Police Beats 17X, 18X, 18Y & 19
Invite You! Community mtg.
Combined NCPC meeting
St. Anthony’s School (cafeteria)
1500 E. 15th St.
Thursday, November 18, 2010
6:30-8:00 p.m.
New Strategies. New Directions.
We need to support each other now more than ever! We need you, your voice and your ideas.
AgendaArea 2 Gang Injunction
It’s not just time to plan, it’s time to celebrate ourselves as a community!
If have any questions please contact Neighborhood Services Coordinator Edith Guillen at 238-7159 or eguillen@oaklandnet.com
Friday, November 12, 2010
Friday, November 5, 2010
a new idea...what do you think?
SO. . .Think about this. . .we have 238 neighbors in this email circle. . .
We have far more e-participation than we have in-person at our meetings (which can have anywhere from 3 to 30 show). I am proposing a new format that will keep us still in physical contact with eachother but will change the face to face meeting to a lower frequency (quarterly). Our events and projects will keep us in contact on a more-than-monthly basis.
The big thing from this that will keep us active and moving in our projects is this. . .since we have so many people who stay involved via email (while a lot of people come to meetings, I get a lot more of response from some people whom have never been to a meeting) -- I want to send out a monthly letter/question checking in and asking that every one of us -- all 238 (yeah, I know it is idealistic, but so?!) -- say one or two things they feel is important to have everyone else hear or think about. An offer, a question, a concern, an idea, an event, a proposed project calling out for a group to help make it come through.
The regular people assigned to projects can update in that email question letter, too.
We give a few days to respond (I will have a date) and I will send a 2nd letter with everyone's info honed down for us all to be informed of.
I think it would be worth it to find a few people in touch with non-emailing people to get their voice heard -- also the homeless people living here. Dave Kim who does our outreach may have some good ideas on who can represent for the homeless people because they connect with so many homeless through their church -- others receiving this email may be a great resource -- speak up if you want to be that point person.
If we do this right and if you all respond even more then this could be a very active group in this format. Can you imagine what we could get done if ALL 238 respond and get active?!
Our presenters can come to the quarterly meetings and can always give us info to distribute via email if it is a time issue. ALSO, it was suggested (we discussed this in our last meeting last night) that we meet a little longer than our usual 1 hour.
We need to really set our annual/monthly events so we all can plan and we need a few more people on our events crew so we don’t overwhelm Besty and Skye (Betsy is having a baby soon, so she will really appreciate a bigger crew).
SO. . .
Monthly email question/answer & update
Monthly events
Quarterly in-person meetings, 2 hours and a potluck (January, April, July & October) (possibly on the first Tuesday or Sunday of those months)
OHTER ideas you have to brainstorm and improve on this new format, please give them!
Hope you are great.
MUCH friendship!!!,
Sasha
We have far more e-participation than we have in-person at our meetings (which can have anywhere from 3 to 30 show). I am proposing a new format that will keep us still in physical contact with eachother but will change the face to face meeting to a lower frequency (quarterly). Our events and projects will keep us in contact on a more-than-monthly basis.
The big thing from this that will keep us active and moving in our projects is this. . .since we have so many people who stay involved via email (while a lot of people come to meetings, I get a lot more of response from some people whom have never been to a meeting) -- I want to send out a monthly letter/question checking in and asking that every one of us -- all 238 (yeah, I know it is idealistic, but so?!) -- say one or two things they feel is important to have everyone else hear or think about. An offer, a question, a concern, an idea, an event, a proposed project calling out for a group to help make it come through.
The regular people assigned to projects can update in that email question letter, too.
We give a few days to respond (I will have a date) and I will send a 2nd letter with everyone's info honed down for us all to be informed of.
I think it would be worth it to find a few people in touch with non-emailing people to get their voice heard -- also the homeless people living here. Dave Kim who does our outreach may have some good ideas on who can represent for the homeless people because they connect with so many homeless through their church -- others receiving this email may be a great resource -- speak up if you want to be that point person.
If we do this right and if you all respond even more then this could be a very active group in this format. Can you imagine what we could get done if ALL 238 respond and get active?!
Our presenters can come to the quarterly meetings and can always give us info to distribute via email if it is a time issue. ALSO, it was suggested (we discussed this in our last meeting last night) that we meet a little longer than our usual 1 hour.
We need to really set our annual/monthly events so we all can plan and we need a few more people on our events crew so we don’t overwhelm Besty and Skye (Betsy is having a baby soon, so she will really appreciate a bigger crew).
SO. . .
Monthly email question/answer & update
Monthly events
Quarterly in-person meetings, 2 hours and a potluck (January, April, July & October) (possibly on the first Tuesday or Sunday of those months)
OHTER ideas you have to brainstorm and improve on this new format, please give them!
Hope you are great.
MUCH friendship!!!,
Sasha
Sunday, October 31, 2010
great day at FunkTown Farm
Our neighbors are so great! We spent the day together cleaning up Funk Town farm and giving the chicken coop a new roof! 
Sunday, October 3, 2010
Post Mtg Notes
Hi Lake Neighbors!!!
Okay, here is our update on the most recent meeting for LakeNeighbors that happened on Tuesday (9/28)…we are up to over 230 people nowadays, FYI. The meetings do not always reflect that, so don't be too worried about that. Meetings can have anywhere from 30 to 3 people showing up. There are many that are e-participants and that is valued also.
