Removing the proliferating guns and reducing the shootings and homicides in Oakland is our
top priority. We are ensuring that our families, children and businesses are safe,
by making public safety a top priority, getting guns off the street and reducing recidivism.
We are laser-focused about using our increasingly limited resources in a smarter, more
effective way.
- Short-term it means concentrated enforcement
- Mid-term, it means community engagement and mobilization
- Long-term, it means keeping crime from happening in the first place through crime prevention, education and jobs
We continue to fully implement Community Policing citywide, where residents and individual officers build real relationships. We know that neighborhoods are safer when neighbors know
each other and officers know the neighborhoods.
We also launched the 100 Block Initiative, to focus on the 5% of the City where 90% of the
shootings and homicides have occurred year in and year out. It’s not just about more
enforcement in these neighborhoods, although that is part of it.
It’s about leveraging our enforcement, violence prevention and quality of life resources to
reduce violent crime. Real partnerships with other agencies, the faith community, nonprofit organizations and neighborhood leaders will translate into real results.
Measure Y Street Outreach
The Obama Administration has been impressed by our violence intervention programs, especially our Measure Y Youth Outreach Workers. They are credited with keeping incidents from escalating and for their work with gangs, by providing counseling, job training and hope. A Federal grant this winter funded nine additional workers. A total of 23 Outreach Workers provide hot spot and specific incident outreach in high crime areas at hours at peak need, mostly nights and weekends. ContactKevin Grant, 510-2389-6393.
Gang Prevention Task Force
I am reconstituting and leading the Gang Prevention Task Force, a group of community stake holders including the School District, not-for-profits, and Alameda County Probation. Together we will leverage resources to create and enhance a city-wide gang prevention strategy. For additional information, contact Sara Bedford at 510-238-6794.
