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Agenda Item
6.35 23-0636 Subject: DVP FY23-25 Grant Agreements
From: Department Of Violence Prevention
Recommendation: Adopt A Resolution Authorizing The City Administrator To Execute Grant Agreements With Twenty-Four Non-Profit Organizations And Public Agencies To Provide Violence Prevention And Intervention Services For The Period Of October 1, 2023, To June 30, 2025, In A Total Amount Not To Exceed Twenty-Eight Million Eighty-Seven Thousand Five Hundred Dollars ($28,087,500), With The Ability To Extend Agreements For An Additional Three Months In Amount Not To Exceed Four Million Eight Hundred Sixteen Thousand Four Hundred Eighty Dollars ($4,816,480) Contingent On Available Funds
My name is Spenser and Im a Self Determination Coordinator at the Young Women's Freedom Center. Im in support of Item 10 because our young folks need safe space alternatives.YWFC is one of the organizations funded by the DVP and the work we do is crucial for our young folks. They need caring people to support them, an increase in opportunities through good jobs, shelter, food and their basic needs. Cutting the budget for non profit organizations like ours and putting them where they don’t need to do further impacts our young folks and takes away the opportunity for the REAL work that’s done for programs like ours.
When work is done, the performance of how this work is MEASURED and AUDITED, is essential for true determining on whether the people getting DVP dollars, are DOING THE WORK. Residents of Oakland are agreeing to fund DVP and other programs but what continues to play out is several hard-working community based organization are not given fair review. Executive Directors of NPOs making hundreds of thousands of dollars. These funds do NOT go to the communities they were intentioned to go. There are MANY CBOs that don't receive funding properly and meagerly receiving these funds. Some CBOs manage to do MORE WITH LESS! Let's stop skimming funding for high-salaried, non-performing INEFFECTIVE LEADERSHIP. That is cheating the community based orgs that are actually DOING WORK. If you REALLY are supporting non-law enforcement responses, then you should be working DIRECTLY WITH and FUNDING the CBOs, assuring the people who SHOULD get the money to receive these funds. You should also look at salaries of these orgs since we're not a welfare state. They need to do the work if they want the money.
my name is Ialiyah I’m a fellow at the young women’s freedom center here in Oakland. it’s important to prioritize public safety, but solely increasing funding for police is not the most effective solution. Investing in other community resources can address the underlying issues that contribute to crime. Allocating funds towards education, mental health services, affordable housing, and job opportunities is a more important priority to help create a safer and more equitable society By addressing the root causes of crime, you should work towards long-term solutions that benefit everyone. It's about finding a balanced approach that focuses on prevention rather than solely relying on the law enforcement because they don’t make a difference to the community at all so why are we still funding them we need more housing and more organizations for the youth to keep them out of trouble not more Police officers who don’t even do their jobs there post to protect and serve yet I never feel safe or protected at all
My name is Gala King, I'm the regional director with the Interfaith Movement for Human Integrity, a non profit based in Oakland Chinatown.I'm also a mother and D2 resident for the past 20 years. I whole heartedly support agenda item 6.35 which will restore funding to the Department of Violence Prevention, that supports addressing the root causes of violence by providing grants to non-profits serving our community. For too long, we have invested precious resources in policing as the only way to address safety. We know that our communities need much more than that in order to heal and thrive. We need the work of the Dept of Violence Prevention and the non-profits that would benefit from the grants.
DVP needs this funding for the simple fact they fund these non profits going out and doing the REAL work. Young folks need safe space alternatives, like YWFC offers. They need mentors, they need JOBS , HOUSING, FOOD , BASIC NEEDS. These young folks cant even get an interview, no call backs, NOTHING. How else are they going to survive and get what they need? How many housing programs do Oakland have?? not that many. How many empty and abandon buildings do we have in Oakland? a whole lot. Oakland is putting their funds in places it does need to go. It doesn't serve anyone any purpose but the PIGS. Invest in young people. Stop criminalizing them.