First, our next meeting is on 10/17, which is a Sunday. Place is TBA, but it will be at one of the usual places. (The next few that follow so you can plan (!) are: 11/9, 11/28 & 12/21 – all at 6:30 as usual!)
We had guests – 3 of them to be exact. All very interesting.
Guest 1…Walgreens came in with a great showing of their leadership ready to restart our relationships with them as neighbors. They gave us some details about the security they have in place in their rebuilt store…they have double the security standards than their other stores. Their cameras have night vision and varied angles…they have a store greeter that will keep check on the whole store and parking lot (tours all premises). They keep camera footage for somewhere between 20-60 days. They are pursuing a liquor license, but will not sell singles (single bottles from a six pack) and they not be selling spirits – only wine and beer. There is a new manager Michael Beamer – Francisco is still the community contact in another store now. Gorman Moy, their N. Bay District Manager and Destry Prescott in charge of recovering loss and loss prevention came to the meeting with Perry from the Lakeshore store. THEIR GRAND RE-OPENING WILL BE OCTOBER 9TH, SATURDAY in the late AM (roughly planned from 11 to 2 or so – more on that when it is set). They gave us the green light for starting our garden up again! They are unable to pitch directly in to more cameras off of their property, but are very open to being approached about plans we design case by case to see if they can be a support. Walgreens really makes an effort to really consider things from a community/neighbor perspective in how they interact and communicate with us, which is always appreciated.
Guest 2: Greg Clester from Metwest High school – seeking organizations/businesses that can host their students as interns on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Metwest has a strong mentorship program and a very active, hands on curriculum. They are right in our neighborhood and have grades 9-12. If you are interested in providing internship opportunities you can reach him at 510 435-6115. We can also provide internships as the Lake Neighbors, we would need to have regular time we can offer working with them. For some of our bigger projects this could really be interesting for them and for us. We could even have someone in charge of youth leadership with Lake Neighbors who could run that. Let me know if you are interested in talking about that. He pitched yes on measure L to help with funding for Metwest.
Guest 3…America Works also came, represented by Frank Davis. AW has a contract with the city of Oakland under measure Y addressing crime prevention. They provide a wide array of employment opportunities to people ages 18-35 recently released from incarceration and are on parole or probation. This ties into our project focusing on healing the cause as well as with people we personally love and care about. Frank also mentioned that Measure BB is a continuation of Measure Y. For more info contact Frank Davis @ 510 891-9100.
Hoang has been coming to our meetings regularly which is very nice – she has a lot of info on everything and more specifically for this meeting she spoke about neighborhood improvements and also gave us some grant info – is there anyone out there that would like to take that on as a service (grantwriting) for Lake Neighbors?
There were a few more announcements here and there, but we really ran out of time after our guests shared and did Q&A. If anyone is interested in finding out what is happening down at the end of the lake where all that construction/destruction is going on, check out info on Measure DD (I was told to find measureDD.com, but that led me into Oaklandnet where there was info there).
Hope you are all great! See you out in the neighborhood and at the next meeting!
Sasha
Okay, here is our update on the most recent meeting for LakeNeighbors that happened on Tuesday (9/28)…we are up to over 230 people nowadays, FYI. The meetings do not always reflect that, so don't be too worried about that. Meetings can have anywhere from 30 to 3 people showing up. There are many that are e-participants and that is valued also.
First, our next meeting is on 10/17, which is a Sunday. Place is TBA, but it will be at one of the usual places. (The next few that follow so you can plan (!) are: 11/9, 11/28 & 12/21 – all at 6:30 as usual!)
We had guests – 3 of them to be exact. All very interesting.
Guest 1…Walgreens came in with a great showing of their leadership ready to restart our relationships with them as neighbors. They gave us some details about the security they have in place in their rebuilt store…they have double the security standards than their other stores. Their cameras have night vision and varied angles…they have a store greeter that will keep check on the whole store and parking lot (tours all premises). They keep camera footage for somewhere between 20-60 days. They are pursuing a liquor license, but will not sell singles (single bottles from a six pack) and they not be selling spirits – only wine and beer. There is a new manager Michael Beamer – Francisco is still the community contact in another store now. Gorman Moy, their N. Bay District Manager and Destry Prescott in charge of recovering loss and loss prevention came to the meeting with Perry from the Lakeshore store. THEIR GRAND RE-OPENING WILL BE OCTOBER 9TH, SATURDAY in the late AM (roughly planned from 11 to 2 or so – more on that when it is set). They gave us the green light for starting our garden up again! They are unable to pitch directly in to more cameras off of their property, but are very open to being approached about plans we design case by case to see if they can be a support. Walgreens really makes an effort to really consider things from a community/neighbor perspective in how they interact and communicate with us, which is always appreciated.
Guest 2: Greg Clester from Metwest High school – seeking organizations/businesses that can host their students as interns on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Metwest has a strong mentorship program and a very active, hands on curriculum. They are right in our neighborhood and have grades 9-12. If you are interested in providing internship opportunities you can reach him at 510 435-6115. We can also provide internships as the Lake Neighbors, we would need to have regular time we can offer working with them. For some of our bigger projects this could really be interesting for them and for us. We could even have someone in charge of youth leadership with Lake Neighbors who could run that. Let me know if you are interested in talking about that. He pitched yes on measure L to help with funding for Metwest.
