A Community on High Alert

"A Community on High Alert"

Part 1 My Story

A few weeks ago, I was a victim of an attempted robbery while sitting in my parked car with the motor running. This experience has shaken me. I no longer feel safe in my community, but what is most troubling are the feelings of vulnerability. These are most troubling because of who I am and how I have consistently shown up in powerful and comforting ways in the lives of others.??In the days that followed “the event”, I recanted the experience over and over to friends and family.??Last weekend, I had to stop myself from sharing the story with total strangers in the local market.??While in my car, I am startled by the slightest unrecognizable noise, quickly glancing from the window to the side and rearview mirrors and reminding myself to breathe. As a trained Clinician, I understood on some level what happened to my physiology.??After a week, I was able to see my Acupuncturist and before I could explain “the event”, he noted that my adrenalin was quite high. Before visiting the Acupuncturist, and a Reiki Master, I was afraid that my biology had been disturbed in such a way that it may not be able to reset itself.???

I have spent a lot of time thinking about what happened and trying to make meaning of it all.??Writing this piece has been healing and I hope that it affirms for others that something happens to us because of these ridiculous, senseless, and “mostly” petty property crimes.??Let me be clear, this in no way omits the gun violence and assault crimes resulting in debilitating conditions or a loss of life, these occurrences happen consistently in our community.??There are so many victims and families, on both sides that are suffering from loss and trauma because of these crimes.?

As a resident and taxpayer, I want our city to be safe for everyone.??As a leader, it is my responsibility to advocate for systemic changes that will make this a reality for all.??Particularly because I am someone who has dedicated much of my career to bringing national attention to the unmet needs of children and families impacted by parental involvement in our criminal justice system.??I have spent 20 years designing prevention and intervention strategies that aid in the transformation of men and women living in and returning from prisons and jails, and that create successful pathways for their children. I also know what untreated trauma looks like in children and particularly in adults with criminal histories.

Crime and Violence

As a resident of Oakland, CA for the past 13 years, smash-and-grab incidents are not new occurrences in our community.??In February 2020, before the pandemic, my backpack and electronic devices were stolen from the trunk of my car at Jack London Square.??It was upsetting and costly but, in some ways, privately I was happy that after 10 years of no claims my renters' insurance was finally paying off. That experience taught me to never leave anything of value in my car regardless of whether it is visible or not. However, what we are experiencing now is not that but something more pervasive.??A friend of mine says, when you know 2 or more people personally that have been victimized in a certain way, it is no longer something that can be attributed to individual behaviors. This email message was included on July 17, 2023, in an Oakland Police Department Advisory Message: Weekly Citywide Crime Report, “During the week of July 10- July 16 no lives were lost to violence.??There were 30 instances of gunfire, 66 robberies, and 18 carjackings.”??I also believe that the numbers are much higher because like so many others, I did not report my incident to OPD.???I wanted to report it, but the online system will only take actual crimes, not attempted crimes. After the event I had little energy for waiting on the phone to report the incident, it was just too much for me at the time.??

Apathy, disbelief, or fear???I was sitting in my SUV with the motor on and doors locked checking emails, when I felt my car move, like someone was shaking it.??I looked into the side view mirror and saw a black 4-door car parked directly behind me with the rear passenger door open. I thought they must have accidentally hit the rear end of my SUV.??In a matter of seconds, my racing mind thought, this can’t be and then I turned around to look over my left shoulder into the eyes of a person wearing a ski mask trying to open the back door on the driver's side.??We stared at each other for what felt like a few seconds or minutes.??My mind and my body seemed to be out of sync.???I started screaming and pressed my horn as long as I could.??They turned away running and jumped into the back seat of the black car and sped off. I noticed that the left side of my body began to ache immediately.??I turned to see if anyone saw me, but my view was blocked, I could no longer see the Peet’s coffee shop, nor the police car posted there earlier.????No one was coming to help me.??I backed out of the parking space and made a U-turn.??As I looked around no one was “looking for me or at me”.??The delivery person kept loading the truck, folks in front of Peet’s Coffee were having their usual morning get together with friends.??The Oakland Police Department vehicle posted in front of Peet’s had moved on.??I wanted to drive home but was too shaken, so I pulled in front of Chase Bank on the other side of the street where there 4 or 5 parking spaces open.???I called my partner to bear witness to what had happened and slowly made my way home.??