Hello, my name is Elizabeth Atkins-Pattenson I work for Critical Resistance and am a resident of D3. I am writing in support of Restoring Investments in Violence Prevention and restoring funds to DVP. In the June budget, the city council cut millions of dollars from the DVP budget while increasing the police budget by $20m per year, bringing their budget to $360m/year. The increase of $20m/year is the equivalent of approximately 70% of the entire proposed budget for DVP. The effects of the cuts to DVP grantees have been clear, as crime has risen in their absence. It is clear that what is needed is to restore the funds cut in the last budget cycle and to approve the increased funding to the department. A yes vote to the DVP proposal will show that our council cares about preventing violence in Oakland, and is committed to investing in what works by restoring funding.
Increasing funding towards policing is not the answer to making a more safe Oakland. What our communities need are to restore and reinvest in life-affirming resources that keep our communities healthy and safe. More police means less funding for violence prevention, housing, jobs, education, healthcare, and what our communities need to thrive.
My name is Simone Hufana and I am the program manager at Young Women's Freedom Center. I am in support of item 6.35. A yes vote to the DVP proposal will show your true support in what preventing violence in Oakland looks like. We don't have to take a guess at what works in Oakland when it has already been in practice. YWFC is funded by the Department of Violence Prevention and we serve as a safe space for young system impacted women and trans youth of all genders in Oakland. Young folks are navigating an immense lack of resources in Oakland right now, and cutting funding from violence prevention work that directly serves and impacts them while continuing to fund the police force that kills our young people and community will continue to put blood on your hands. A yes vote for the DVP proposal is what it means to truly invest in young people in Oakland and public safety.
Good afternoon. My name is Su Dung. I am speaking on behalf of Oakland Youth as a Program Manager at Lao Family Community Development, Inc.
I am here to speak in favor and support of item 6.35 DVP FY 23-25 the Discretionary spending plan.
This program offers a critical to prevent and intervene in the face of community violence.
1. Youth need a safe place.
2. Youth need to get off the street.
3. Youth need caring and professional staff to support them.
4. Youth need to increase their opportunity to earn a living through good jobs with career pathways.
5. Youth need a connection to the police and sheriff navigating the justice system.
6. Finally, this program helps solve the city's community violence.
6.35 23-0636 Since the 2019-2020 fiscal year, the department of violence prevention has seen a budget increase of nearly 26,000,000. At the same time, violence has been trending up sharply in Oakland, and now we are in crisis. Two mothers were shot IN THEIR HOMES this week. While we recognize that violence prevention is necessary, the city must be accountable for showing metrics and connecting money spent to measurable outcomes. Given the city's recent failure to submit a grant proposal on time and this council and the mayor's decision to reject a grantwriter position for OPD that could have handled this, I oppose the allocation of additional funding here until and unless the city shows in what way this department reduces crime.
I am a resident of district 6 and I support agenda item 6.35. We badly need increased support for community-led violence prevention programs. A yes vote will show that our council cares about preventing violence in Oakland, and is committed to investing in what works by restoring funding.
Hello my name is Christopher Middleton and I am a Staff Attorney at Youth Law Center. As an Oakland resident of District 1, I want to express my enthusiastic support for the continued funding of violence prevention programs. Everyone in the city deserves to feel safe and these programs have a noticeable positive impact on our community. At a time where many voices have asked for multiple methods to be explored to improve public safety, cutting this funding would be a horrible idea. Our plans for a safer Oakland should include these programs that are continuing to do work in our community to heal our community. I believe we all want a home that feels safe, and these programs must remain a critical part of Oakland's public safety strategy.
I am an Oakland resident and I support full funding of the Department of Violence Prevention. DVP programs provide critical violence prevention, victim support, and community safety and healing services at a time when Oakland is in great need. We urge the City Council to move forward with the plan to fund community healing and employment services as part of all of the full menu of services under DVP. Please don't cut funding to the DVP! We need a comprehensive approach to safety and real tangible solutions that work. The DVP allows a commonsense, comprehensive approach.
At a time when we are coming out of a pandemic, cutting violence prevention programs is the worst idea. We need more investment in real, tangible solutions. Everyone in this community deserves to feel safe, no matter where you live in Oakland.
We have been here before, we know that when there are small jumps in crime it means that our communities are experiencing dire conditions and are in need of help and resources.