Guest 3…America Works also came, represented by Frank Davis. AW has a contract with the city of Oakland under measure Y addressing crime prevention. They provide a wide array of employment opportunities to people ages 18-35 recently released from incarceration and are on parole or probation. This ties into our project focusing on healing the cause as well as with people we personally love and care about. Frank also mentioned that Measure BB is a continuation of Measure Y. For more info contact Frank Davis @ 510 891-9100.
Hoang has been coming to our meetings regularly which is very nice – she has a lot of info on everything and more specifically for this meeting she spoke about neighborhood improvements and also gave us some grant info – is there anyone out there that would like to take that on as a service (grantwriting) for Lake Neighbors?
There were a few more announcements here and there, but we really ran out of time after our guests shared and did Q&A. If anyone is interested in finding out what is happening down at the end of the lake where all that construction/destruction is going on, check out info on Measure DD (I was told to find measureDD.com, but that led me into Oaklandnet where there was info there).
Hope you are all great! See you out in the neighborhood and at the next meeting!
Sasha
Monday, September 27, 2010
UPCOMING MTGS & EVENTS
NEXT MEETINGS: Tuesday 11/9 at RE:GEN& Sunday 11/28. All meetings begin at 6:30pm and end at 7:30pm. Locations TBA, just wanted you to be able to mark your calendars.
Safety REMINDERS
Hi! A few things...
ONE -- our next meeting is tomorrow (THIS Tuesday, 9/28) over at Regeneration Church on the corner of E. 15th St. & 3rd Ave. at 6:30p. We have 3 guests: Walgreens, America Works & MetWest High School. All these address big points on our projects regarding safety, connectedness and restorative justice. Make sure to be there!
TWO -- A neighbor wrote me about hearing a whistle blown repeatedly out in the neighborhoood and wanted to confirm we are still using those as a way to communicate that we need help and I want to just reiterate that we have not made any changes to that. The OPD also thinks it is a good idea. It is distinctly different from yelling or screaming, so make sure to also check when you hear whistles blowing!!
THREE -- this reminds me that I am supposed to send out our established safety list of procedures we came up with last year during the holiday spike in crime. PLEASE look it over and add you input, suggestions, changes, concerns. It is below.
Have a great day & see you at the meeting and around the neighborhood!
Sasha (READ BELOW! )
The simultaneous three pronged approach is what we are using to address the safety problems here. They are: 1) IMMEDIATE SAFETY ISSUE, 2) STRONG ONGOING POSITIVE EVENTS, 3) HEALING THE CAUSE INSTEAD OF TREATING THE SYMPTOM BY CONNECTING WITH PEOPLE BEING CAUGHT IF POSSIBLE.
Groups like the "wolf pack" mugging people here unfortunately has a effective strategy, they make hits all at once all over w/a driver, they sometimes fan out on a street and always wear black hoodies (remember not all black hoodies mean a threat…we all probably have one, but our assessment skills are good). They target anyone – mostly elderly and even an entire family (searched the kids, too)…we go into the safety issue first…
1) IMMEDIATE SAFETY ISSUE:
* Use Whistle instead of yelling for help because it is more recognizable (OPD knows this)
* Tell all neighbors when you hear a whistle it means distress/need of help
* Start Night hikes with groups of 4 or more (healthy to walk and is meant to be fun and vigilant)
* Get walkie-talkies on your block (we use ch. 9)
* Meet your Neighbors on your block minimum (beyond is great)
* Eye contact and greet everyone around
* Offer bathroom stops for people working here to help us – Guardian Angels are around
* Approach, introduce and meet the police that are in our neighborhoods.
* Look at all cars around you when you are out – make sure they are empty
* Multiple males in black hoodies are the recent group – so be awake and aware.
* Walkie talkie noise is somewhat of a deterrent when you are out
* Sometimes saying what is up/hi is going to make you not selected for a crime…walking with fear or
distracted is more likely to attract a problem
* When calling dispatch say you’re calling about the series of robberies (it is prioritized)
ALWAYS BE CAREFUL WHEN GIVING DESCRIPTIONS to be more specific about clothing details and
license plate and not general ethnic info because that often just ends up getting a lot of innocent neighbors
traumatized who are going about their day.
* Call someone, leave line open & tell your location, if you are out & being approached (they can call,
and a robbery in process is prioritized)
* If robbed, cooperate fully – your stuff is not worth the risk.
* If robbed, leave your cards and cell active long enough for OPD to track them
* If robbed, take as much specific detail in visually as you can to recall later to OPD
* Get cell #’s of your own block neighbors (put in ph as “NBR Lateef” etc.)
* “Phone tree” w/ your block to call incidents in – higher priority with more calls in
* Cover tagging right away every time
* If something is happening & dispatch may be slow or no, call 3 neighbors and decide what
to do together (min of 3)
* When calling OPD emergency dispatch (510 777-3211) if you give your name, this up’s priority
* CALL CALL CALL in everything – it may add to something later, it will be noted one way or other
response at times is immediate, and at times not at all – but do it anyway.
