Why I'm Backing Ron Dellums For Mayor Of Oakland

A good friend of mine just sent an email to me because he explained his reasons for supporting De La Fuente, and believed my reasons were based only on race -- uh, that he's black and so am I.

Well, I'm not going to shy away from that, but my reasons, as befits my character, are far more complex.

Here's my response.

Hi,

It's not just a matter of race. I've worked closely with Ignacio. Too close. As a result, I have a perspective on him that few possess, even of those I know.

Ignacio has wanted to be Mayor since 1997. And during this time, he's not worked to build coalitions of people at all. Indeed, he uses his power to try to get what he wants, and to punish his ememies. Period. That's his way.

I've been in rooms where he always explains how he's gonna "do or get something -- or someone. I represented Mayor Harris-- and was at one point even more powerful than Ignacio in committee because I understood the rules and how to build coalitions and what made for good TV. I was effective and many times just so to protect my boss from Ignacio's antics. Ignacio knew this, and at one point had a sit down with Elihu to get him to "rein me in."

That was fun.

As a result and even though I had the background and experience to do it, Ignacio blocked Elhu Harris request that I run the Oakland Coliseum. (I think the current Executive Director's doing just fine, by the way.) Then, Ignacio blocked me from being on the original task force to bring the Super Bowl to Oakland, only to watch in undoubted horror as I (as the Oakland Tribune reported) single-handedl salvaged the wreakage of an effort his task force left for City Manager Robert Bobb. As Ignacio told me in 2000, "You generated the only positive press we had at the Coliseum."

In 2004, I invited Ignacio to join me on a stadium naming right panel discussion in San Francisco. I was only too happy to take him around and introduce him to everyone, including the SF Giants' Larry Baer and others. But when Ignacio annouced he was running for mayor early in 2005, Alameda County Treasurer Don White was running as well. But Don was a friend of my stepfather's family, and my stepdad passed away that year, March 17th; Don was at the funeral and the wake later. I was introduced to him by a family member, and Don asked for my help.

Ignacio never did this in all the year's I've known him. Moreover, he took it upon himself to insult me in the August 21st SF Chronicle stating "I don't listen to his ideas" wheh questioned about an idea I had to relieve the PSL debt faced by the City and County from the Raiders Deal. Well, by then I'd had enough.

If Ignacio becomes Mayor he will only use the office to reward his friends and punish his ememies. Trust me. We've had enough of that in Oakland. It's produced a nasty gridlock that must be eliminated.

Now, as to the matter of race. I have listened to some developers like a person I helped make a millionaire and who's name I will not use in my blog for openly stating that a Dellumns victory would be a "handout for those who want assistance" and "A win for those who want their piece of contracts" -- or words to that effect. He and they mean blacks, period.

I'm really sick and tired -- to the point of extreme anger at times -- with this idea that as Oaklanders we should not take care of all of our people. Hey, the developer I refered to fought for his giant share of a contract from the City and after 10 years of wanting his chance, he got it. Now, is it that he wants to block other because of a perception that "they're crying for what they didn't get because they're black?"

Oh, brother!

Yes, I want to see a black mayor -- but not just any black mayor -- Ron Dellums. He's a great symbol for the city. We're questioning Ron on "lack of details" -- the same matter we praised Jerry Brown for. That's ridiculous and bears an explaination.

Ignacio is great at what he does: President Of The Oakland City Council. But that doesn't translate into having the stuff to be a great mayor of Oakland.

Best,

Zennie

Lenox Avenue Abduction - Suspect Arrested

This information was just posted on the 14X Yahoo Group.

"A juvenile suspect is in custody and has admitted involvement in this
terrible crime. Sgt. Paul Bernard was on patrol yesterday in West Oakland. He spotted avehicle matching the one stolen from the victim. Sgt. Bernard conducted a stop to investigate. This eventually led to the arrest of the suspect who was later interviewed by investigator. I am unable to give specific details but this is a significant arrest.

I bring you this news with mix emotions due to the nature of this
crime. However, the arrest will hopefully bring some peace of mind to the community.
Thank you.

Lt. Tracey"

Mr. Lonnel Moore and Albert Antone on E21st Hanging Out - Moore Arrested For Narcotics Possession

This is from the "15X Yahoo Group." It reports the arrest of two men in the "23rd Avenue Corridor" which is not the Lake Merritt area, and more toward Central Oakland. Still, the Lake is just a walk, car drive, or bus ride away and in as little as five minutes.

"On 13 Apr at approximately 8:30 pm, Officers Jones and Perrodin were
patrolling the 23rd Ave corridor. They spotted Mr. Lonnel Moore and
Albert Antone on E21st hanging out. The officers have extensive
knowledge of the area (prior contacts / drug hotline) and decided to
contact the two to see what they were up to. This ultimately led to
the arrest of Mr. Moore who was in possession of a large quantity of
narcotics.

Another example of the good work by your CRT. It also highlights the
importance of your involvement by calling that drug hotline. Congrats
and another small win PSA 3!

Lt. Ed Tracey"

If you need help. This is the person to contact:

Hoang Banh

Neighborhood Services Coordinator

Oakland Police Department

hbanh@oaklandnet.com

(510) 238-6566

238-7685 fax

14X Adams Point; 14Y/16X Grand Lake; 15X Lakeshore/Brooklyn/Haddon Hill; 16Y Glenview

More Information On The Lenox Avenue Abduction

Earlier, I reported on an Oakland Tribune article on the abduction of a woman on Lenox Avenue in Adama Point. Here's more information on that crime, again from Tribune wire reports and reported on the Adams Point Yahoo! Message Board.

