Measure Y Coalition Mobilzation Dates and Core Demands

Below are our 6 core demands we will be
making to the City at our mobilization to hold the
City accountable to invest Measure Y money into real
violence prevention solutions. As many of us still
recognize the rediculous nature of a "violence
prevention" measure that prioritizes spending on
police, we will be laying out our vision for police
acountability and effective violence prevention
programs.

Mobilization dates are Tuesday, April 12th (Public
Safety Committee meeting, 7:30PM, Hearing Room 1, City
Hall- please arrive at least 20 minutes early to
prepare); and April 19th (Full City Council meeting,
6PM) both are at the City Hall at 14th and Broadway.
Please help us fill the chambers!!!

Measure Y Coalition Core Demands

1) We demand transparency in how Measure Y funds are
being spent. Transparency includes: Open RFP
processes for funds; Quarterly reporting to the
Oversight Committee on how the money is being spent.
The current proposal offers several options of direct
awards versus an open process. We want an open
process. Some of the programs currently targeted for
funding have great track records, others do not. We
want grass roots programs to have the same access to
funding as political favorites. Let programs be
judged on their merit, not who they know at City Hall.



2) We demand more money be allocated to a thorough and
ongoing evaluation of the Community Policing program.
It is unacceptable that neither performance outcomes
nor evaluation measures for assigned OPD community
policing officers or other officers funded by Measure
Y are available. These evaluation instruments should
already exist! The claim by some that these officers
prevent crime is bogus until these measures are
available. It is unacceptable to require that social
service programs be data driven and not require that
police programs also be data driven. The recommended
distribution of Measure Y evaluation funds leaves only
$41,000 for this police program evaluation. That is
not enough.



3) We demand full integration of violence prevention
efforts by community agencies and the Police
Department. There is no hope for successful violence
prevention if money is being split between various
community and city agencies with no coordination from
the Police Department. Police officers need to be
trained by and with Community Agencies and must
develop a sound referral system as an alternative to
punishing youth in trouble.



4) We demand that the City Council keep its promise to
“increase and expand” services by using Measure Y
money for new services not to fill up holes in the
general budget. At the Special City Council Meeting
of May 10, 2004 it was reported that approximately
$7,298,872 of annual funds from other than City
sources (including OFCY) was allocated to violence
prevention. In addition, $2,590,981 of City General
Funds were used for violence prevention. These levels
must be maintained and expanded. The City cannot get
away with using Measure Y funds to replace money cut
from the budget, Measure Y must money must increase
levels of service.



5) We demand comprehensive Re-entry Centers for
formerly incarcerated people.

Comprehensive means wraparound services that include:
COMPENSATION, Educational Training, Vocational
Training, Legal services, and Health Services. The
current city proposal is woefully inadequate in
addressing the needs of the formerly incarcerated. We
demand the creation of a permanent space dedicated to
comprehensive wraparound services that give parolees a
real chance at starting over.



6) We demand comprehensive Teen Centers for high
school aged youth.

Comprehensive means: Jobs, Counseling, Training
Programs, Positive Social Activities, Youth Input into
Decisions and Design. Prevention does not end in
middle school. The current proposal focuses on
prevention programs for middle school and intervention
programs once youth enter the system. There is a huge
gap in services and resources for youth in high
school. National models for outreach and counseling
in Boston and New York demonstrate the importance of
prevention in the teen years. We want Measure Y money
directed to transforming four (4) Park and Recreation
Facilities into Teen Centers. The solution to the
sideshow problem is not locking up more youth it is
providing them with other positive things to do.

One of the Teen Centers should be dedicated to African
American youth. African American youth comprise 39% of
the youth in Oakland and 48% of the School District.
Yet, they are disproportionately impacted by nearly
every societal malady. In Oakland they are: 84% of
children removed from home for maltreatment ; 76% of
juvenile arrests; 58% of teen pregnancies; 57% of
school dropouts Yet, there are NO city resources
designated to serve the specific needs of Black youth.
There are resources that have been supported by the
City for Asian youth, Native American youth and Latino
youth (as there should be!) but none designated for
African American youth. We want one of the Teen
Centers designated above to be an African American
Youth Center.