* Use luggage tag on your keys for id/bank card and don’t carry purse/bag when possible
* We will invite lead for city ofc in charge of streetlights to correct our situation of dim/no lighting
* We asked to be made a “project” by patrols so they can work continuously on our issue
Sean was looking into organizing great design/art on the always tagged PG&E boxes -- not sure what happened to that project, but it is still a good one (Pat Kernighan was looking into that for him last year?).
We want to find some Lake Neighbors to go to other neighborhood meetings to connect us all up more. Maybe Hoang can help make this easier.
There are currently no set hours at OPD’s auxillary office at Lucky’s (people were wondering).
WHAT WE WANT FROM THE OPD:
1) Great respect when questioning/approaching people -- there is no reason why this can't be done with respect and an attitude that apologizes for the interruption, that is kind and reassuring. It is intimidating even being asked. Forget the "dusting off" policy that can follow an inquiry -- make sure there is a good dialog all along, good approach, good dialog with respect requires no dusting off. We know there are OPD that already do this, but we need ALL officers to keep this as the constant operating standard.
2) Better consistency of fast response for dangerous incidents that are called in
(ie: burglaries in process, suspects in this recent wave seen in action, etc.).
3) Follow up and responsiveness to our burglaries/robberies when we call to find out.
4) OPD increase use of Lucky’s Auxillary office (we can help you have internet to helpt this)
5) Please ask your officers to meet us when they are on patrol. Be out of the vehicle -- know us, know who we are who live here in a good way. Reach out and make the effort (greet, introduce).
Foot patrol?
6) Please inform us about the latest arrests and changes in our area.
7) OPD come to meetings -- plain clothes and off duty is great, too.
Questions: Is OPD checking ATM camera’s for the stolen ATM cards that are being used after muggings? What do you advise when we see a spread out group of males in black hoodies walking the entire width/span of the street/sidewalk on a street? Can we have the regular beat officers (not just the PSO’s) come out of their cars so we can see them – we see them, but in motion in vehicles.
3) STRONG POSITIVE EVENTS…
We have many going. We have a continuous flow of great art exhibits and gigs and goings on in many different forms. We have the outdoor movies, “happy hour” (at one persons front steps so we meet people walking by), BBQ’s, pie party, a word fast party, garden work day, progressive dinner parties, valentines pancake block party in PJ's, community gardening, art shows, movie/documentary showings, rafting trips, neighborhood clean up, someone put together a guerilla cake fight that actually got rained out – but the ideas are boundless – be creative or be basic – anything is great). We have many ideas to grow and we need to have many people take this on and spread the active part. We have event's coordinators now who can help make anything happen.
2) HEALING THE CAUSE:
We have a varied range of great and talented and good hearted people who are long standing members of this group who a great deal of experience working with youth and adults who have gotten into some really dangerous places and we want to work hard to meet them and get to know them and they get to know us. Lately we have had several new people attending that are expressing great interested in that approach. We must do that, we all agree – that is one of the prongs in our 3 pronged approach. We are pursuing this by approaching 2 programs in particular and also the DA’s office. We can seek being a part of restitution for people (youth and adults) arrested for crimes in this area. I recently found 2 people willing to really head this project up and 3 that want to get involved in making this get someplace strong. If you are wired for this and interested, just speak up and get involved.
Proactively start something and there are several of us that will support that cause/action. Which of the prongs are you going to take some action on? Organizing this group and all this momentum took a great deal of effort and persistence to make happen, support it and bring up your most passionate cause in this. This group is not a place for judgment – it is a wonderful place because it is accepting of all our differences and varying gifts and efforts.
FROM A PAST EMAIL FOLLOWING UP ON THE SUBJECT…
We never want to forget our main focus to improve the area, is our positive community building efforts with great events and meetings all the time. Please add in your own events and lets keep that growing. If the OPD or city can help connect us with some of the taggers that get caught and we can meet them and work with them to make things look better around here with murals or any vast number of great things the artists in this area can create. We have so many artists, it would be great to make that obvious by driving around and seeing creations from the people who live here with signs or ?
We talked about some strategies we can use in the mean time. If there is something of concern you can call it in – also you can call all the neighbors (get their cell #’s, make sure several of you have walkie-talkies if that is easier – we are using channel 90, by the way.) …and if you have 3 neighbors then consider ways to safely approach and address the problem. Always be mindful that there can be a weapon or a person who may be violent/unstable. Don’t go deal with it on your own. Try to maintain a rule of 3. A citizens arrest is always our right to do – with enough of us, we can detain someone (sit on them, handcuffs, whatever that is safe enough) until the police can get there – BY THE WAY I think that would also qualify a fast response time if we are in that situation because of the threat/risk.
So, other than being always vigilant, calling in suspicious things, calling in 3 neighbors minimum, then beyond that we are talking about adding cameras to the wireless internet we have. There is free wireless internet for all Lake Neighbors that can get the signal and we are slowly working on increasing the signal – anyone wanting to join in can add a camera to the area outside their home, we number that camera so you or anyone can just get online and view that space. It can also record certain things that may end up being helpful in catching and stopping some of this.
Take self defense (not just martial arts) – girlarmy was a resource given here in Oakland that is good for women.
We want to pursue putting signs up telling about the video surveillance (the OPD says we can put signs up where we want to and that we can also do that thru City Planning…).
