June 29th City Council ViolencePrevention Hearing

> Dear Oaklanders,
>
> Are you feeling frustrated and disenfranchised? Wondering how you can make a
> difference in your own community? If you only go to one City Council Meeting
> all year, make this the one.
>
> Why? The Council will be discussing a measure to place almost $20 million in
> new taxes on the ballot for Violence Prevention, and some council members want
> almost all the money to go to Police and Fire Services. Show the City Council
> that a majority of Oaklanders want a balanced approach to ending violence in
> our neighborhoods. Come to the June 29th special hearing at 6:00 p.m. in the
> City Council Chambers.
>
> Details:
>
> As you may know, our office has been working for a couple of years now to
> bring a more comprehensive approach to violence prevention in Oakland, that
> will stop the cycle of violence by providing alternatives that successfully
> help people change their lives.
>
> We have had overwhelming support for this balanced approach, which combines
> funding for youth programs, services and jobs for parolees, outreach and
> community organizing and targeted enforcement. Measure R, which would have
> provided funding for this approach, was supported by over 66% of the public,
> and failed by just a few hundred votes.
>
> Unfortunately, some members of the city leadership are proposing a new measure
> under the guise of "Violence Prevention" that goes back to the theory that
> enforcement alone is the answer to Oakland's violent crime problem.
> Fortunately, there is still time for the community to speak out.
>
> Councilmembers de la Fuente, Reid and Quan have proposed a ballot measure that
> would raise almost $20 million dollars a year, and would spend about 72% of
> that on Police and Fire Services, and leaving less than 30% for all prevention
> and intervention programs such as domestic violence intervention, conflict
> resolution in schools, jobs and services for youth offenders, parolees and
> other at risk populations, positive alternatives for teens, etc.
>
> Councilmember Nadel has proposed an alternative that would split the funds
> 50/50 between prevention and enforcement, and only fund programs that have
> been proven to be successful - both for prevention and enforcement. Program
> evaluation would be data-driven, to make sure that the funds were being spent
> to make the highest impact in reducing violent crime and helping Oaklanders.
> This proposal itself is a compromise from the original Measure R allocation,
> as it does have more funding for enforcement, but the funding would be focused
> on community-oriented policing, and have oversight and evaluation to make sure
> the Police Department is working together with the community proactively to
> prevent crime.
>
> Please come out to the next council hearing to show your support for a
> balanced approach, and to show the council that any heavyhanded approach that
> relies mostly on enforcement not only won't be effective - it won't be passed
> by the 2/3 of Oakland voters necessary. Show the council that you are ready
> and willing to stand up and speak out against any ballot measure that does not
> reflect a truly comprehensive approach to ending violence in Oakland.
>
> Hearing info:
>
> When: City Council Special Meeting on the Budget and Violence Prevention, June
> 29th at 6:00 p.m.
> Where: Council Chambers, 3rd floor, City Hall, on 14th between Broadway and
> Clay St.
>
> How to participate: Starting Friday, June 25th you can fill out a speakers
> card on line (the item number is 3) at
> http://www.oaklandnet.com/government/city_clerk/testclerk.cfm
>
> If you would like any information on any of the proposals or the process you
> can contact me at 238-7031 or abrown-stevens [at] oaklandnet.com.
>
> Please forward this info to anyone else you think might be interested. Thanks
> so much for taking the time to make a difference in your community,
>
> Amanda Brown Stevens
> Policy Analyst
> Office of Councilmember Nancy Nadel
>
>