Crime

OP-ED: Too Important to Fail

Published

12 years ago

August 26, 2013

We must deem Oakland “too important to fail” and take immediate action to restore order in our City

This past weekend, 12 people were shot in Oakland. The reverberations from these horrifying acts are sending shockwaves through Oakland. In one daytime incident, four people were shot at 17^th & Telegraph. Even in a city where the murder count will likely reach unprecedented levels this year, this brash display of gun play and attendant violence stands out.

Tensions among our residents have reached a boiling point and the time has come to move beyond outrage to action. This action must both account for the need to immediately curb this current rash of shootings, and include an honest examination of the deeper, systemic reasons, these shootings are occurring.

Approximately 80% of shootings in Oakland involve a black or brown person shooting another black or brown person. The truth is, that race still matters in society. These “black on black” shootings have been occurring for some time, with no real moral outrage. This fact, underscores the ongoing truth of this narrative. The shooting at 17^th & Telegraph brings needed attention to this issue. That is, shootings are not just an East or West Oakland issue; if left unchecked, these shootings are an entire Oakland city issue.

The truth is that inner cities in America are failing people of color all over our country. Oakland is no different. Unemployment rates in East and West Oakland have sailed to over 30%. Our education system, particularly in these areas, is in a similarly poor condition. When you combine an uncertain job future, with an education system that is failing our residents of color, many exist in an environment of hopelessness.

We must realize, that unless we restore hope, these acts of violence, robberies and shootings will continue to pose problems for Oakland as whole. In this regard, an analogy to the federal stimulus package is appropriate. We must have declared, all of Oakland, but particularly, East and West Oakland, “too important to fail”. In so doing, we can begin the long term process of rebuilding these areas, and in so doing, Oakland as a whole. Without a strong urban core, our middle class will continue to disappear.

We should demand the same type of stimulus package, given by the Feds to the big banks, for Oakland and our urban core. This stimulus package must provide aid for businesses and job creation, and also focus on bringing up our schools, particularly, in East and West Oakland, to acceptable standards.

In the interim, we need actions that can immediately curb the gun violence in our City. Some of these items may be unpopular. However, given the state of our City, we should not remove anything from the discussion. We must be innovative and decisive in our actions, yet the protection of our resident’s civil liberties must remain our top priority.

Actions for consideration should include: requesting the Governor declare a state of emergency (and sending additional police); potential use of anti-loitering laws and gang injunctions; resources to engage in a far reaching gun buyback program; and creating a tighter alignment with the faith community.

I am ready to stand with my fellow residents of Oakland and demand these solutions. Will you stand with me?

Bryan R. Parker, Oakland Port Commissioner and 2014 for Candidate of Mayor of Oakland

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Oakland Post: Week of March 28 – April 1, 2025

The printed Weekly Edition of the Oakland Post: Week of March 28 – April 1, 2025

Published

4 days ago

March 28, 2025

Oakland Post

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Activism

Group Takes First Steps to Recall District Attorney Diana Becton

The group, called “Recall Diana Becton,” says they have lost faith in her prosecution decisions and her lack of transparency. On their social media post, they say: “We the victims of crime, their families, local business owners and employees, as well as residents of Contra Costa County, have reached our limit and are initiating the recall of District Attorney Diana Becton,” the notice states. “We are increasingly concerned about the persistent cycle of unaddressed criminal activity. We are frustrated by her continuous empty promises to victims and their families that justice will prevail while she permits criminals to roam free.” Becton, 73, is a former judge who was appointed district attorney in 2017 by the Board of Supervisors and then won election in 2018 and again in 2022.

Published

1 week ago

March 24, 2025

Oakland Post

Diana Becton has served at the Contra Costa County District Attorney since 2017. Richmond Standard photo.

By Post Staff

After gathering more than 100 verified signatures, a group led by crime victims delivered a ‘notice of intent’ to the offices of Contra Costa County District Attorney Diana Becton seeking her recall.

The group, called “Recall Diana Becton,” says they have lost faith in her prosecution decisions and her lack of transparency.

On their social media post, they say:

“We the victims of crime, their families, local business owners and employees, as well as residents of Contra Costa County, have reached our limit and are initiating the recall of District Attorney Diana Becton,” the notice states.

“We are increasingly concerned about the persistent cycle of unaddressed criminal activity. We are frustrated by her continuous empty promises to victims and their families that justice will prevail while she permits criminals to roam free.”

Becton, 73, is a former judge who was appointed district attorney in 2017 by the Board of Supervisors and then won election in 2018 and again in 2022.

Becton has seven days to respond. According to the East Bay Times, her office spokesperson said her “answer will be her public comment.”

After Becton responds, according to the Contra Costa County Elections Office, Recall Diana Becton must then finalize the petition language and gather signatures of a minimum of 10% of registered voters (72,000) in 160 days before it can go on the ballot for election.

She is the third Bay Area district attorney whose constituents wanted them removed from office. San Francisco District Attorney Chesa Boudin was removed from office in 2021 and last year, Pamela Price lost her position in a recall election.

Of the top 10 proponents of Becton’s recall, three are the families of Alexis Gabe, Thomas Arellano, and Damond Lazenby Jr.

In each of those cases, the families say Becton failed to pursue prosecution, allowed a plea deal instead of a trial in a slaying and questioned the coroner’s report in a fatal car crash.

Some political science experts suggest that, in the Bay Area there may be a bit of copycat syndrome going on.

In many states, recalls are not permitted at all, but in California, not only are they permitted but the ability to put one into motion is easy.

“Only 10% of registered voters in a district are needed just to start the process of getting the effort onto the ballot,” Garrick Percival, a political science professor told the East Bay Times. “It makes it easy to make the attempt.”

But according to their website, the Recall Diana Becton group express their loss of faith in the prosecutor.

“Her lack of transparency regarding crime in this county, and her attempts to keep her offenders out of jail have left us disheartened,” the recall group wrote.

Petitioners say they are acting not just for themselves but other crime victims “who feel ignored, exasperated and hopeless in their pursuit of justice for themselves or their loved ones.”

KRON TV, The East Bay Times, and Wikipedia are the sources for this report.