Libby's Op Ed Piece on 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.

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.