Understaffed OPD Cannot Shut Down 23rd Avenue Drug Bazaar

A resident posts this report:

This morning [Aug. 23, 2005] on 23rd Ave in a four block radius from E. 24th Street to E. 20th Street, drugs are for sale at least at five locations:

1. E. 24th (E&L) Liquor
2. Group of four selling on the corner of E. 22nd Street/23rd Ave
3. Single drug dealer in the 2100 block of 23rd Ave
4. Group of two selling at Shoppers Market corner of E. 21st Street/23rd Ave
5. Group of three in the 2000 block of 23rd Ave

Recently OPD has done a great job of arresting about 20 people in this area for drug related incidents!

However, plain and simple, OPD does not have the staffing to contain this drug corridor. I am certain it is as frustrating for our officers as it is for the residents.

We also know that a large percentage of buyer and drug dealers are not from our area. They are commuting to 23rd Ave to conduct illegal business. Oakland, the path of least resistance!

Comment: This is not a case of a robbery late at night, with the excuse that the police cannot be everywhere. As the resident tells us, the city council has simply understaffed the police department, so much so that the dealers know they can get away with open dealing. The dealers obviously judge that they face a tiny risk of being rounded up en masse or of being caught in a buy-bust arrest. All the dealers need to do is keep an eye out for a lone squad car that might pass through.