One-Eyed Councilmember
Remains Blind to Public Safety

Eight years after then-new Oakland mayor Jerry Brown called for 10,000 new residents downtown, councilmember Jean Quan denounced the failure to think about new schools for the children among them.

"It's totally crazy to think that all these people are going to move to downtown Oakland and only a handful of them will ever have children," said Quan. "We have made no plans for these kids, no accommodations for parents who want to live downtown." (SF Chronicle, July 10, 2006)

Agreed. The councilmember has one eye for school capacity – but she remains blind to the need for more police. If we may paraphrase her remark, it's totally crazy to ignore the fact that not just the children but all 10,000 new residents will need police protection. However:

• Oakland has half a police department.
  
• Quan expressed contempt for spending money on police, saying "Police may be a priority, but not to give more money" at the council's Nov. 29, 2004 budget workshop, held three weeks after voters passed Measure Y.
• Quan and the council promised 802 police if we would pay new Measure Y taxes. Instead, the police force has declined by several dozen from the 734 it had when the council wrote Measure Y.
  
• From 1994 to 2005 the council added 357 positions to the total City budget, but the number of police wound up where it started, just around 700. That's a choice of priorities.

Quan was not on the city council in 1994. She still sat on the school board. She got out only after the board approved the infamous 2001-02 budget, which soon led to a $100 million shortfall and a State takeover of the district.

Although not opposed to the huge Oak-to-Ninth street residential development, Quan abstained on a vote because she wants a school there. As for police, she has been silent. While maneuvering around the Oak-to-Ninth issue, Quan misinformed her constituents about a plan-busting proposal for an out-of-scale housing tower in her district. Rising next to a freeway, it's for seniors, so there is no school issue, but Quan is blind to the increased public safety services needed by new residents of any age, child, adult, or senior.

Until Oakland has a full police department, major residential developments should halt.