I have personally watched, from my 15th floor apartment balcony, in less than a minute a car window being broken, and possessions stolen from a secure parking lot. While walking in the neighborhood, it is not unusual to hear the impact of an object hitting a window and then the sound of glass shattering.??It all happens so fast that you can hardly believe your eyes. Sometimes, you can walk by an area well after a crime has been committed, only to see a broken car window and glass on the street or some unlucky person/family’s luggage sitting on the curbside.??We recently drove down College Ave and were delayed by a traffic slow down.??As we crept closer, we saw a vehicle on the opposite side of the street with all 4 doors open and people walking up and down the street breaking car windows and pulling out the owner’s possessions.???As we drove in shock, further down the street we saw broken car windows on several parked cars and the owners on the cell phone walking around with their heads in hand and possibly in disbelief.???On this day, it seemed that the car of bandits was making their way down College Ave openly with no hesitation, and as people in passing cars watched in disbelief and fear.?

Strategies and Recommendations

From my perspective, the best scenario happened on that day.??I was not hurt (at least not physically), my car was not damaged, and I did not hurt anyone.??What could have happened is what keeps me on high alert and sometimes brings me to tears. There is breaking news about carjackings and smash-and-grab crimes on some social media outlets all day. Although some are slightly exaggerated and more than a few peppered with racist overtones.??They are the current reality for our community. Then there are the horrible tragedies that happen to people who did not resist and to those who decided to defend their possessions and their bodies.??I stopped reading social media posts, but I read 4 local/regional online newspapers regularly.??It’s impossible to avoid the realities of where we are and the need for both swift and long-term strategies that will address the systemic issues associated with smash and grabs and all violence in our cities and communities.??Here are a few recommendations for our leaders to consider:

We are tired of being fearful and residents want to help.??Give us something that we can do.??The advisory that OPD released on April 19th “Reduce Your Risk” had some helpful suggestions but if you are not electronically inclined or do not have internet access, they are useless.??Consider collaborating with “trusted/credible” messengers, communities of faith, hyper-local nonprofit organizations, and existing community groups as sources for communication and recommendations.

21st Century Policing is still relevant and can be useful here,?especially Community Policing.??Crimes are less likely to occur when neighborhood police officers who are closely connected to the community are present.??Not to harm us but to deter and protect.??My attempted robbery didn’t happen until OPD left the block.

“Rarely, if ever, are any of us healed in isolation. Healing is an act of communion."?(All about Love, belle hooks).??Address toxic stress and trauma through culturally responsive and racially concordant care in all communities, particularly places that have historically received fewer resources.???This includes prevention and early intervention services for residents ages zero - 70+.???

Let’s work across systems, departments, and regions with community residents?to finally address the root causes of crime.??A commitment to examining systemic areas such as housing, employment, schools, health, environment, and incarceration will be vital to our success.??Only until this is understood by all, and resources dedicated to addressing these causes will we ever see lasting changes.?

Lastly, on July 12, 2023, I thought about leaving and moving away from the place I call home.??Those who know me well know that was a reaction to a stressful and traumatic event and not at all who I am.??I help people feel safe so that they can develop common agendas, solve problems, work together, and grow.??I am a cool breeze on a hot summer day, a warm sip of soup when it's cold outside and my presence can shift atmospheres.??So, I am doubling down and maintaining my commitment to this city and the Bay Area.???We cannot have a city, county, or region where you feel safe and the rest of us are fearful.??If you care about the humanity of humans and I believe that you do, then we must create safe communities for everyone.??Let’s get to work!