We need the DVP, community ambassadors, and violence interrupters on the streets, we need mental health outreach workers and programs that help neighbors build strong relationships and trust. These are things that can create real safety.
We urge Oakland city council to retain full funding for the DVP. It’s an essential part of a comprehensive public safety strategy that we cannot afford to lose.
My name is Spenser and Im a Self Determination Coordinator at the Young Women's Freedom Center. Im in support of Item 10 because our young folks need safe space alternatives.YWFC is one of the organizations funded by the DVP and the work we do is crucial for our young folks. They need caring people to support them, an increase in opportunities through good jobs, shelter, food and their basic needs. Cutting the budget for non profit organizations like ours and putting them where they don’t need to do further impacts our young folks and takes away the opportunity for the REAL work that’s done for programs like ours.
When work is done, the performance of how this work is MEASURED and AUDITED, is essential for true determining on whether the people getting DVP dollars, are DOING THE WORK. Residents of Oakland are agreeing to fund DVP and other programs but what continues to play out is several hard-working community based organization are not given fair review. Executive Directors of NPOs making hundreds of thousands of dollars. These funds do NOT go to the communities they were intentioned to go. There are MANY CBOs that don't receive funding properly and meagerly receiving these funds. Some CBOs manage to do MORE WITH LESS! Let's stop skimming funding for high-salaried, non-performing INEFFECTIVE LEADERSHIP. That is cheating the community based orgs that are actually DOING WORK. If you REALLY are supporting non-law enforcement responses, then you should be working DIRECTLY WITH and FUNDING the CBOs, assuring the people who SHOULD get the money to receive these funds. You should also look at salaries of these orgs since we're not a welfare state. They need to do the work if they want the money.
my name is Ialiyah I’m a fellow at the young women’s freedom center here in Oakland. it’s important to prioritize public safety, but solely increasing funding for police is not the most effective solution. Investing in other community resources can address the underlying issues that contribute to crime. Allocating funds towards education, mental health services, affordable housing, and job opportunities is a more important priority to help create a safer and more equitable society By addressing the root causes of crime, you should work towards long-term solutions that benefit everyone. It's about finding a balanced approach that focuses on prevention rather than solely relying on the law enforcement because they don’t make a difference to the community at all so why are we still funding them we need more housing and more organizations for the youth to keep them out of trouble not more Police officers who don’t even do their jobs there post to protect and serve yet I never feel safe or protected at all
My name is Gala King, I'm the regional director with the Interfaith Movement for Human Integrity, a non profit based in Oakland Chinatown.I'm also a mother and D2 resident for the past 20 years. I whole heartedly support agenda item 6.35 which will restore funding to the Department of Violence Prevention, that supports addressing the root causes of violence by providing grants to non-profits serving our community. For too long, we have invested precious resources in policing as the only way to address safety. We know that our communities need much more than that in order to heal and thrive. We need the work of the Dept of Violence Prevention and the non-profits that would benefit from the grants.
DVP needs this funding for the simple fact they fund these non profits going out and doing the REAL work. Young folks need safe space alternatives, like YWFC offers. They need mentors, they need JOBS , HOUSING, FOOD , BASIC NEEDS. These young folks cant even get an interview, no call backs, NOTHING. How else are they going to survive and get what they need? How many housing programs do Oakland have?? not that many. How many empty and abandon buildings do we have in Oakland? a whole lot. Oakland is putting their funds in places it does need to go. It doesn't serve anyone any purpose but the PIGS. Invest in young people. Stop criminalizing them.
Hello, my name is Elizabeth Atkins-Pattenson I work for Critical Resistance and am a resident of D3. I am writing in support of Restoring Investments in Violence Prevention and restoring funds to DVP. In the June budget, the city council cut millions of dollars from the DVP budget while increasing the police budget by $20m per year, bringing their budget to $360m/year. The increase of $20m/year is the equivalent of approximately 70% of the entire proposed budget for DVP. The effects of the cuts to DVP grantees have been clear, as crime has risen in their absence. It is clear that what is needed is to restore the funds cut in the last budget cycle and to approve the increased funding to the department. A yes vote to the DVP proposal will show that our council cares about preventing violence in Oakland, and is committed to investing in what works by restoring funding.
