quote:

ORIGINAL: Termyn8or

Maybe I should move there.

T

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ORIGINAL: LadyPact

While I definitely feel this is going to impact Oakland, the headline is completely misleading.  Since when is a lay off equated to firing?

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ORIGINAL: pahunkboy

Oakland, Already Heading Into Dark Age, Fires 80 Police Officers

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ORIGINAL: Zevar

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ORIGINAL: pahunkboy

Oakland, Already Heading Into Dark Age, Fires 80 Police Officers

Unfortunately Oakland is being forgotten once again. Here on the West coast and especially in Oakland there are approximately 400,000 or so people and still the crime rate increases beyond what one could imagine. I recall not long ago of traveling to meet with a good friend of mine for dinner in Oakland. As I sat in the restaurant with my friend I noticed just outside the window there were young men surrounding my vehicle. I thought at first they were just admiring my expensive and very hard worked for auto.

Wrong! In a split second they rocked my vehicle checking out my alarm system as they were attempting to get in through a window in my car. I quickly went outside and confronted them. They looked at me with a shocked look on their faces. I seriously had no fear. I was incensed that these young men thought that in broad daylight that they could just take what they wanted.

Wrong again ! Oddly enough they put their hands in the air and begged, “Don’t shoot.” I was not armed with a weapon. Instead I was beyond angry and felt no fear. My Irish temper reared its fearsome axe. I gathered my thoughts. I backed off and directed them to sit down on the curbside. After speaking with these young men for a while it became evident that there were many issues in their lives that clearly are unresolved. I invited these young men in for dinner and paid for a meal for each of them. As they sat directly across the table from myself and my friend I thought of how the crime rate is majorly out of control and how the lives of these young men hang in the balance between Life and Death, day by day. Morning, noon and night.

In the nutshell it was very obvious that these young men were not only attempting to break the law, they were also asking for help in a way that unfortunately in this area of California goes unheard and without a doubt unseen every day of the week, 24/7/365. By some that is.

It is not the act of confrontation and my fearless Irish temper that I will always remember when I recall Oakland. Instead I will recall these young men who finally did get their lives going in a constructive direction. Am I too optimistic? Not hardly. I usually do not even drive to Oakland except when I have to. In hindsight I do not regret this experience. I was able to direct these young to an agency for assistance. This I will never forget.

Instead what I will remember is that as a member of my community there is always a way to effect a change. I am not at all advocating confronting young men as I did. I am though advocating that some of what is behind the majority of youth related crimes is not what the media likes to report. Violence sells. Welcome to the Golden State!

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ORIGINAL: vincentML

quote:

ORIGINAL: Termyn8or

Maybe I should move there.

T

Maybe. You want smaller govt, you got smaller govt. Nobody should bitch imo.

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ORIGINAL: LadyPact

While I definitely feel this is going to impact Oakland, the headline is completely misleading.  Since when is a lay off equated to firing?

quote:

ORIGINAL: willbeurdaddy

quote:

ORIGINAL: Zevar

Unfortunately Oakland is being forgotten once again. Here on the West coast and especially in Oakland there are approximately 400,000 or so people and still the crime rate increases beyond what one could imagine. I recall not long ago of traveling to meet with a good friend of mine for dinner in Oakland. As I sat in the restaurant with my friend I noticed just outside the window there were young men surrounding my vehicle. I thought at first they were just admiring my expensive and very hard worked for auto.

Wrong! In a split second they rocked my vehicle checking out my alarm system as they were attempting to get in through a window in my car. I quickly went outside and confronted them. They looked at me with a shocked look on their faces. I seriously had no fear. I was incensed that these young men thought that in broad daylight that they could just take what they wanted.

Wrong again ! Oddly enough they put their hands in the air and begged, “Don’t shoot.” I was not armed with a weapon. Instead I was beyond angry and felt no fear. My Irish temper reared its fearsome axe. I gathered my thoughts. I backed off and directed them to sit down on the curbside. After speaking with these young men for a while it became evident that there were many issues in their lives that clearly are unresolved. I invited these young men in for dinner and paid for a meal for each of them. As they sat directly across the table from myself and my friend I thought of how the crime rate is majorly out of control and how the lives of these young men hang in the balance between Life and Death, day by day. Morning, noon and night.

In the nutshell it was very obvious that these young men were not only attempting to break the law, they were also asking for help in a way that unfortunately in this area of California goes unheard and without a doubt unseen every day of the week, 24/7/365. By some that is.

It is not the act of confrontation and my fearless Irish temper that I will always remember when I recall Oakland. Instead I will recall these young men who finally did get their lives going in a constructive direction. Am I too optimistic? Not hardly. I usually do not even drive to Oakland except when I have to. In hindsight I do not regret this experience. I was able to direct these young to an agency for assistance. This I will never forget.

Instead what I will remember is that as a member of my community there is always a way to effect a change. I am not at all advocating confronting young men as I did. I am though advocating that some of what is behind the majority of youth related crimes is not what the media likes to report. Violence sells. Welcome to the Golden State!

welcome to fantasy island

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ORIGINAL: servantforuse

It seems that there are many residents in Oakland who hate their police force and are probably happy about these layoffs. I wonder how they will feel when an already out of control crime rate gets even worse ? The residents of Oakland will have only themselves to blame.

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ORIGINAL: ThatDaveGuy69
Uhm, just off the top of my head I'd say a "layoff" is remarkably similar to a "firing" - in both cases they will be out of work and collecting unemployment.
There is also the very real possibilty that those who were are laid off will not be re-called to the force when Oakland gets their financial act back together.

Geez, LP, your comments usually make sense, but I guess everyone is allowed an off day now and then...

What twisted my head was when Ms Arotzarena equated the deaths of 4 officers with the lay-off of 80. Hmmm... 4 dead vs 80 unemployed. I bet any one of those dead officers would happily trade-up to unemployment.

~Dave

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ORIGINAL: Termyn8or

Maybe I should move there.

T