Message to Oakland City Council Members Regarding Conflicting Police Oversight Proposals

As you know, a group of concerned citizens and [30] organizations, known as the Oakland Police Accountability Coalition including the Wellstone Democratic Renewal Club, the League of Women Voters, SEIU Local 1021, ACCE, the Oakland Alliance, and the Block by Block Organizing Network have discussed the need for a truly independent police commission that could be set up when the current federal oversight ends. The Coalition has researched existing versions, interviewed attorneys, police specialists and sitting commissioners in other cities and come up with a unique new model of police oversight.

Since an independent commission requires a charter change and a citywide election, we are requesting that you join with Council Members Kalb, Gallo, and Kaplan to put this carefully wrought measure on the November ballot rather than substituting a weaker ordinance that does not provide true citizen accountability. A measure that continues to give the mayor or a city administrator the option of declining to impose discipline, for instance, would restrict true police department reform and leave us open for more abuse and additional lawsuits in the future.

This is a good government measure that provides transparency and real community engagement with police operations for all Oakland residents. As progressives, we expect no less from our representatives. We hope you will join with progressive council colleagues to place it on the ballot.

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Both measures are to be heard at the Public Safety Committee meeting of June 14 at 4:00 PM. The Kalb/Gallo measure we support is item #3 on the Agenda. The competing measure by Campbell Washington/Guillen/Reid which we don’t support is item #4. See https://oakland.legistar.com/MeetingDetail.aspx?ID=489684&GUID=CB512507-A059-4A36-B1DE-80E6DE58C7F7. (Committee members: Noel Gallo, District 5; Abel J. Guillén, District 2; Dan Kalb, District 1; Chairperson: Desley Brooks, District 6)