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Oakland black leaders gather in response to violent weekend

More at Inside Bay Area : “OAKLAND — In the wake of the shooting deaths of four police officers, African-American leaders from around the city gathered Wednesday morning for a closed-door meeting to discuss issues facing the black community. They said the killing by Lovelle Mixon, a 26-year-old fugitive parolee, was the tipping point for black clergy, civic leaders and police to air their concerns and create an action plan to address youth violence. The slayings also provide a lens to look more closely at existing rehabilitation and re-entry programs for ex-offenders and parolees, they said. "We are saddened and in shock," said Raymond Lankford, a pastor and founder of Healthy Oakland, a community organization that promotes nonviolence. "Words can't express what we feel."”

Lovelle Mixon's Sister Arrested On Drug Charge After Oakland Polices Shooting

In the wake of the Oakland Police Shooting, the Sister of Lovelle Mixon was arrested for a drug charge posted in 2008. Apparently from the Channel 7 report, the Oakland Police are working to determine what the family knew about Mixon's weapons possession. My guess is not much and they're probably just as much in shock over the whole matter as the rest of Oakland. Now, they're going to be judged in a way that's really unfair and I hope they over come this. What's happening is that truth and fairness could give way to anger: by the Oakland Police and by a small group of Oaklanders who have some really screwed up views of the police. More on that soon.

Pican Restaurant Brings New Soul Food To Oakland

On Wednesday March 18th I was a guest at a brand new Oakland restaurant called "Pican". The dream of its' founder Michael Le Blanc, it features "New Soul Food" in an elegant, high-end setting on 2295 Broadway near Grand. In the video I talk about the number of new eateries in Oakland and which ones can make it in a recession. I think all of them can survive if they market as a unit rather than separate from each other. Pican has the makings of a great restaurant that could become a classic. The opening I went to was a kind of Oakland coming-out party with those who are known and not-so-known coming to Michael Le Blanc's new place. The restaurant is next to Osumo and both are part of the Broadway / Grand structure, accross from Luka's retaurant. And in a few months a new bar will open just about 300 feet from the corner on Grand Avenue. What was once a sleepy, blighted and dangerous area has turned into something special.

Paul Krugman is WRONG about The Obama TARP Plan

Economist Paul Krugman has been attacking the Obama / Geitner Troubled Assets Relief Plan (TARP) as using taxpayer money to pay investors to take the assets off bank's hands. But he offers no alternative. Paul is wrong in that he wants the "bad assets" to remain on bank statements, but for what? To continue to freeze the credit market? His blog posts in the NY Times on this matter are intellectually sloppy at best. That -- for a Nobel Prize winner -- is terrible. Krugman sets up straw person examples to prove the idea that the investor spends little of his or her own money -- but that is the idea. I do not know why he comes up with these half-baked statements at all. Perhaps he is just angry that Obama did not pick him to be economic advisor.

Personal Injury Law In A Recession: Robert Schock of Oakland

Bob Schock is an Oakland personal injury lawyer. We talk about lawsuits in a recession and how businesses can protect themselves and why people file lawsuits. Bob explains that one trend that firms practice is to get rid of "whistle-blowers" because they cause the most trouble in the view of the firm. He also explains that in general, personal injury lawsuits are down, not up. Watch the video to learn more. Contact Bob at 510-839-7722.

Oakland Parkway Theater Closes Today: Evicted By Landlord

The landlord of the Parkway Theater at 18th Street and Park Blvd in Oakland evicted the Parkway Theater after severely raising the rent. It's last day was today, March 22nd, 2009, but the theater can be saved. As an employee reports in this video, the closure was fast; the employees got the notice just four days ago, giving them little time to make adjustments and throwing lives into chaos. Apparently, the theater just had not drawn a lot of people -- or at least enough to pay the rent -- to maintain itself. In the words of the persons I talked to -- some on the video -- the movie house was not showing what the public wanted to see. I think a larger issue was marketing, or the lack of it. A new approach should include having ways that bloggers can put a Parkway widget on their blogs. Also having the Parkway on as many social networks -- like Twitter -- as possible would really keep its name out there. The bottom line is the place Kyle and Catherine Fisher raised $140,000

Oakland Police Shooting: Oakland Is a Dangerous City; Will UC Leave Oakland?

Oakland Police Officers  Sgt. Mark Dunakin, 40, and Sgts. Ervin Romans, 43, and Daniel Sakai, 35, members of the SWAT team and motorcycle officer, John Hege, 41, who is in grave condition, were all shot in the line of duty Saturday.  Dunakin, Romans, and Sakai are dead.  This is what Oakland Police talk about.   This is why police take the precausions they do.  It's the heart of what we all fear, both the officers and the people of Oakland.  My heart and tears go out to the slain officers who were serving all of us.  And it's a stark reminder of what I said just two days ago on Christina Marie's show "CrossTalk San Francisco": our society is more dangerous now than ever.   It's not just the police shooting.  It's the muggings and threats that impact employees at the University of California Office of The President in downtown Oakland.  These incidents are so frequent of late, that U.C.  officials are strongly considering leaving their Oakland headq

Oakland Police Shooting: Statement from City Attorney John Russo on behalf of the Oakland City Attorney’s Office:

Tonight our thoughts and prayers are with the families of the officers who gave their lives defending peace in our city. This is undeniably one of the worst days in Oakland’s history. It is impossible to explain such a senseless and tragic crime. Our police officers risk their lives every day that they are on the job, and we honor them for their service, their bravery and their dedication to Oakland. The members of the City Attorney’s Office grieve the horrible loss of officers who dedicated their lives to serving and protecting our city. Our sincerest condolences go to their families, their colleagues and the entire Oakland Police Department. John A. Russo Oakland City Attorney

BART Shooting: Rockridge BART Protest 3-19-09

I exited Rockridge BART Station and walked into a protest of the New Year's Day shooting of Oscar Grant by BART Police Officer Johannes Mehserle. I talked with onlooker, protesters, and BART Spokesperson Linton Johnson. According to the protester I talked to in the video, there are a series of these events pre-scheduled at http://nojusticenobart.blogspot.com