Hi Lake Neighbors!
First…mark down OUR NEXT MEETING ON A SUNDAY (we are going to rotate Tuesdays and Sundays so more people can make it more often)…January 3rd at Hector and Sasha’s house (1704 3rd Ave., right on the corner of 3rd Ave & E. 17th Street). 5pm…Potluck! Please let me know if you want your home to be next to host a meeting (a few of you have already – thank you)!
We had a great meeting last night with our guest Guardian Angel Oakland Chapter Leader (and also Coordinator for Northern CA) Christina Fernandez. Thank you for the strong turnout.
Christina talked with us about the Angels and also about general safety – and she let us know that now they are going back on patrol (less events that are in need of security this time of year) that since we have called and have the need that they are going to patrol our neighborhood!
The Guardian Angels keep a varied route and so you will see them all over – make sure to offer them your support and hospitality if needed. Say hi – see if they have any needs (ie: water, restroom, coffee, an apple…). They carry no weapons, but they do have bullet proof vests and a lot of training. You can tell it is them by their uniform of black cargo pants, boots, white shirt with Guardian Angels on it, red jacket and beret. They work after hours generally (because they are all volunteer – all have a varied range of “day jobs”) and are always in a group of minimum 4 angels. They don’t use their given names and have working nicknames. Christina said that they have an excellent relationship with the OPD and will work to de-escalate situations.
One big point made as a group is that we would RATHER treat the cause of all this crime stuff in a strong positive way – and we will keep doing that better and better – but that we must also meet it at a “symptom treating” level very strong as well.
Safety measures we are taking on as a neighborhood and we ask that everyone work to get everyone else around us on the same page…
1) Know your neighbors & their friends/family– go meet them, invite them to meetings or have dinner or a BBQ, bring them something…
2) Say hi to everyone in a confident and very present way – you are paying attention to who is in your neighborhood and you are still being friendly and aware at the same time. It is a message either way.
3) Have a whistle on your keychain (I have some to give out at our next meeting)
4) Blow a whistle instead of yelling if you can if help is needed (strong extended blasts)
5) If you have no whistle, yell to call 911 – it’s is more effective then a general scream an it tells what you need someone to do
6) Get sensitized to responding to a whistle if one is heard – that is our signal as a group, or community that you are needed.
7) Walkie talkies are not only heck of convenient – they are a deterrent and make you less of a desirable target because of the noise they make – it sounds like an undercover cop or a neighborhood patrol
8) Don’t carry a purse or bag whenever possible – Christina suggested carrying a luggage tag on your keychain (she does) for your id or any small atm card you need for the moment, etc.
9) Call Call Call for all weird stuff you see – the OPD’s emergency # is 510 777-3211 (put that on your cell phone so you can call fast because 911 won’t work on a cell).
10) Don’t walk around on the cell phone – it impairs your hearing behind you so you can be snuck up on from behind and it usually means you are distracted from your environment and are a better “target”
11) Paint over your tags that happen on your homes – in case it is gang related – which it is not a lot of the time, but to keep things as clear as possible, don’t let your home (or car!) be a place for gang territory markings.
12) Introduce yourself and get to know any Oakland Police assigned here. They are people that we need to know and who need to get a sense of us, also.
13) To help deter home burglaries…Have motion sensor lighting, and also an option are cameras – even one that does not record still can put off a person considering where to break in and it can give you a view outside from inside. Double bolts are good, too, she said.
14) Windows – one neighbor found that there is a security film that can be put on windows instead of having bars put up and it seems like pretty amazing stuff that is worth looking into. 3M makes some and I am calling to see if they give group discounts! I’ll let you know what I hear – I don’t have a price at all yet, so it may be very expensive.
15) I am adding this one sorta spontaneously…even though we have the Guardian Angels here, maybe we can even go out in groups of 4 or more for fast night hikes where we are out of our houses and aware… going for walks at night in small groups in your own neighborhood is a way of creating a positive vibe all around and it increases safety for everyone…right?
Someone noted the website for tracking (reported) crimes in the area, which is: http://gismaps.oaklandnet.com/crimewatch/
There was some discussion about carrying weapons – but that is a very personal decision and you MUST know what you are doing with whatever you choose if you choose one! Don’t carry something you don’t know how to use and don’t feel confident using or it will be used on you! Christina mentioned that even a trial size of Lysol or hairspray can be a safe “weapon” to carry because sprayed in the eyes it is not comfortable.
Okay, that is mostly it for the moment! Please keep in touch with us and everyone and let’s completely change the climate here in terms of crime and make it a safe place to be for everyone.
MUCH Friendship & see you all around a lot!
Sasha
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