Put up lights that have movement sensors so that more places are less ideal for bad events.
(borrowed from The WhistleStop Committee...)
How and when to use your whistle
You are confronted on the street
1. Cooperate. It's safer for you.
2. BLOW YOUR WHISTLE when physically safe. Others: respond and call the police.
You fear trouble on the street
1. Run toward the middle of the street.
2 BLOW YOUR WHISTLE. Others: respond and call the police.
You observe trouble on the street
1. BLOW YOUR WHISTLE to scare off the assailant
2. Keep at a safe distance.
3. KEEP BLOWING. Stay until the police arrive.
You observe trouble from your home or car or you hear a whistle
1. Call police fast. State clearly address and description of the incident observed.
2. Open your window and BLOW YOUR WHISTLE.
3. Go outside, move toward first whistle and KEEP BLOWING.
4. Assist victim if possible, and stay until the police arrive.
Carry your whistle and post your sticker. Parents: Children should know the seriousness of whistle blowing in our community and how they can participate in their project. Discuss with them the above instructions. Top
The Conference at Work: WhistleStop
by Joanne Howard
WhistleStop is a committee and program of HPKCC. For members who are unfamiliar with the program it was brought to the Conference by Ross Lathrop in the early 1970s. This program is an action-safety program that provides each resident of our community with a practical way to protect themselves and their neighbors on the street.
Essentially, a person purchases a whistle and carries it with them. If you see suspicious activity or need to protect yourself or a neighbor from physical harm, you can signal for help by blowing your whistle. Members of the Hyde Park-Kenwood community understand the meaning of the whistle and will gravitate towards the direction of the sound.
People who perpetrate unlawful acts want to do so in silence. The WhistleSTOP program is a "blow" to their attempt to commit such an act in silence.
Please visit our Web site at www.hydepark.org. Or simply call the office (773-288-8343) and we will get one to you. We look forward to getting a whistle in your hands.
Top
November 2006 Maroon Crime Report notes that a Hyde Park woman was able to make her aggravated-robbery assailant flee by blowing her whistle
ONE -- our next meeting is tomorrow (THIS Tuesday, 9/28) over at Regeneration Church on the corner of E. 15th St. & 3rd Ave. at 6:30p. We have 3 guests: Walgreens, America Works & MetWest High School. All these address big points on our projects regarding safety, connectedness and restorative justice. Make sure to be there!
TWO -- A neighbor wrote me about hearing a whistle blown repeatedly out in the neighborhoood and wanted to confirm we are still using those as a way to communicate that we need help and I want to just reiterate that we have not made any changes to that. The OPD also thinks it is a good idea. It is distinctly different from yelling or screaming, so make sure to also check when you hear whistles blowing!!
THREE -- this reminds me that I am supposed to send out our established safety list of procedures we came up with last year during the holiday spike in crime. PLEASE look it over and add you input, suggestions, changes, concerns. It is below.
Have a great day & see you at the meeting and around the neighborhood!
Sasha (READ BELOW! )
The simultaneous three pronged approach is what we are using to address the safety problems here. They are: 1) IMMEDIATE SAFETY ISSUE, 2) STRONG ONGOING POSITIVE EVENTS, 3) HEALING THE CAUSE INSTEAD OF TREATING THE SYMPTOM BY CONNECTING WITH PEOPLE BEING CAUGHT IF POSSIBLE.
Groups like the "wolf pack" mugging people here unfortunately has a effective strategy, they make hits all at once all over w/a driver, they sometimes fan out on a street and always wear black hoodies (remember not all black hoodies mean a threat…we all probably have one, but our assessment skills are good). They target anyone – mostly elderly and even an entire family (searched the kids, too)…we go into the safety issue first…
1) IMMEDIATE SAFETY ISSUE:
* Use Whistle instead of yelling for help because it is more recognizable (OPD knows this)
* Tell all neighbors when you hear a whistle it means distress/need of help
* Start Night hikes with groups of 4 or more (healthy to walk and is meant to be fun and vigilant)
* Get walkie-talkies on your block (we use ch. 9)
* Meet your Neighbors on your block minimum (beyond is great)
* Eye contact and greet everyone around
* Offer bathroom stops for people working here to help us – Guardian Angels are around
* Approach, introduce and meet the police that are in our neighborhoods.
* Look at all cars around you when you are out – make sure they are empty
* Multiple males in black hoodies are the recent group – so be awake and aware.
* Walkie talkie noise is somewhat of a deterrent when you are out
* Sometimes saying what is up/hi is going to make you not selected for a crime…walking with fear or
distracted is more likely to attract a problem
* When calling dispatch say you’re calling about the series of robberies (it is prioritized)
ALWAYS BE CAREFUL WHEN GIVING DESCRIPTIONS to be more specific about clothing details and
license plate and not general ethnic info because that often just ends up getting a lot of innocent neighbors
traumatized who are going about their day.
* Call someone, leave line open & tell your location, if you are out & being approached (they can call,
and a robbery in process is prioritized)
* If robbed, cooperate fully – your stuff is not worth the risk.
* If robbed, leave your cards and cell active long enough for OPD to track them
* If robbed, take as much specific detail in visually as you can to recall later to OPD
* Get cell #’s of your own block neighbors (put in ph as “NBR Lateef” etc.)
