The people of Oakland are suffering

City leadership needs to act urgently to rebalance priorities toward proven means for public safety — fair policing that deters and prevents crime

—Commentary—

Most in the Oakland community are both appalled and numbed by the barrage of crime stories that come daily in Oakland. We would not typically report on any one breaking crime story in Oakland Report, because the stories are already overwhelming inboxes and news feeds.

But this weekend’s CBS news story about a burglary in East Oakland stood out; and it warrants commentary. It encapsulates everything that is upside down about Oakland's situation right now. It is a window into the heartbreak of the people that suffer the most from the unchecked crime: people in East Oakland where crime is most concentrated, people who are just trying to make ends meet, people who dedicate their sweat to building positivity and growth in their community. 

Sixteen businesses were ransacked in a building near the now-closed Denny's. They were the last of the businesses remaining on that street. They were owned and operated by the people of East Oakland.

Even more frustrating and ironic is to consider the nature the businesses that were attacked. One of them is the Beautification Council—a 12-year old nonprofit with a mission to “Build Lives & Beautify Communities” by cleaning up illegal dumping, graffiti vandalism, and other blight in the most impacted communities. To staff their work, the Beautification Council created a job readiness program that hires only the unhoused and justice-impacted. Its impact has been recognized by the governor, and has received support from both the city and state. 

The founder of Beautification Council is Ken Houston, the main person interviewed in the CBS piece. He has dedicated his life to fixing the very problems that have attacked his business.  Even he, a 3rd-generation Oaklander, now questions whether he can stay longer.

Moreover, our city and state investments in Ken and his organization are shattered by these repeated crimes. Even as the city tries to do the right thing, it is stymied by the consequences of its own misguided public safety policies. It is like the left hand is bashing the right hand. 

We are blessed to have people like Ken in our city. They need the protection of a just, well-staffed, well-trained, and well-supported law enforcement agency.  They can't clean, repair, and build this city without it.

As Jacob Rukin shared in his Oakland Report post yesterday, the greatest benefit of policing is crime prevention. But you can't deter crime if the police force is so degraded that criminals no longer fear consequences.

With likely additional police cuts coming in October (at least according to the current city council's plan), our force stands to be diminished further.

As a community, we must consider whether the recent budget decisions are the right ones for this city. That very-tardy budget was passed in haste, without adequate public discussion. But that need not be the end of story. 

It is not too late for city leadership to rebalance priorities to better protect residents of this city—people like Ken Houston who have dedicated their lives to serving and saving us.

—Tim Gardner