Record Number of Neighborhood Block Parties
during National Night Out 2012
When neighbors are organized, their neighborhoods are safer. That's the concept of National Night Out. This year, Oakland residents hosted 605 block parties on August 7--one of the largest NNO events in the country! When we started about 9 years ago, Oakland only had 35 parties!
Each year we work hard to grow the number of events, and to encourage residents to take the next step and become a Neighborhood Watch group. The first step is to get to know your neighbors!
Focusing Resources to Make Oakland Safer
Children, families and businesses must feel safe in our city. Last year, we led new efforts to bring all existing law enforcement agencies together to focus on reducing crime and violence in Oakland.
- Short-term, it means concentrated enforcement
- Mid-term, it means community engagement and mobilization
- Long-term, it means keeping crime from happening in the first place through crime prevention, education and jobs.
Strategy to Reduce Violent Crime
The City is moving forward with a comprehensive, collaborative approach to reduce violence. We are focusing enforcement efforts of the Oakland Police Department and other, local, state and federal enforcement resources to reduce violent crime in the neighborhoods most impacted by violence, while maintaining police coverage throughout the City.
We are also prioritizing other services in the neighborhoods with the most violent crime, including blight abatement, litter and graffiti clean-ups.
Additionally, we are recruiting for jobs and improving the quality of life in these neighborhoods, knowing that when we create economic opportunity and reduce crime, we can reduce crime throughout the entire city. (Click here for the job recruitment flyer)
Jobs for Youth-- bringing hope and reducing crime
Oakland has sponsored a Mayor's Summer Jobs Program for more than 30 years, but federal cuts last year reduced the number of job opportunities to 400 in 2011. This year, the Mayor's Office raised sufficient funds to provide summer jobs to 1000 Oakland youth, with half of the jobs going to youth from our toughest neighborhoods in West and East Oakland.
The City held several summer job recruitment fairs in April and June to reach out to our youth, knowing that providing young people with that first job opens brand new horizons---an important tool in reducing crime.
Community Policing
We continue to build Community Policing strategies citywide based on geographic accountability, bringing residents and officers together to build real relationships block by block. We work with all Neighborhood Service Coordinators and Neighborhood Crime Prevention Councils to create strong communities that look out for each other.
To learn more about organizing your block, call the Neighborhood Watch Program at (510) 238-3128.
Emergency Preparedness
It's not a matter of it, but when Oakland will face a major disaster--be it an earthquake, major fire or other emergency. City Departments regularly practice and plan for disaster response with other local agencies and providers. We count on residents to organize themselves in their neighborhoods to support each other for the first 72 hours following a major disaster. Learn how you and your neighbors can become better prepared at home and at work by enrolling in the free CORE training programs.
Under a Federal Regional Catastrophic Planning Grant program, Oakland's Office of Emergency Services is organizing residents of East and West Oakland to be better prepared for emergencies. The first community event is a Health and Preparedness Festival scheduled on Saturday, August 25, 2012, at Willie Wikens Park on 98th Avenue from 10 am to 3 pm.
