Just as we are asking banks and large corporations to act responsibly, Occupy Oakland must act responsibly as well. The camping and other late-night activities of Occupy Oakland have gotten to the point where they are doing more harm than good for the 99%-residents of Oakland.
Occupy Oakland is:
* Driving business and business prospects from downtown Oakland (last week, three businesses pulled out of downtown lease negotiations, including one with 100 employees, while some restaurant receipts are down 50-60%);
* Costing our cash-strapped city money it doesn’t have (to date, more than $1million in extra services and supplies);
* Causing threats to public health and safety that have gone unaddressed after multiple written warnings -- including failed fire and health inspections, possession of weapons, sexual assault and drug overdose -- while the camp adopts policies effectively prohibiting communication with officials;
* Diverting Oakland’s scarce city services and resources, especially police, away from neighborhoods that need them, including one night when 179 calls for police to 911 went without response; and
* Providing cover and opportunity to anarchists who’ve trashed our beloved city -- destroying property and causing injury.
I support the goals of Occupy Wall Street to address income inequality, and appreciate that Occupy Oakland has been part of this critical national movement, which has given the 99% of citizens suffering from declining wealth some hope that together we can change things.
However, I’d like to see Occupy Oakland transform into a lawful, sustainable and broad-based movement that effects change, without harming our City or its residents. I hope to see Occupy Oakland:
- Allow Oakland and Alameda County to offer available social services and shelter to Occupy Oakland participants who need them;
- Remove the Ogawa encampment as soon as possible;
- End and disavow lawlessness, vandalism and violence; and
- Identify community venues where those interested in continuing the positive work of the Occupy Movement can continue to meet and work, preferably during daylight hours.
Many in the Occupy Wall St. movement will tell you it was the lessening of laws, the removal of government regulation, which allowed banks and corporations to unjustly prosper. Oakland needs to enforce the rule of law on banks and demonstrators alike.
We need to do this clearly and consistently, and move on to the business of cleaning up our downtown and getting on with being the wonderful, positive city we know we are.
Tuesday, November 15, 2011
Libby's Newsletter 11/11/11-Occupy
Preoccupied with Occupy Oakland
Just as we are asking banks and large corporations to act responsibly, Occupy Oakland must act responsibly as well. The camping and other late-night activities of Occupy Oakland have gotten to the point where they are doing more harm than good for the 99%-residents of Oakland. I support the goals of Occupy Wall Street to address income inequality, and appreciate that Occupy Oakland has been part of this critical national movement, which has given the 99% of citizens suffering from declining wealth some hope that together we can change things. However, I'd like to see Occupy Oakland transform into a lawful, sustainable and broad-based movement that effects change, without harming our City or its residents. Last Wednesday, I joined 4 other Councilmembers in calling for an immediate end to the illegal and increasingly dangerous camping. Read my op-ed on Occupy by clicking here. Read about the press conference (that was shouted down) by clicking here.
Just as we are asking banks and large corporations to act responsibly, Occupy Oakland must act responsibly as well. The camping and other late-night activities of Occupy Oakland have gotten to the point where they are doing more harm than good for the 99%-residents of Oakland. I support the goals of Occupy Wall Street to address income inequality, and appreciate that Occupy Oakland has been part of this critical national movement, which has given the 99% of citizens suffering from declining wealth some hope that together we can change things. However, I'd like to see Occupy Oakland transform into a lawful, sustainable and broad-based movement that effects change, without harming our City or its residents. Last Wednesday, I joined 4 other Councilmembers in calling for an immediate end to the illegal and increasingly dangerous camping. Read my op-ed on Occupy by clicking here. Read about the press conference (that was shouted down) by clicking here.
Peace
Dear Oakland City Council Member Libby Schaaf,
I am writing to register my strong objection to your position that Occupy Oakland should be “evicted” through police action. A police action to remove this encampment will create huge cost and probable further damage to property and possible harm to residents and police. The Occupy movement and encampment includes: families with children, seniors, people with physical and mental disabilities and a huge diversity of participants.