NEW: Woman robbed, raped in Oakland Hills
FROM STAFF REPORTS

OAKLAND - A 35-year-old woman was robbed Thursday night in Adams Point by two men
who then abducted her at gunpoint, drove her car to the Oakland hills and raped her,
police said.

Investigators stopped a juvenile driving the woman's car in West Oakland Friday afternoon and interviewed him, police said.

According to police, the woman was getting out of her car about 7:45 p.m.

Thursday on Lenox Avenue when two men confronted her. Police would not say whether
the woman lived in the area or was visiting someone.

The men took various items from the woman, who then tried to walk away, police said. But
the men pointed guns at her, demanded she get into her car with them and drove off.

At one point they stopped at an ATM, where the woman was forced to withdraw some
money, Sgt. Dan Donovan said.

The woman was then driven to the Leona Heights area, where she was sexually assaulted and raped, police said. Police would not say how many of the suspects were involved in the sexual assault.

The ordeal finally ended about 8:45 p.m. when the woman was ordered out of the car and the suspects drove away, police said.

The woman contacted nearby residents, who called police.

A description and license plate of her car were later broadcast over the police radio network.

Sgt. Paul Bernard spotted someone driving the car near 12th and Center streets Friday afternoon and stopped the vehicle. The driver, a juvenile whose age was not released, was taken into custody for questioning that continued into the night.

Police and Crime Stoppers of Oakland are offering up to $5,000 in reward money for
information leading to the arrest of suspects in the case.

Anyone with information should call police at 238-7910 or Crime Stoppers at 238-6946.

Another Safety Blow To Adams Point / Lake Merritt - City Takes Away Mounted Police: Peggy Stinett in Oakland Tribune

Again, this is under the watch of two Oakland City Councilmembers who are running for Mayor: Ignacio De La Fuente and Nancy Nadel, who's our Adams Point (District Three) representative, but nothing's being done about it.

City quietly reins in police force's mounted patrol

Peggy Stinnett - Oakland Tribune
Article Last Updated: 05/06/2006 05:09:27 AM PDT

'Oh, no, not again!"

Those anguished words were exactly the ones in my mind when I read the small sign posted on the Oakland Police Department's mounted patrol stables on the shores of Lake Merritt, discreetly tucked behind Children's Fairyland.

I read on: "Our Oakland leaders are once again trying to close our mounted units," the sign said. It was undated, so perhaps there was still time for the city to change its collective mind.

But it had done the dastardly deed already.

Last week, when I visited the old wooden shack where the stables used to be, they were oddly silent and padlocked. The chain-link fence stood tall and tough, protecting what wasn't there anymore.

No whinnies or snorts greeted me. Not a whiff of the distinctive fragrance of hay, sweat and manure that tells you horses live here. Shuttered tight, there was no sign of life.

The little sign told me a little more, as if I hadn't lived through 2005.

"Last year, they (city officials) halted the attempt to shut down the unit after Oakland citizens were heard clearly saying, 'No, don't do it.'"

Oh, no! What short memories. Especially after citizens spoke clearly.

Even so, there's hope the city will correct this course because it appears the City Council is responding to the demands of the Grand Lake community by assigning walking officers after two homicides and a frightening increase in crime.

The action demonstrates the power people have to control their elected officials, if only at election time. If that's putting it strongly, so be it.

In this case, the council completely bypassed the people with the obvious intent of keeping it quiet. Absolutely no public discussion.

Instead, they negotiated with the Oakland Police Officers Union and made a deal to end the mounted unit and reassign its one remaining officer to night patrol, according to Karen Boyd, the city administrator's official spokeswoman. Boyd told me she spoke to City Administrator Deborah Edgerly, who was in a meeting. A call to Chief Wayne Tucker was not returned.

Boyd also said City Council members had been informed of the deal that ended the popular mounted police, who delighted children and adults alike with their neighborhood visits.

But that's not what Councilmember Nancy Nadel said. "The council was not told, actually. This is important, and I am going to look into it," she told me. Councilmember Pat Kernighan had not returned my call by deadline. The two council members represent people who live around the lake.

So what promises were made in February 2005? Edgerly said then the total cost of the mounted patrol was $370,000, including police salaries and keep of the horses. The horse patrol was a calming influence, one that humanized the Oakland police, whose public image needs a lift.

"This sent me looking for alternatives," Edgerly told me back then, when I wrote about the public protest against ending the unit. She found that the mounted officers spent only about two to three hours a day on the patrols around town and the rest of the time at the stables, where they took care of the horses.

Edgerly said then the department had 10 officers trained to ride and more could be trained. She also proposed having stable hands take care of the horses, because that was a poor use of a sworn officer's time. No one could disagree with that. Hurray, we thought, the mounted patrol is secure.

Cost savings would be made by housing the horses at a hills stable, where now there are two remaining horses waiting to be sold.

As for the officers, there were only two a year ago. Then one was seriously injured in a fall from her horse. After surgery she had to take a desk job.

This left Chris Saunders, who went on paternity leave when his wife had a baby. When he returned he was assigned to night patrolman. Saunders told me he phoned council members, but none returned his call.

Although 10 officers could have taken over the unit, they were not assigned.

The popular police on horseback have gone away quietly — too quietly.

But it's never too late to correct a wrong. When the council adopts its new budget, flush with a surplus, the mounted police should be put back on the street. In every neighborhood. We all want to hear the friendly clip clop on our streets.
Then the people can shout out, "Oh, yes, they've heard us again."