The Advocate

(Spotted in Hong Kong) I found this story by "sokdie" through a mutual friend and, after reading it, I realized how truly it encapsulates the banality and cruelty of what systemic oppression looks like in practice. This is the story of how even the smallest of law enforcement mistakes can become another brittle cog in a larger machine of human suffering. It is the story of Mariyanna Bryant and how society did more than fail her, it punished her for our failure. It is why we must reimagine public safety, defund the police, and build a better world for all. Take note and take care.

A recent article from Shaila Dewan at the NY Times lays out some compelling complexities of nuance around policing, reimagining public safety, and the true costs of both. Rather than summarize, I have embedded the poignant points below. For the TL;DR version, the basic finding is that sometimes police can potentially help a little bit, but the costs are far more than the cheaper and greater gains from funding communities instead of more cops, and it's better from a moral and ethical standpoint. "With shootings and homicides surging in many cities, calls to redirect money to policing are rising. But evidence that hiring more officers is the best way to reduce crime is mixed: Beefing up a police force can help, but the effects are modest and far from certain. Those who study the question say any declines in crime have to be weighed against the downsides of adding more police officers, including negative interactions with the public, police violence and further erosion of public...

It has been 18 months since Steven Taylor was murdered by former San Leandro Police Officer Jason Fletcher in less than 40 seconds from when he arrived on scene. It has been 18 months since still active SLPD Officer Stefan Overton was an accessory to the crime, tasing Steven even after he had already been shot. It has been 18 months since the ongoing racism and inequity within San Leandro was laid bare in a way that was impossible to ignore or deny. A judge in the proceedings recently denied Fletcher's motion to dismiss the case.  However, Fletcher didn't bother to appear in court, letting his attorney, Michael Rains of the Oakland Riders police corruption scandal , to bloviate on his behalf. Among the notable remarks were these:  "Alameda County Superior Court Judge Thomas Reardon asked why Fletcher did not wait for his backup since Taylor allegedly posed no immediate threat to anyone when Fletcher arrived at the Walmart at 15555 Hesperian Blvd. on April 18, 2020." ...

From the folks at SLATE , San Leandro for Accountability, Transparency, and Equity: "On October 16 and 21, the city of San Leandro will be giving the public a chance to share their feedback and ask any questions about community police oversight in San Leandro. Please attend one of the meetings and remind the city that we need a police oversight board that: 1. Is completely independent from the police department and fairly represents the community. 2. Has the power to review police policy. We hope to remind the city the importance of fair and transparent investigations of police misconduct.  Hop on one of the meetings to learn more about what the city is recommending and ensure that your voice is heard!" Learn more about these forums here. The virtual community forums will cover the following topics: background on police oversight; possible structures and elements of a police oversight model for San Leandro; as well as opportunities for public feedback and questions. The foru...

If you live in San Leandro and don't listen to The Marinade with Lee Thomas, I highly recommend you add it to your list and start digging in with gusto! You can listen to them at Apple Podcasts . Thomas offers a unique blend of delicious BBQ and political discourse. In fact, he might be the only media outlet offering anything remotely resembling real talk about politics in San Leandro. So far his guest have included entertaining and informative appearances from Mayor Cutter, Surlene Grant, Peter Oshinski, and the latest with San Leandro Police Officers' Association President, Mike Olivera. *** Unfortunately, instead of hitting a savory-sweet spot, Olivera comes off as bland as if he was reading from a poorly prepared press release. As usual from the police union, we get the classic copaganda of lies and scare tactics coupled with a complete lack of self-reflection or self-awareness. But this isn't surprising. This is the same Mike Olivera who helped cover up the murder of A...

