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After a series of crimes in our neighborhood, Adams Point residents are exachanging ideas online. One of the ideas is for a "Whisle Stop" program. According to message board reports, it works like this: "The WhistleStop concept is simple: If you see a crime being committed or you need to call for help, blow your whistle. If you hear a whistle, determine the nature and location of the problem and call 911, then blow your whistle to scare the assailant away and alert the victim and the assailant that the police have been called and help is on the way" It's used in Rockridge, but I don't yet know how well it's worked to this date.

I first met Bea Wong when I was wrting for The Montclarion in 1994. After that, I would run into her on occasion when I visted my friend John Russo's home, as she lived next door (he's moved since then). She's always warm. A very nice person. Outside of my own Mom, I can't think of anyone more deserving...Oh, my Mom doesn't live in Oakland anymore! At long last, recognition with the Mother of all city awards By Hilary Bothma, CORRESPONDENT - Oakland Tribune Oakland's mother of the year, Beatrice Wong, is a volunteer at the Chinese American Citizens Alliance. She will be honored Saturday at the Morcom Rose Garden for her dedication to community causes. (Sean Connelley/staff) OAKLAND — Beatrice Wong does not expect any reward for the thousands of hours of community service she has donated to city causes. With characteristic humor and self-deprecation, she says, "If I were waiting for recognition, I wouldn't be doing this for 40 years, unless I was ...

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 coal...

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"

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 Oakl...

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 p...

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...