Perata unveils plan to curb Oakland, Richmond violence

0 Comments | Oakland Tribune, Oct 3, 2006 | by Chris Metinko, MEDIANEWS

OAKLAND-- Standing in the middle of a West Oakland basketball court Monday morning, state Sen. Don Perata unveiled what he termed "a modest proposal" to help four murder-plagued Oakland and Richmond neighborhoods.

The plan -- developed by community leaders and East Bay officials with help from Perata's office -- calls for teams of counselors and outreach workers to hit the streets in West and East Oakland and the city's Elmhurst neighborhood to help mediate and resolve conflicts that recently have ended in gunfire.

In Richmond, similar peacekeeping teams will try to dampen violence in the Iron Triangle/Nystrom neighborhood.

"It's become pretty clear it is as dangerous in some areas of Oakland and Richmond as it is in Iraq," said Perata, D-Oakland. "It does seem like a scandal that we're trying to do something there, but not here."

Both cities have seen homicide rates skyrocket this year. Oakland has 116 homicides so far, surpassing the 2005 total of 94. Richmond has 33 homicides. It recorded 40 last year.

The upswing in violence convinced Perata to form a violence prevention group -- made up of elected officials, law enforcement, community activists and probation and public health officials from Oakland, Richmond and Alameda and Contra Costa counties. They met in July to brainstorm ideas to reduce the violence.

Along with peacekeeping groups set to take to the streets in the four neighborhoods, the plan calls for new afternoon and evening programs in each neighborhood, including sports league and arts groups. Perata also hopes to start up re-entry and internship programs for those from the neighborhoods out on parole or probation. Perata said the program will start with a six-month program for 50 ex-convicts, and includes community college training.

The plan is expected to cost about $1 million a year per neighborhood. Perata said there is no funding now but he will write to private investors and government agencies to seek the money.

For many in the area, it cannot happen soon enough.

"I have gone to more funerals of young men in 16 years than I ever thought I'd have to attend," said Janet Patterson, a resident of Acorn housing where Perata held his news conference. "It has gotten easier to go to them, and to say it is easier going to the funeral of a young man -- there's something wrong."

In Richmond, violence has reached such a crescendo that people have formed "tent cities" in infamous crime "hot spots," such as the corner of Fourth Street and Macdonald Avenue and Shields-Reid Park in North Richmond, to help prevent further disorder.

Monday's news conference brought Londell Porter, 29, also an Acorn housing resident, out to hear Perata.

"It's been a while since we've seen the senator's face around here," he said. "But you gotta give him credit. I'm not saying what he's doing is right, and I'm not saying what he's doing is wrong, but at least he's doing something. Somebody has to."

On his right forearm, Porter has the tattooed names of four relatives and friends he has lost to violence.

"I stopped after four," he said. "I was going to run out of room. If I got names of everyone I know who is gone (from violence), my arm would look like a scroll."

Reach Chris Metinko at cmetinko@cctimes.com or 510-763-5418.