Photo by vision63

I hate when people equate Oakland with crime and violence. I see it all the time in the comments section on SFGate and the Oakland Tribune, people who say, "What do you expect? You live in Oakland." I expect a lot more. And so do many others.

No one can deny that Oakland has problems. In 2012, there were 126 homicides, and a 23% rise in serious crimes. The OPD, which has been majorly crippled by corruption, mismanagement, and budget cuts, once had more than 800 officers in 2008, but now has a force in the low 600s. It's not surprising that criminal activity is high and effective police work and morale are low. In my neighborhood of North Oakland, there's been a major spike in muggings, robberies, and car theft. The Bank of the West on Telegraph has been robbed five times within the span of five weeks, and it seems like every few days, I hear about a new crime against someone in the area. It's beginning to feel a little like the Wild West out here.

People are demanding a stop to this crime spree. A few weeks ago, I attended a meeting held at Homeroom in Temescal, where more than 200 neighbors jammed into the restaurant to figure out what to do as a community. I left the meeting feeling conflicted – glad that so many people wanted to do something, but a bit defeated that it didn't seem like there was anything we as individuals could actually do, especially without strong leadership and police support. On top of that, finding solutions that everyone can agree upon in a city known for extreme reactions and inept action (Mayor Quan's Occupy reaction will haunt us for a long time) is no easy task.  

On Tuesday night, a day before the city council members would vote on measures on fighting crime, concerned citizens gathered to express their opinions about several controversial proposals: to hire an outside crime consultant, to bring on 20 police technicians, to temporarily hire 10 Alameda County sheriffs deputies and a supervisor to help supplement the Oakland PD, and to start a new police academy to train more officers. The most controversial of these proposals – the hiring of consultant William Bratton – was approved early Wednesday morning, despite opponents who fear that the former head of the Los Angeles and New York police departments will instate "stop-and-frisk" and "zero tolerance" policies that'll lead to racial profiling and police brutality. Bratton critics fear that under his rule, anyone who's brown or black will be a suspect.

This is a real concern, especially since Oakland has had serious issues with brutality and corruption. Another worry is that none of these measures will lead to real action. Maybe Bratton will just be a figurehead who doesn't do jack squat. Or even if Bratton comes to the table with solutions, who's to say any of them will actually be instated. 

I'm holding my breath about Bratton, but I welcome the increased police presence and am hopeful. I am not worried that Oakland will ever be a police state – it's just too progressive to be ruled by an iron fist. More patrolling, even without the stopping-and-frisking, will help reduce the more blatant criminal activity. And those extra technicians could be the key in helping solve more investigations. Some will call me naive, but I still believe that change for good is possible. I want to stop hearing about shootings and killings everyday in my city. I want to walk outside my home at night and not worry that I may be mugged. I want to show all those smug assholes who think Oakland is a cesspool that they're wrong. But the only way we can do those things is to do something. If we do nothing and let the bottom drop out from under our feet, there'll be nothing left to do.