FYI: Speed Warning for East bay Hills

[AllyCat]

March 9th, 2005



Dear Friends and Residents of the Oakland Hills,



On December 22nd at our Town Hall Meeting, I promised to take action

and respond to neighborhood complaints regarding crime and police

functions in the Oakland Hills within 90 days. During the meeting there

were significant requests for increased patrolling of the area, as well

as the need for increased police cooperation with citizen groups

providing crime information.



I am happy to report that as a direct result of that meeting OPD is now

implementing a continuous presence in the hills and will cease the

practice of pulling officers from the hills to fill other beats that

are open. This is a new policy and we expect results. An additional

measure will include keeping at least one officer permanently on the

beat (beat 13) who will not come off the beat except in rare

emergencies. This officer is always there. If someone reports a

serious crime, he or she will be able to respond.

.

.

.

Lt. Kozicki has agreed to seriously target the ongoing problems of

speeding and racing and expects results in the next month, now that the

necessary speed survey (required by law every 5 years in order to

ticket) has just been completed. Lt. Kozicki has agreed to target, in

particular, the stretch between the Claremont Hotel and Grizzly Peak as

well as all those folks who congregate at 'the wall' and want to use

Grizzly Peak as a raceway.



Answers to specific concerns raised by citizens at the December 22nd

Town Hall Meeting



Reckless speeding in the hills and on Grizzly Peak

Motorcycle cops have not been able to write tickets effectively in the

hills because the streets had not been 'speed surveyed'. It is a matter

of law that speed surveys have to be done every 5 years or else tickets

are thrown out of court. I directed the Department of Public Works to

complete the 'speed survey' ASAP. The survey has just been completed as

of this week and is being sent to OPD immediately. We should see a

major impact.



For further questions regarding any of these matters or to report

feedback, please call Al Lujan at the Oaklanders Assistance Center in

the Mayor's Office at 510-238-7366.



Sincerely



Jerry Brown

Mayor of Oakland