November 1, 2011 

   

It is my hope that tomorrow's general strike is peaceful and places the issues of the 99% front and center. I am working with the police chief to make sure that the pro-99% activists - whose cause I support - will have the freedom to get their message across without the conflict that marred last week's events. Although getting the balance right is never an easy task, in Oakland we are committed to honoring free speech and protecting public safety.

The protestors are raising important issues that we must confront. Oakland is city struggling with high levels of unemployment, underemployment, foreclosure, and budget cuts. We all have to work together to solve these problems.

In the short term, I want to encourage everyone to support our small businesses, especially those in the downtown core who have experienced declining patronage. They are a part of the 99%, and they are essential to our local economy.

The Urban Peace Movement is having a separate event tonight to demand quality job creation in Oakland. These are the issues Oaklanders care about.

In the long term - in keeping with the Urban Peace Movement's goals of reducing violence by creating more good jobs for the next generation - we must remain committed to job-creating projects like redeveloping the Army base.

 OTHER DETAILS:

• Initial investigation continues into the events of last week. We want to be swift, but we must also be thorough.
• City Administrator Deanna Santana has asked employees to contact their supervisor if they want to participate in Wednesday's activities to request accommodation.
• We continue to monitor the occupy encampment on a day-to-day basis and to maintain a minimal police presence. We are making daily safety inspections. So far, activity has been peaceful and I am working to keep it that way.

 

 

 

 

 

Mayor Jean Quan

   

The City posts regular updates on the city website that you can view at www.oaklandnet.com.