Everywhere I go in
In March 2004, Measure R to reduce violent crime in
Following this narrow defeat, community leaders, city officials, violence prevention advocates and neighborhood safety groups came together to develop Measure Y, a more comprehensive response to violent crime in our community. We worked to address what some saw as the shortcomings of R. Both Council member Nancy Nadel, author of Measure R, and Council President Ignacio Delafuente, opponent of Measure R, have joined me to co-chair this campaign. Other community leaders have joined the City Council from Congresswoman Barbara Lee, Mayor Jerry Brown, Senator Don Perata, Assemblywoman Wilma Chan, the League of Women Voters, Oakland Community Organizations, the Chamber of Commerce, and the National Women’s Political Caucus.
This is a brief comparison of Measures R and Y that I developed:
|
Measure R – Spring 2004
Ballot |
Violence Prevention
& Community Safety Initiative – Fall 2004 Ballot |
|
Would have provided 26-30
police officers |
Guarantees 63 officers specifically designated officers: one per beat in every neighborhood, plus additional school/truancy officers, police for domestic violence, child abuse, and crime/drug hot spots. These positions are not part of the currently budgeted 739 officers. |
|
Funded exclusively by a
flat parcel tax ($90 for single home parcel) |
Funded part by a parcel
tax ($88 for single home parcel) and part by a commercial parking lot and
garage surcharge. Commercial property fees prorated by size. |
|
Would have provided $5.3
million for violence prevention & job training programs |
Provides more money, $6.4
million, for similar programs also includes programs for abused children and
is more focused on children & youth at risk. |
|
No specific language for evaluation of the effectiveness of
programs |
Sets aside 1-3% for evaluation, citizen oversight committee specifically designated to participate in an annual performance review and financial audit. |
|
No specific funds for
police training |
Provides $500K annually
for training in community policing techniques and police referrals to social
services and equipment. |
|
Normal public input
limited; placed on ballot by emergency measure in one council meeting |
Special council workshops
to discuss violence prevention & community policing, three council
meetings over three months |
|
N/A |
Includes $4 M to fully
staff fire stations, ends rotating closures throughout the city |
Some opponents of Measure Y say, “more police is the only way to stop crime”, others say, “more social programs are the only way to prevent violence”. Neither extreme works.
Measure Y is a balanced solution that will increase public
safety in
The enforcement portion of Measure Y puts most of its emphasis into crime prevention and smart, focused community policing. Measure Y adds 63 additional police officers and mandates that they are assigned to new community policing and violence prevention duties including:
· A community policing officer for each community policing beat
· An expansion of the Crime Reduction Team in the most violent parts of the city focused on violent crime, drug dealing, and gang activities.
·
Expanded police staffing in the
· Officers assigned to work with social service providers to intervene in situations involving domestic violence, child abuse, and child prostitution
· Funding for training and equipment associated with these mandates, including establishing a police-social services referral system
·
This Measure guarantees that the current
budgeted number of police 739 must be funded before Measure Y is enacted.
In short this brings the total number of police to 802. This is less than
other major cities nationally, but would be near average for a
The violence prevention programs focus on at youth and at-risk young adults:
- Youth outreach counselors to counsel and mentor at-risk adolescents and young adults by arranging services and presenting employment opportunities. For examples of some programs that are being piloted, view the multi-agency efforts at the Safe Passages website.
· After-school programs for youth and children that provide tutoring and mentoring opportunities for at-risk adolescents, and expanded truancy enforcement to keep kids in school
· Domestic violence and child abuse counselors who team with the police and the criminal justice system to assist victims of domestic violence and child prostitution and expand early childhood intervention programs for children exposed to violence in the home at an early age
·
$6.3 million of Measure Y’s funding, more
than what Measure R would have contributed had it passed in March, would
pay for these activities.
Measure Y will also ensure rapid response to emergencies
by increasing the number of paramedics and firefighters in
Measure Y ensures accountability by establishing a new, independent Oversight Committee. Among its duties is to review an annual independent audit, evaluate the administration and coordination of the programs, evaluate the programs themselves to determine how many people are being served and how much crime and violence has been reduced as a result, and provide regular reports to the Mayor and City Council about the implementation of the Measure’s mandates.
PLEASE HELP US MAKE
It is very hard to win a two-thirds majority.
With less than a month to go before the election, we need your help.
Ø
Display a sign, hit reply and send us
your address and I will deliver one to you. For window signs go to our
website below and print your own. We are organizing a sign party this
Saturday to make distribute signs.
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Volunteer at our office,
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Help make phone calls
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Donate to Neighbors United for a Safer
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Pass this information onto your friends and
neighbors
Measure Y is a smart, fiscally responsible plan that funds
the expansion of effective violence prevention programs and increases the
number of police officers in
510/530-8361
jean@jeanquan4council.org
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