(Credit Amber Hughson, @conflicttransformation) What does it mean? I'm one of many community advocates and organizers here in San Leandro and I put his post together to help address a lot of questions, confusion, and even frustration, fear, or anger that people may have regarding the recent push to reimagine public safety and defund the SLPD. To start with, let's be clear: SLPD hasn't been defunded. They still have the same $42 million budget, a 60% increase over the last ten years. They still receive 50%+ of the city’s payroll. They still cost approximately 1/3rd of our entire budget. They still account for upwards of 2/3rds of our overtime costs. They still receive the newest equipment, the highest starting salaries, and the most deference from elected officials. But what's been the return on our investment? Source: SLPD Crime Stats Crime rates, YTD 2020 to 2021: violent crime down 9%, property crime down 25%, overall crime down 23%. Crime rates, YOY 2019-20 to 2020-2...

( I mage Credit: Ohio State University ) Yes, you read that right. In the case of Ricardo Fortenberry v. City of San Leandro , the city council voted 7-0 during closed session to settle this case for the sum of $150,000 dollars. Now, if you're a frugal, ethical, and socially responsible citizen like myself, you're probably asking yourself: What in the Mother of Moses, Song of Solomon, Jumping Jesus P. Cryst is going on? Well, let me tell you! On October 18, 2018, at approximately 6:20 AM at 1035 International Blvd., a car sideswiped a Mr. Ricardo Fortenberry, resulting in a minor traffic accident with no physical injuries. Shortly thereafter, SLPD Officers Christopher Barris, Anthony Pantoja , Richard Van Dyke (or, Dick, if you're feeling silly), and  Dennis Mally  showed up and violated Mr. Fortenberry's civil rights. How, do you ask? Let me count the ways! 1. Three officers initiated a car chase of Mr. Fortenberry despite orders from their supervising sergeant not to ...

This webinar on police oversight was hosted by local community-based organization SLATE, San Leandro for Accountability, Transparency, and Equity. "Our mission is to advocate for responsible and effective community oversight of law enforcement, and to reimagine public safety beyond policing by supporting community-based programs that help San Leandro residents thrive." The video runs just under an hour, including both an informational segment as well as a Q&A. Everything here is San Leandro specific, on what could work in our city and what could address the deep-seated needs in our community. I highly recommend taking the time to watch this presentation in full. The benefits of police oversight not only save lives and money, it actually improves the performance of law enforcement, creating trust between them and the people they serve. After you finish watching, head on over to SLATE's website at https://slatecoalition.org/ to learn more, find out about other upcoming...

Last year, the Alameda County District Attorney's office released its report on the officer-involved shooting and death of Anthony Robert Gomez on June 11, 2019. You can read a copy of it here . Additionally, you can read the original arrest report as well as the internal investigation report . Mr. Gomez had not been charged with a crime. He was unarmed. The pretext for this encounter with Mr. Gomez was a domestic disturbance between himself, his mother, their neighbors, and the neighbors’ children. One of the neighbors called 911 with inflated allegations of a machete-wielding man exposing himself to children. The DA’s report reads like a classic case of an end looking for an excuse for its means, a facade to place around a paper tiger. Here are some of the highlights from this transparent incompetence: 1. No warning before the officer shoots Mr. Gomez in the neck. 2. No deescalation or crisis resolution attempts are captured on bodycam footage or listed in the reports, and oddly...

In a promising move of political and moral courage, the San Leandro City Council has authorized the release of the internal investigation report provided by the OIR Group, who were contracted to help clean-up repeated misconduct in the San Leandro Police Department. You can read it and the city’s press release . In what was obvious to most residents, the report confirms that former SLPD Officer Jason Fletcher violated numerous department policies, failed to utilize several non-lethal tactics, and clearly violated the law when fatally shot Steven Taylor on April 18, 2020. Let’s start with the essential conclusion: “Had a different approach been taken, the use of deadly force might have been avoided altogether.” [ Emphasis added.] The report’s findings state this outright, actually condemning the actions of both Fletcher *and* Officer Stefan Overton. Yes, you read that right! Now in this era of increasing cynicism and apathy, I confess to being stunned by this admission. Of course, local...