4 16-1232 Subject: Establishing The Department Of Violence Prevention
From: Councilmember McElhaney, Kaplan And Council President Reid
Recommendation: Adopt A Ordinance Amending Chapter 2.29 Of The Oakland Municipal Code Entitled "City Agencies, Departments And Offices" To Create The Department Of Violence Prevention Focusing On Ending The Epidemic Of Violent Crime In Oakland And Healing Trauma In Impacted Communities
This is a perfect example of a “Cart Before the Horse”. Any initiative that is seeking public funding and promising dramatic results (e.g., 80% violence reduction) must have a well defined, properly vetted, and clearly articulated plan for how it plans to expend the requested funds and how it intends to achieve its lofty goals. As it stands, the DVP fails this simple condition.
As a pastor, it is important to me that our neighbors feel safe. But i believe it is at a minimum inefficient to try to prevent violence by simply ramping up tactics and strategies which haven't worked to date. Prevention of violence will come when we address the root causes of generational poverty, displacement and un- and underemployment. Budget funds would be better allocated toward those projects rather than seeking to improve prosecution rates from our problematic police department. I believe this would have the result of making our neighbors more uneasy, even fearful rather than improving their way of life.
This is a perfect example of a “Cart Before the Horse”. Any initiative that is seeking public funding and promising dramatic results (e.g., 80% violence reduction) must have a well defined, properly vetted, and clearly articulated plan for how it plans to expend the requested funds and how it intends to achieve its lofty goals. As it stands, the DVP fails this simple condition.
As a pastor, it is important to me that our neighbors feel safe. But i believe it is at a minimum inefficient to try to prevent violence by simply ramping up tactics and strategies which haven't worked to date. Prevention of violence will come when we address the root causes of generational poverty, displacement and un- and underemployment. Budget funds would be better allocated toward those projects rather than seeking to improve prosecution rates from our problematic police department. I believe this would have the result of making our neighbors more uneasy, even fearful rather than improving their way of life.