The first police “eviction” resulted in an increased occupation, escalating actions and the attraction to Oakland of groups and individuals who seek conflict and confrontation. The vast majority of the Occupy movement is peaceful and wants to avoid conflict: a small minority is encouraging conflict; you should work with the majority and not be goaded by a minority into escalating conflict and harm to Oakland. The Occupy movement is gaining in numbers and constant attack on an encampment which has become symbolic of police brutality around the nation and world will only further polarize a situation which is just now calming.
The problems you find so objectionable in front of City Hall are considered “nuisance” problems when neighbors bring them to your office’s attention, and they are very often ignored, by you and OPD. Why you are now filled with righteous anger and urgency to act, however unwisely, I do not understand.
I respectfully register my objection to a “police eviction” of the occupy Oakland encampment because it will result in increased violence, increased cost, increased property damage and possible loss of human life. I also feel it will likely be unsuccessful and result in increased occupation of Oakland by activists and an increase in polarization and mistrust between Oakland residents, Oakland Police and thousands of young and old people who want an opportunity to participate in a world-wide social movement. Oaklander’s should have the same rights and freedoms as other Americans, and you as a public official should protect out rights as well as our property.
Emailed to Libby Schaaf and posted to Dimond Neighborhood List and Oakland Public School Parent List Thursday 11/10/11
I am writing to register my strong objection to your position that Occupy Oakland should be “evicted” through police action. A police action to remove this encampment will create huge cost and probable further damage to property and possible harm to residents and police. The Occupy movement and encampment includes: families with children, seniors, people with physical and mental disabilities and a huge diversity of participants.
The first police “eviction” resulted in an increased occupation, escalating actions and the attraction to Oakland of groups and individuals who seek conflict and confrontation. The vast majority of the Occupy movement is peaceful and wants to avoid conflict: a small minority is encouraging conflict; you should work with the majority and not be goaded by a minority into escalating conflict and harm to Oakland. The Occupy movement is gaining in numbers and constant attack on an encampment which has become symbolic of police brutality around the nation and world will only further polarize a situation which is just now calming.
The problems you find so objectionable in front of City Hall are considered “nuisance” problems when neighbors bring them to your office’s attention, and they are very often ignored, by you and OPD. Why you are now filled with righteous anger and urgency to act, however unwisely, I do not understand.
I respectfully register my objection to a “police eviction” of the occupy Oakland encampment because it will result in increased violence, increased cost, increased property damage and possible loss of human life. I also feel it will likely be unsuccessful and result in increased occupation of Oakland by activists and an increase in polarization and mistrust between Oakland residents, Oakland Police and thousands of young and old people who want an opportunity to participate in a world-wide social movement. Oaklander’s should have the same rights and freedoms as other Americans, and you as a public official should protect out rights as well as our property.
Emailed to Libby Schaaf and posted to Dimond Neighborhood List and Oakland Public School Parent List Thursday 11/10/11
Sunday, November 6, 2011
Tuesday, October 25, 2011
What is the cost of this police action?
Dear Neighbors & Council Member Schaaf,
I am deeply ashamed of Oakland, and deeply grateful to my neighbors for speaking out against the police action against the Occupy Oakland movement.
Oakland cannot afford to answer burglar alarms but Mayor Quan can afford days and maybe weeks of hundreds of riot police.
Our council member has spoken out against fiscal mismanagement and considers public safety a top priority. I respectfully register my objection to this police action and request that council member Schaaf report to neighbors the projected cost of this police action. I would also like to hear their risk benefit analysis, if this is a reasonable action why are all the public officials silent?
Ashamed of Oakland and proud of my neighbors,
Ann Nomura
I am deeply ashamed of Oakland, and deeply grateful to my neighbors for speaking out against the police action against the Occupy Oakland movement.
Oakland cannot afford to answer burglar alarms but Mayor Quan can afford days and maybe weeks of hundreds of riot police.
Our council member has spoken out against fiscal mismanagement and considers public safety a top priority. I respectfully register my objection to this police action and request that council member Schaaf report to neighbors the projected cost of this police action. I would also like to hear their risk benefit analysis, if this is a reasonable action why are all the public officials silent?
Ashamed of Oakland and proud of my neighbors,
Ann Nomura
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