May 3, 2011 | 3:07 PM | By

Gang injunction report to go before full Oakland Council tonight

FILED UNDER: Police, Gang Injunctions, Oakland, Oakland City Council, Oakland Police Department

Puck Lo

Opponents of Oakland's gang injunction strategy outside Alameda County Superior Court in October 2010

As court proceedings on the Fruitvale gang injunction come to a close on Friday, the Oakland City Council will debate gang injunctions as a whole during tonight’s hearing. A In February, injunction opponents and supporters filled the council chambers to the rafters during a three-hour Public Safety Committee hearing on the injunctions.

Tonight, the council will review the same informational report on gang injunctions that was presented to the Public Safety Committee several weeks earlier.

The committee deadlocked over whether to approve or criticize City Attorney John Russo’s anti-gang strategy, with Nancy Nadel and Rebecca Kaplan expressing reservations about the tactic. Patricia Kernighan and Larry Reid did not waver in their support of the North Oakland and Fruitvale gang injunctions.

Tonight, residents will get a first glimpse at where each council member stands on the issue. Ignacio De La Fuente, who represents the Fruitvale area, is a firm backer of injunctions in spite of the flak he has taken from some constituents. The positions of Councilmembers Libby Schaaf, Jane Brunner and Desley Brooks are not clear. If Oakland does pursue its third gang injunction, it could fall in the East Oakland neighborhoods represented by Brooks and Larry Reid.

Last week, Mayor Jean Quan said that she is alarmed at the cost of Oakland’s gang injunctions, which have cost the city at least $781,128 on the North Oakland, Fruitvale and Area 3 injunctions, of which only the former is in place.

The council meeting starts at 5:30 PM. Get there early if you want a seat. It’s going to be crowded.