* “Phone tree” w/ your block to call incidents in – higher priority with more calls in
* Cover tagging right away every time
* If something is happening & dispatch may be slow or no, call 3 neighbors and decide what
to do together (min of 3)
* When calling OPD emergency dispatch (510 777-3211) if you give your name, this up’s priority
* CALL CALL CALL in everything – it may add to something later, it will be noted one way or other
response at times is immediate, and at times not at all – but do it anyway.
* Use luggage tag on your keys for id/bank card and don’t carry purse/bag when possible
* We will invite lead for city ofc in charge of streetlights to correct our situation of dim/no lighting
* We asked to be made a “project” by patrols so they can work continuously on our issue
Sean was looking into organizing great design/art on the always tagged PG&E boxes -- not sure what happened to that project, but it is still a good one (Pat Kernighan was looking into that for him last year?).
We want to find some Lake Neighbors to go to other neighborhood meetings to connect us all up more. Maybe Hoang can help make this easier.
There are currently no set hours at OPD’s auxillary office at Lucky’s (people were wondering).
WHAT WE WANT FROM THE OPD:
1) Great respect when questioning/approaching people -- there is no reason why this can't be done with respect and an attitude that apologizes for the interruption, that is kind and reassuring. It is intimidating even being asked. Forget the "dusting off" policy that can follow an inquiry -- make sure there is a good dialog all along, good approach, good dialog with respect requires no dusting off. We know there are OPD that already do this, but we need ALL officers to keep this as the constant operating standard.
2) Better consistency of fast response for dangerous incidents that are called in
(ie: burglaries in process, suspects in this recent wave seen in action, etc.).
3) Follow up and responsiveness to our burglaries/robberies when we call to find out.
4) OPD increase use of Lucky’s Auxillary office (we can help you have internet to helpt this)
5) Please ask your officers to meet us when they are on patrol. Be out of the vehicle -- know us, know who we are who live here in a good way. Reach out and make the effort (greet, introduce).
Foot patrol?
6) Please inform us about the latest arrests and changes in our area.
7) OPD come to meetings -- plain clothes and off duty is great, too.
Questions: Is OPD checking ATM camera’s for the stolen ATM cards that are being used after muggings? What do you advise when we see a spread out group of males in black hoodies walking the entire width/span of the street/sidewalk on a street? Can we have the regular beat officers (not just the PSO’s) come out of their cars so we can see them – we see them, but in motion in vehicles.
3) STRONG POSITIVE EVENTS…
We have many going. We have a continuous flow of great art exhibits and gigs and goings on in many different forms. We have the outdoor movies, “happy hour” (at one persons front steps so we meet people walking by), BBQ’s, pie party, a word fast party, garden work day, progressive dinner parties, valentines pancake block party in PJ's, community gardening, art shows, movie/documentary showings, rafting trips, neighborhood clean up, someone put together a guerilla cake fight that actually got rained out – but the ideas are boundless – be creative or be basic – anything is great). We have many ideas to grow and we need to have many people take this on and spread the active part. We have event's coordinators now who can help make anything happen.
2) HEALING THE CAUSE:
We have a varied range of great and talented and good hearted people who are long standing members of this group who a great deal of experience working with youth and adults who have gotten into some really dangerous places and we want to work hard to meet them and get to know them and they get to know us. Lately we have had several new people attending that are expressing great interested in that approach. We must do that, we all agree – that is one of the prongs in our 3 pronged approach. We are pursuing this by approaching 2 programs in particular and also the DA’s office. We can seek being a part of restitution for people (youth and adults) arrested for crimes in this area. I recently found 2 people willing to really head this project up and 3 that want to get involved in making this get someplace strong. If you are wired for this and interested, just speak up and get involved.
Proactively start something and there are several of us that will support that cause/action. Which of the prongs are you going to take some action on? Organizing this group and all this momentum took a great deal of effort and persistence to make happen, support it and bring up your most passionate cause in this. This group is not a place for judgment – it is a wonderful place because it is accepting of all our differences and varying gifts and efforts.
FROM A PAST EMAIL FOLLOWING UP ON THE SUBJECT…
We never want to forget our main focus to improve the area, is our positive community building efforts with great events and meetings all the time. Please add in your own events and lets keep that growing. If the OPD or city can help connect us with some of the taggers that get caught and we can meet them and work with them to make things look better around here with murals or any vast number of great things the artists in this area can create. We have so many artists, it would be great to make that obvious by driving around and seeing creations from the people who live here with signs or ?
We talked about some strategies we can use in the mean time. If there is something of concern you can call it in – also you can call all the neighbors (get their cell #’s, make sure several of you have walkie-talkies if that is easier – we are using channel 90, by the way.) …and if you have 3 neighbors then consider ways to safely approach and address the problem. Always be mindful that there can be a weapon or a person who may be violent/unstable. Don’t go deal with it on your own. Try to maintain a rule of 3. A citizens arrest is always our right to do – with enough of us, we can detain someone (sit on them, handcuffs, whatever that is safe enough) until the police can get there – BY THE WAY I think that would also qualify a fast response time if we are in that situation because of the threat/risk.
