The Safe Streets Initiative - don't sign the petition
Yesterday I received a petition in the mail asking for my support of the Safe Streets Initiative. You can learn more about the Safe Streets Initiative, aka "The Safe Streets and Neighborhoods Act of 2008" at this website.

Basically, it sets the number of police officers required in Oakland to 1075.

While I don't disagree that we need more police officers in Oakland, I do not think that creating an initiative is the way to do it. It does not come with a plan of how to get to 1075. If it did, I might be more interested in getting behind the initiative.

The issue is that I don't think you could possibly find anyone in the City - in politics, OPD, or otherwise - that is against adding more cops. The issue is funding of the training, finding interested candidates willing to hit the streets of Oakland, and even the funding of the actual positions. I don't disagree that money is wasted in our City Government, but if this initiative were to pass my fear is that the good stuff would be cut, and not the bad, and worse - I don't see the number of 1075 as even remotely possible for at least two years.

As it is, we're currently at around 750 officers, give or take. We have a bunch of cadettes that started training a few weeks ago, but the average number that ultimately graduates and makes it onto the streets isn't a high number. We would be extremely lucky to get to 803 (the current goal) by the end of the year, and that's only if no one retires, gets injured, or quits. Not a likely scenario.

Once we get to the 803 number, then we can work towards more. But let's get to the 803 number - which we already can't fund with the current budget - before requiring the city to bankrupt itself or significantly raise taxes in a feeble attempt to get to 1075. To me, setting that number is a set-up for failure and will merely give everyone more fingerpointing as to who is at fault for it not happening and possibly/probably at the expense of other city services.

Don't sign the petition. It sounds good, but it doesn't have a plan for getting there and it will bankrupt the City trying to get there.
Posted 5/28/2008

Jack London News Endorses Greg Hodge
Although I'm not printing the paper these days, many have asked who I am supporting for District 3 City Council. I am officially supporting Greg Hodge.

I've long said that I think it is time for a new Council Member, and at the recent JLDA District 3 Candidate Forum that view was cemented. You can see my questions and the candidates answers at Zennie Abraham's Oakland Focus website. Nadel says that the issue is one of race as to why she spends her energy and focus on West Oakland and seems to ignore the Jack London District, yet looking around I see our District as diverse. And hey, we pay taxes, so shouldn't we have some representation? It's really an issue of socio-economic status. She sees us (JLD) as rich, and the poor of West Oakland are the ones that need her. Well, we need(ed) her. And since she doesn't see that, she should NOT continue to be our Council representative.

Hodge said it best. He said that if you don't want change, then you should stick with the incombent. But if you want change, you basically have two choices. Greg Hodge or Sean Sullivan. I think we're lucky in District 3 to have a choice of good candidates, unlike other districts where the choices are grim (imho). I'll also say that I like BOTH Greg & Sean, and I think that they both have positives to bring to the table. You should read their websites and try to meet them both and make your own opinion.

Ultimately I have chosen Greg over Sean for a few specific reasons. First, Oak to 9th may make a return to Council for a new vote in the next few years. Our City didn't listen to the masses who felt that it should go to a referendum and the Planning Commission failed to listen to the people despite all the "public meetings" - it's one thing to have the meetings, but another if you've already made up your mind and you refuse to listen to what the people have to say. The waterfront is for all and the more we block it off and only leave the bad bits for the masses, the worse it is for the City, again, imho. It's my feeling that Sean is too good of friends with Signature Properties and that will tilt his perspective on the Oak to 9th project in particular. He has good reason to like/love Signature - they were very supportive of getting Covenant House into the neighborhood and even freely offered their services as general contract in the renovations of the We the People building formerly owned by Jerry Brown.

The other issue that tipped the scale for me towards Greg Hodge was his relationships with other politicians and his knowledge of how things work politically. Could Sean learn this? Yes, but it would take some time. He's young and he still has some learning to do.

Ultimately, I think Sean Sullivan will either win or go into a run-off with Nancy Nadel, but I'd like for people to get to know Greg Hodge before making their own decision.
Posted 5/28/2008

Want a dog park? I need volunteers!
I'm not a dog owner, or even a huge fan of dogs. However, I've learned some interesting things lately and I want to help the Jack London District get a dog park.

I want to prove to JLDA, to Nancy Nadel, and all the other naysayers that indeed it can be done and without a huge amount of capital and without a huge amount of bureaucracy.

SO... I need some help!

First, are there any fencing pros reading? If so, can you help?

I've created a Yahoo Group specifically for this project - JLDdogpark - so if you're interested in learning more and/or helping out go to http://groups.yahoo.com and search for JLDdogpark. Request to join and be sure to include your name, address, and number of dogs.
Posted 5/20/2008

Queenie Pie, a Duke Ellington Opera Opens Friday
Duke Ellington's one and only opera, Queenie Pie, will open Friday, May 9th and run through May 25th. Presented by the Oakland Opera and featuring the Marcus Shelby Jazz Orchestra, performances run Thursdays through Saturdays at 8pm and Sundays at 2pm. Advance tickets are $28 and can be purchased online, by mail (1734 Campbell St., Oakland, CA 94607), or by phone at (510) 763-1146. You can also purchase tickets at the door for $35.

The Oakland Opera Theater is located at 630 Third Street.

Support these local artists! They put on a great show and are a great asset to the community.
Posted 5/07/2008