Mayor Quan Says:

Take Away People's Right to Elect City Attorney

Oakland mayor Jean Quan is not happy about current city attorney John Russo. After venting several complaints about him, she told a reporter, ""We should look at whether we should have an elected city attorney at all." (Bay Citizen, Feb. 17, 2011)

Quan did not mention the number one issue at stake in the clash between Quan along with councilmembers Brooks, Kaplan, and Brunner on one hand and Russo on the other hand – the relentless drive by Quan and crew to pass illegal legislation for industrial marijuana operations.

Whether you are for or against legalization of marijuana, Quan's move is folly:

• Why should Oakland spend huge amounts of money defending itself from prosecution already promised by the attorney general of the United States, by the U.S. attorney for the northern California district, and by the Alameda County district attorney?

• Oakland is the last municipality that is capable of introducing legalized marijuana. With half a police department, Oakland is unable to enforce the necessary regulations. Oakland harbors a criminal class who have made the city the fifth most dangerous one in the country. Plans are to license industrial production in amounts well above the demand for medical marijuana. It is a situation guaranteed to promote more street dealing and violent fighting over the spoils.

• Industrial marijuana appeals to Quan and company as a tax source and a hoped-for boost to business activity. It is a fantasy. City Hall should concentrate on remedies for the terrible conditions it gives legitimate businesses: reduce crime, repair the broken infrastructure, and stop the bureaucratic harassments.

City attorney Russo has a professional license to protect. He decided that he could not join the stupidity parade at City Hall. That is the one positive turn in Oakland's industrial marijuana farce.

Mayor Quan, if you don't like it when the city attorney refuses to join your illegal scheme, start a recall campaign against him.

Try to convince voters they should elect some clown like Dan Siegel who will bless your collision course with federal law.

But forget about depriving voters of their right to elect the city attorney.