So, other than being always vigilant, calling in suspicious things, calling in 3 neighbors minimum, then beyond that we are talking about adding cameras to the wireless internet we have. There is free wireless internet for all Lake Neighbors that can get the signal and we are slowly working on increasing the signal – anyone wanting to join in can add a camera to the area outside their home, we number that camera so you or anyone can just get online and view that space. It can also record certain things that may end up being helpful in catching and stopping some of this.
Take self defense (not just martial arts) – girlarmy was a resource given here in Oakland that is good for women.
We want to pursue putting signs up telling about the video surveillance (the OPD says we can put signs up where we want to and that we can also do that thru City Planning…).
Put up lights that have movement sensors so that more places are less ideal for bad events.
(borrowed from The WhistleStop Committee...)
How and when to use your whistle
You are confronted on the street
1. Cooperate. It's safer for you.
2. BLOW YOUR WHISTLE when physically safe. Others: respond and call the police.
You fear trouble on the street
1. Run toward the middle of the street.
2 BLOW YOUR WHISTLE. Others: respond and call the police.
You observe trouble on the street
1. BLOW YOUR WHISTLE to scare off the assailant
2. Keep at a safe distance.
3. KEEP BLOWING. Stay until the police arrive.
You observe trouble from your home or car or you hear a whistle
1. Call police fast. State clearly address and description of the incident observed.
2. Open your window and BLOW YOUR WHISTLE.
3. Go outside, move toward first whistle and KEEP BLOWING.
4. Assist victim if possible, and stay until the police arrive.
Carry your whistle and post your sticker. Parents: Children should know the seriousness of whistle blowing in our community and how they can participate in their project. Discuss with them the above instructions. Top
The Conference at Work: WhistleStop
by Joanne Howard
WhistleStop is a committee and program of HPKCC. For members who are unfamiliar with the program it was brought to the Conference by Ross Lathrop in the early 1970s. This program is an action-safety program that provides each resident of our community with a practical way to protect themselves and their neighbors on the street.
Essentially, a person purchases a whistle and carries it with them. If you see suspicious activity or need to protect yourself or a neighbor from physical harm, you can signal for help by blowing your whistle. Members of the Hyde Park-Kenwood community understand the meaning of the whistle and will gravitate towards the direction of the sound.
People who perpetrate unlawful acts want to do so in silence. The WhistleSTOP program is a "blow" to their attempt to commit such an act in silence.
Please visit our Web site at www.hydepark.org. Or simply call the office (773-288-8343) and we will get one to you. We look forward to getting a whistle in your hands.
Top
November 2006 Maroon Crime Report notes that a Hyde Park woman was able to make her aggravated-robbery assailant flee by blowing her whistle
Monday, August 9, 2010
August Mtg Notes
Hi Lake Neighbors!
MAN, it has been a while since I have written one of these – it’s been way too busy and I think a lot of us are just taking care of everything in our lives and keeping connected as much as we can and it is tough to put the new things into action, but let’s get re-motivated or more motivated and keep things going in this great direction. Since last communicated we have had a few meetings, National Night Out, an outdoor movie…what am I forgetting? If you want to host or organize something…connect with Betsy and Skye and they can help make it happen.
NEXT MEETINGS: Tuesday 8/17, Sunday 9/5, Tuesday 9/28, Sunday 10/17, Tuesday 11/9 & Sunday 11/28. All meetings begin at 6:30pm and end at 7:30pm. Locations TBA, just wanted you to be able to mark your calendars.
Walgreens is re-opening in September. They have let us know that they are ready to get connected up with us and will attend some of our meetings and pull together regarding safety and also about keeping us able to use the extra unused land they have for a community garden. Since the access is very limited now with the remodel, we may just have the residents who share a fence with them manage it? Not sure how to handle that, but we will certainly find good solutions. We can brainstorm on things that we can grow there that don’t need to be cooked so it can support our neighbors without roofs. The other thing we were thinking about was seeing if we could have chickens there? Anyway…lots to talk about with that.
The last meetings had some subjects come up, I will bullet point them:
· Add to the website: businesses that neighbors offer/ads
· Starting a farmers market in the Regen Parking lot (on E. 15th St.& 3rd Ave.) for the overflow of local farmers who could not get a booth in the Lake Merritt Farmers market on Saturdays – maybe on a weeknight?
· We may look at adding twitter as a way of communicating, Nico will write up a concise, simple how-to. This would not be a replacement of what we do, but an addition for those interested. We already have email, phones, walkie talkies…
· We lost 80 OPD (which is why we also lost our PSO’s because they went back into patrol). Patrol is prioritized, so cuts were more in the investigations departments, etc. and there is a big threat of an additional 120 being cut now, too. We need to see where this stands now – and if it is still imminent we must get super activated.
· We need ways to connect with the Asian community here and it was specifically noted that we need ways of connecting with Chinese and Vietnamese speaking neighbors. We have several Spanish speaking neighbors involved and active. Next is to find out what their concerns and wishes and ideas are and make sure we all work to make things go the way we all envision and wish for.
· EVERYONE assigned to a project, please email me your updates if you are not able to attend meetings so we can keep things moving along…
· Capt. Figueroa of OPD wrote area 2 a letter which we read aloud…mostly about being vigilant, calling in…also about using surveillance equipment and also that he is attending community meetings as much as possible so we will hopefully be seeing him at one of our meetings. He recommended a link to check out (www.oaklandnet.com/government/o/OPD/o/pPatrolDivision/DOWD005615) but I could not get his exact given link to work. Oaklandnet does work, though, so you can start there?