Increasing funding towards policing is not the answer to making a more safe Oakland. What our communities need are to restore and reinvest in life-affirming resources that keep our communities healthy and safe. More police means less funding for violence prevention, housing, jobs, education, healthcare, and what our communities need to thrive.
My name is Simone Hufana and I am the program manager at Young Women's Freedom Center. I am in support of item 6.35. A yes vote to the DVP proposal will show your true support in what preventing violence in Oakland looks like. We don't have to take a guess at what works in Oakland when it has already been in practice. YWFC is funded by the Department of Violence Prevention and we serve as a safe space for young system impacted women and trans youth of all genders in Oakland. Young folks are navigating an immense lack of resources in Oakland right now, and cutting funding from violence prevention work that directly serves and impacts them while continuing to fund the police force that kills our young people and community will continue to put blood on your hands. A yes vote for the DVP proposal is what it means to truly invest in young people in Oakland and public safety.
Good afternoon. My name is Su Dung. I am speaking on behalf of Oakland Youth as a Program Manager at Lao Family Community Development, Inc.
I am here to speak in favor and support of item 6.35 DVP FY 23-25 the Discretionary spending plan.
This program offers a critical to prevent and intervene in the face of community violence.
1. Youth need a safe place.
2. Youth need to get off the street.
3. Youth need caring and professional staff to support them.
4. Youth need to increase their opportunity to earn a living through good jobs with career pathways.
5. Youth need a connection to the police and sheriff navigating the justice system.
6. Finally, this program helps solve the city's community violence.
Sincerely,
Su Dung
Here to support
6.35 23-0636 Since the 2019-2020 fiscal year, the department of violence prevention has seen a budget increase of nearly 26,000,000. At the same time, violence has been trending up sharply in Oakland, and now we are in crisis. Two mothers were shot IN THEIR HOMES this week. While we recognize that violence prevention is necessary, the city must be accountable for showing metrics and connecting money spent to measurable outcomes. Given the city's recent failure to submit a grant proposal on time and this council and the mayor's decision to reject a grantwriter position for OPD that could have handled this, I oppose the allocation of additional funding here until and unless the city shows in what way this department reduces crime.
I am a resident of district 6 and I support agenda item 6.35. We badly need increased support for community-led violence prevention programs. A yes vote will show that our council cares about preventing violence in Oakland, and is committed to investing in what works by restoring funding.
Hello my name is Christopher Middleton and I am a Staff Attorney at Youth Law Center. As an Oakland resident of District 1, I want to express my enthusiastic support for the continued funding of violence prevention programs. Everyone in the city deserves to feel safe and these programs have a noticeable positive impact on our community. At a time where many voices have asked for multiple methods to be explored to improve public safety, cutting this funding would be a horrible idea. Our plans for a safer Oakland should include these programs that are continuing to do work in our community to heal our community. I believe we all want a home that feels safe, and these programs must remain a critical part of Oakland's public safety strategy.
I am an Oakland resident and I support full funding of the Department of Violence Prevention. DVP programs provide critical violence prevention, victim support, and community safety and healing services at a time when Oakland is in great need. We urge the City Council to move forward with the plan to fund community healing and employment services as part of all of the full menu of services under DVP. Please don't cut funding to the DVP! We need a comprehensive approach to safety and real tangible solutions that work. The DVP allows a commonsense, comprehensive approach.
At a time when we are coming out of a pandemic, cutting violence prevention programs is the worst idea. We need more investment in real, tangible solutions. Everyone in this community deserves to feel safe, no matter where you live in Oakland.
We have been here before, we know that when there are small jumps in crime it means that our communities are experiencing dire conditions and are in need of help and resources.
We need the DVP, community ambassadors, and violence interrupters on the streets, we need mental health outreach workers and programs that help neighbors build strong relationships and trust. These are things that can create real safety.
We urge Oakland city council to retain full funding for the DVP. It’s an essential part of a comprehensive public safety strategy that we cannot afford to lose.