiggins of Tony! Toni! Toné! on guitar, performing the group’s hit song “Anniversary” as guests dined on salmon, chicken, beef and vegetarian entrees prepared by the Food Network “Chopped” Champion, Chef Rashad Armstead of Oakland. California State Assemblymember Mia Bonta (D-Oakland) provided the keynote address and the Carla Service Dance-A-Vision youth dancers energetically performed a hip hop routine throughout the audience in white leotards as attendees clapped along. An auction led by Auctioneer Franco Finn assisted in raising funds for the organization with prizes that included a luxury resort vacation and other items.
LAHF presented District 5 Alameda County Supervisor Keith Carson and District 4 Alameda County Supervisor Nate Miley with Lifetime Supporter Awards. LAHF presented the Trailblazer Award to Guy Richardson of Ernst and Young; Dante Green of Kaiser Permanente; Antioch Attorney Gordon Greenwood of the Kazan McClain Partner’s Foundation; and Sarah Yoell of PG&E.
Oakland Unified School District Superintendent, Dr. Kyla Trammel Johnson acknowledged LAHF’s impact.
“Each year, LAHF gives backpacks and school supplies to thousands of students across Oakland,” said Johnson. “In 2022 the effort topped 25,000 students. No matter the need, big or small, involving lots of students or just one, Lend A Hand is always there ready to make a difference in the lives of our young people.”
Founder and executive director of LAHF Dee Johnson took the stage as the DJ played the Sledge Sisters’ “We Are Family.”
Guests gave Johnson a standing ovation as she thanked supporters and presented many of them with gifts.
“It’s heartbreaking to know some children don’t have clothes or supplies for school,” said Johnson. “The babies really need our support and when we deliver supplies to them, it makes them really happy.”
Since the LAHF Annual Stay in School Program began in 1999, it has provided over 150,000 educational school supply kits to students throughout Alameda County, including Oakland, Berkeley, Emeryville, and San Leandro, among other cities.
“This past August, we provided for over 12,000 students with supplies, with the help and support of our very generous donors,” said Johnson. “This year, we aim to do all we can to match that amount or provide even more.”
For more information visit: www.LendaHandFoundation.org
Activism
Chef Cleaz and Mistah F.A.B. Host “You Still Have A Son” Mother’s Day Dinner
Oakland Chef Cleaz and Bay Area rapper, author Stanley Cox, aka Mistah F.A.B., hosted a Mother’s Day dinner on Monday, May 13, at Pierre Pierre, a restaurant in the Tribune building in downtown Oakland. The restaurant was decorated with balloons and flowers for the event, and each mother received a bouquet of red roses.
By Carla Thomas
Oakland Chef Cleaz and Bay Area rapper, author Stanley Cox, aka Mistah F.A.B., hosted a Mother’s Day dinner on Monday, May 13, at Pierre Pierre, a restaurant in the Tribune building in downtown Oakland.
The restaurant was decorated with balloons and flowers for the event, and each mother received a bouquet of red roses.
Organized for mothers who have lost their children, for mothers in need of extra love on Mother’s Day, the event gave the hosts an opportunity to remember their own mothers while doing something special for over 100 mothers in the community.
Both men recounted the deep sense of grief they faced in the loss of their mothers and recognized the many mothers who have outlived their children.
“We were in my restaurant, and F.A.B. was having dinner and said he wanted to do something special but wasn’t sure what it would look like,” said Chef Cleaz. “We continued to brainstorm, and at first F.A.B. wanted to come up with ways to bring more business to my new restaurant and serve the community. But days later, F.A.B. came up with the idea for mothers.”
“In these tough times. we know life can get you down'” explained F.A.B. “And expect to lose a parent, but a parent should not lose their child, and with Mother’s Day around the corner, we decided to show moms in need of something special and extra love.”
F.A.B. also knew that Chef Cleaz had recently lost his mother, which made the idea even more appropriate to them.
So, the day after Mother’s Day, F.A.B. and Cleaz hosted “You Still Have A Son, Momma” at Pierre Pierre.
“We wanted moms to still feel appreciated under the covenant of family and love,” said F.A.B.
“I remember my mother being my rock,” said Cleaz. “My mom played a very important part in my life, and not having her anymore gave me the impetus to do something in her honor. She gave me a lot in her lifetime. F.A.B. offered to pay for the entire event, but I said, let’s collaborate.”
“My mom was my best friend, and on Mother’s Day I cry and listen to music so I can get the tears out. But I’m happy because I’m living my purpose, continuing to evolve as a man and father to Liberty and Legacy and continue making my mom proud.”
Initially, Cleaz and F.A.B. planned for 50 to 75 guests, but after they advertised the event via social media posts, the RSVP’s kept rolling in. At last count,120 mothers responded.
F.A.B. said he did not plan on turning anybody away if there were more guests. “If they’re coming, there is a void of love that they are coming for,” he said. Chef Cleaz’s staff donated their time, and entertainer Dyson the Voice brought his band and sang all night.
“We wanted to see all the beautiful women out there,” said F.A.B. “We wanted to see lots of beautiful smiles, faces, and we want the mothers to feel appreciated.”
F.A.B. said his sister Theresa lost her son and that he knows at a very personal level how deep the loss of a child is through her. “You never really get over the loss, you deal with it. You try to make life better for those around you.”
Pierre Pierre is located at 401 13th St. Owner Chef Cleaz is a renowned celebrity chef from the vibrant culinary scene of San Francisco. Born from humble beginnings, he has forged an extraordinary path to culinary stardom, exemplifying Black excellence with each delectable dish he creates.
A dedicated father and loving husband, his commitment to family values extends far beyond his home, as he tirelessly helps anyone he sees in need.
Chef Cleaz has built an empire rooted in his passion for food and a deep respect for cultural heritage. His vision is to establish a sanctuary of culinary artistry, where creole and soul food recipes take center stage. He aims to create a space that the community can proudly call its own, a place where shared meals become moments of togetherness and cultural celebration.
Through his culinary creations, he invites visitors to savor not just his delectable dishes but also the history, traditions, and stories that infuse every plate.
F.A.B. is an American songwriter, entrepreneur, community organizer, and activist whose music career began in the late 1990s when he was discovered by Jazzy Jim and Gary Archer. He was featured on a number of Mac Dre’s Thizz Nation mixtape compilations and quickly gained prominence in the San Francisco Bay Area Hyphy Movement.
F.A.B. is the owner of D.O.P.E. clothing store and other businesses. He is known for hosting community block parties, school supply giveaways, and holiday parties for the underserved. He also created Thug Therapy, a movement for men to receive mental health support, which inspired the work of another community organizer, the late Shantell Herndon, creator of FLY Girl Therapy and Healing Circles.
Activism
Oakland Post: Week of May 15 – 21, 2024
The printed Weekly Edition of the Oakland Post: Week of May May 15 – 21, 2024
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