Response To J Douglas Allen-Taylor
On the one hand, I think it’s a step forward that the Berkeley Daily Planet’s esteemed columnist spent more than 10 column-inches discussing this blog in his most recent column.
On the other, it’s a shame that Allen-Taylor decided to label this blog one of the “worst” blogs in the East Bay. Before I spend some time on his specific charges, I’d like to respond to this broad characterization.
Why I Support Oakland Measure NN
I blogged about this measure previously, so I’ll keep today’s missive short and sweet.
I saw today’s Chronicle article from Chip Johnson opposing Measure NN. I obviously agree with nearly everything he said in terms of the city using the money well, but I do support NN for two reasons:
Dullums Crime Plan: Rearranging Deck Chairs On The Titanic
Imagine you are mayor of a city suffering an epidemic of violence. Also, imagine your IQ is no higher than 75, and you sleep 16 hours a day.
Now, quick, what’s your plan for addressing the crime wave?
Oakland’s mayor has conducted just this experiment — albeit with the intelligence and sleepiness issues as involuntary elements.
Bart: We Need To Charge More To Reduce Ridership
In an astonishing display of simplemindedness, the folks who run Bart have floated a trial balloon suggesting they might charge higher prices during commute hours.
The purported goal is to “spread out” rush-hour traffic by encouraging commuters to shift their trips outside those congested hours.
A Great Editorial On City Spending
I wanted to encourage readers to take a look at this article by Berkeley resident Barbara Gilbert.
I was surprised to see the strongly liberal Berkeley Daily Planet publish such a strong article in its entirety. Gilbert does an excellent job at describing the sorts of public-employee giveaways which bankrupted Vallejo and are doing the same thing to other East Bay cities.
Oakland Homicide Total Exceeds 100
It seems like just a short while ago that press reports were discussing the fact that Oakland’s death toll had dropped below 100 per year for the first time in years. Now, it appears the city is trying to hit a record of the opposite sort.
Well, it’s only September 15, and Oakland now has hit 101 homicides.
Restaurant Takeover Suspects Caught
A recent commenter slammed me for daring to suggest that social programs do little to combat crime when career criminals are left to roam the streets unimpeded.
As if to prove my point, the Oakland police department nabbed two of the alleged culprits. And guess what? According to the police, they are career criminals.
I’m not sure why I receive Oakland Magazine every month — the label on the magazine says I should subscribe, but I don’t and it keeps coming.
Anyway, I was pleased to see the magazine this month highlighting a number of up-and-coming projects throughout the city. Since this blog is usually filled with gloom and doom, I wanted to remind people that Oakland is still broadly on an upward trend.
Woman And Baby Murdered: Where’s The Outrage?
Oakland’s activists have their priorities hopelessly backward.
I remember vividly the street protests throughout the city when the US invaded Iraq in 2003. Several teachers faced disciplinary action for letting their students out of class to attend the protests.