· OPD wants license plates and basic model of vehicles when you are reporting crimes, also, strangely – shoes are the most distinctive article of clothing people wear, so note details about the shoes.
· Outdoor movies will be the last Saturday of the month thru September (we have 8/28 and 9/25 left)
· The subject of problem liquor stores came up again, and some discussion around this and addressing underage drinking, etc. Andy emailed me with this right after the meeting:
“ Here is the phone # to report problem liquor stores, stores that sell to underage people. Stores that allow drug dealing on their property. Stores that drag the neighborhood down. Stores that are the OPPOSITE of Sybil's. Stores like Jax.Sometimes, you leave a message, sometimes a person answers. When you call, state your complaints, give the adress (502 Foothill 94606). Complaints can be anonymous.All complaints are investigated, & the more complaints they hear, the more they want to deal with them so that they do not have to hear more complaints.Jax is on the razor's edge. One more underage violation & the place loses its license, & Oakland rezones the building no alcohol for all eternity.” (the ph# is missing! I will forward it out when I get it from him).
Okay, that is it for now. Thank you for reading…write back thoughts and responses and ideas if you can’t make the meetings…but try to make the meetings!
Sasha
MAN, it has been a while since I have written one of these – it’s been way too busy and I think a lot of us are just taking care of everything in our lives and keeping connected as much as we can and it is tough to put the new things into action, but let’s get re-motivated or more motivated and keep things going in this great direction. Since last communicated we have had a few meetings, National Night Out, an outdoor movie…what am I forgetting? If you want to host or organize something…connect with Betsy and Skye and they can help make it happen.
NEXT MEETINGS: Tuesday 8/17, Sunday 9/5, Tuesday 9/28, Sunday 10/17, Tuesday 11/9 & Sunday 11/28. All meetings begin at 6:30pm and end at 7:30pm. Locations TBA, just wanted you to be able to mark your calendars.
Walgreens is re-opening in September. They have let us know that they are ready to get connected up with us and will attend some of our meetings and pull together regarding safety and also about keeping us able to use the extra unused land they have for a community garden. Since the access is very limited now with the remodel, we may just have the residents who share a fence with them manage it? Not sure how to handle that, but we will certainly find good solutions. We can brainstorm on things that we can grow there that don’t need to be cooked so it can support our neighbors without roofs. The other thing we were thinking about was seeing if we could have chickens there? Anyway…lots to talk about with that.
The last meetings had some subjects come up, I will bullet point them:
· Add to the website: businesses that neighbors offer/ads
· Starting a farmers market in the Regen Parking lot (on E. 15th St.& 3rd Ave.) for the overflow of local farmers who could not get a booth in the Lake Merritt Farmers market on Saturdays – maybe on a weeknight?
· We may look at adding twitter as a way of communicating, Nico will write up a concise, simple how-to. This would not be a replacement of what we do, but an addition for those interested. We already have email, phones, walkie talkies…
· We lost 80 OPD (which is why we also lost our PSO’s because they went back into patrol). Patrol is prioritized, so cuts were more in the investigations departments, etc. and there is a big threat of an additional 120 being cut now, too. We need to see where this stands now – and if it is still imminent we must get super activated.
· We need ways to connect with the Asian community here and it was specifically noted that we need ways of connecting with Chinese and Vietnamese speaking neighbors. We have several Spanish speaking neighbors involved and active. Next is to find out what their concerns and wishes and ideas are and make sure we all work to make things go the way we all envision and wish for.
· EVERYONE assigned to a project, please email me your updates if you are not able to attend meetings so we can keep things moving along…
· Capt. Figueroa of OPD wrote area 2 a letter which we read aloud…mostly about being vigilant, calling in…also about using surveillance equipment and also that he is attending community meetings as much as possible so we will hopefully be seeing him at one of our meetings. He recommended a link to check out (www.oaklandnet.com/government/o/OPD/o/pPatrolDivision/DOWD005615) but I could not get his exact given link to work. Oaklandnet does work, though, so you can start there?
· OPD wants license plates and basic model of vehicles when you are reporting crimes, also, strangely – shoes are the most distinctive article of clothing people wear, so note details about the shoes.
· Outdoor movies will be the last Saturday of the month thru September (we have 8/28 and 9/25 left)
· The subject of problem liquor stores came up again, and some discussion around this and addressing underage drinking, etc. Andy emailed me with this right after the meeting:
“ Here is the phone # to report problem liquor stores, stores that sell to underage people. Stores that allow drug dealing on their property. Stores that drag the neighborhood down. Stores that are the OPPOSITE of Sybil's. Stores like Jax.Sometimes, you leave a message, sometimes a person answers. When you call, state your complaints, give the adress (502 Foothill 94606). Complaints can be anonymous.All complaints are investigated, & the more complaints they hear, the more they want to deal with them so that they do not have to hear more complaints.Jax is on the razor's edge. One more underage violation & the place loses its license, & Oakland rezones the building no alcohol for all eternity.” (the ph# is missing! I will forward it out when I get it from him).
Okay, that is it for now. Thank you for reading…write back thoughts and responses and ideas if you can’t make the meetings…but try to make the meetings!
Sasha
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