Ali Winston
Fruitvale injunction defendant Ruben Leal addresses the Oakland City Council on May 17, 2011
After six hours of heated, often rancorous debate over Oakland’s gang injunction strategy, the City Council moved to continue with the city’s controversial anti-crime strategy by one vote shortly after midnight Wednesday morning. Councilmembers Larry Reid, Ignacio De La Fuente, Libby Schaaf and Patricia Kernighan voted to continue funding the injunctions, with Nancy Nadel, Desley Brooks and Rebecca Kaplan in opposition. Councilmember Jane Brunner abstained from the vote.
Alameda County Superior Court Judge Robert Freedman is expected to decide soon whether or not to approve Oakland’s second gang injunction, which targets 40 alleged Norteños in the Fruitvale.
Around 300 people packed the council chambers and gallery for the meeting, a reflection of the high politicized environment surrounding the. One hundred and fifty-seven people spoke on the issue (224 had initially signed up). Some supporters of the injunction made their voices heard, but the majority of those present opposed the injunction.
Police Chief Anthony Batts and OPD’s entire command staff were present at last night’s hearing — a sharp contrast to the chief’s no-show at a council hearing earlier this month.