Quan to Quan: Careful with Your Purse in Oakland

Oakland councilwoman Jean Quan had her purse snatched in the parking lot of her neighborhood Safeway store, authorities said today. San Francisco Chronicle, Sept. 20, 2010

Please remember, if you are going shopping don't carry more cash than you need and try not to carry a backpack or purse that can be easily snatched. – Councilmember Quan's newsletter, May 13, 2006

Personal Public Safety Reminder: Please be aware of your surroundings and what you carry with you. A group involved with several robberies in West and North Oakland looked around for victims who were using cell phones, iPODs (and other small electronics), carrying bags/purses, and who may not be paying attention to their environment. – Councilmember Quan's newsletter, Jan. 30, 2010

When you are Out and About: If you must carry a purse, do not wrap the straps around your arms or shoulders. Carry a clutch purse tightly under your arm or wear a fanny pack. Carry your wallet in the front pocket of your pants for safety. – Councilmember Quan's newsletter, Dec. 1, 2007

We are sorry that councilmember Quan suffered the personal violation and the loss of a purse snatching.

The councilmember frequently publishes safety rules for Oakland residents in her weekly newsletter. When Quan went to Safeway to buy milk, perhaps she overlooked her reminders about carrying a purse quoted above.

Quan was in the parking lot of a Safeway store in the Dimond district. Several years earlier, residents of the district spoke out about rising crime in the area. Quan's response was to tell the residents they were imagining things: "It doesn't appear to be a crime wave statistically. I just think awareness is up." (Oakland Tribune,, July 20, 2005)

Quan has been a leader on the city council in cutting police. She led the campaign for Measure Y in 2004, insisting it would provide at least 802 police. She then made excuses from 2005 until today for the fact that, except for a brief half a year, we never got the promised police.

First Quan said the economy was too good and the job market too tight for Oakland to hire officers (even though Los Angeles added hundreds of police to its total staffing at the same time). Now Quan says with the bad economy Oakland cannot meet the Measure Y commitment to 802 police – which is itself about half the level maintained by most major cities. In fact, she wants to eliminate the staffing requirement while re-imposing the tax in Measure BB on this year's Nov. 2 ballot.

Voters have the opportunity to defeat Measure BB as well as Measure X, a second parcel tax on the very same Nov. 2 ballot, also labeled as a public safety measure. In fact, Measure X contains no more legal guarantee of additional police than Measure Y. All you will get if you vote for Quan's taxes are weekly reminders about how you must watch out for your personal safety.

The Safeway where a thug snatched councilmember Quan's purse. The sign says there is also a police substation there, but it has been closed for years. Safeway employees say police never use it. The police room is also for councilmember Quan's use. Quan's purse was snatched outside her announced office hours.