Abebe Lemma has been a dedicated Security Captain on Lakeshore Avenue for more than 20 years, devoting 8-10 hours six days a week to ensure the safety of the neighborhood. His role involves being vigilant and alert, but he’s quick to say that in recent years, his work has become increasingly challenging due to the impact of the pandemic on Oakland and the Bay Area.

“My job is to be the eyes and ears of the neighborhood, to observe and report,” Abebe explains. With the constant influx of people who are homeless, on drugs, have mental health challenges, and carry guns, he wants to keep the neighborhood safe, but he also wants to be safe himself. Despite not carrying a firearm, he is committed to de-escalating situations if possible, but he is not hesitant to call for police support when necessary.

Before getting hired by the Lakeshore Avenue Business Improvement District (LABID), Abebe had his own security company for many years. But he found that running a company brought its own set of challenges. Now, his work consists of checking in with the 100+ businesses on Lakeshore and Lake Park several times each shift and being available to help when situations arise.

“Sometimes a business owner will call me when they think a potential shoplifter is in the store. I’ll come by, chat with the owner, and make my presence known. Often, when they see me, the person will just leave the shop, avoiding the incident for that moment,” he says.

When Abebe says that Lakeshore is his home, he means it. He takes responsibility for planting and maintaining many of the gorgeous flower beds along the Avenue. Despite facing acts of vandalism and carelessness, he persistently replaces damaged plants to maintain the shopping district’s appeal.

When I asked him to tell me a funny story, the first he came up with was when a young guy and an older guy were starting to fight over a parking space. “The young guy was acting tough. I stepped in the middle and said, ‘Come on guys, you’re both adults. Don’t do this.’ But the young guy was itching for a fight. Then the older man pulled out a gun. Fortunately, no shots were fired, and the scuffle ended quickly. Hmmm, I guess this story was not that funny.”

Another not-funny story is that at the end of June, he recounted a harrowing experience where he was badly beaten by someone known to all on the Avenue to have mental health issues.  Abebe was in the hospital for three-days. 

In light of these challenges, Abebe emphasizes the importance of vigilance by residents and shoppers: “Don’t leave stuff in your car, even if you’re only going out for a quick coffee. Windows get broken in an instant.” [Author’s addition: don’t leave anything on the passenger seat, like bags or purses, because these days, thieves are brash—they’ll break the window with you sitting right there.]

When thinking about the neighborhood, Abebe wanted to be sure to credit the active board members of LABID. “There are a group of property owners who really want to make sure that the shopping district is safe and successful—for their tenants, for shoppers, and for the residents. “I really appreciate their work in trying to make Lakeshore a better place,” he says.

Abebe says Oakland—and this general neighborhood—has been his home for 40 years. “I’m not going anywhere, but I do see that the problems are large and getting larger. If we don’t find a way to house those who need housing and help those who need help, it will just get worse and spiral down. Businesses will leave. This is not just an Oakland problem; it’s happening across the Bay Area and California.” Abebe stresses the need for a collective effort from the city, county, state and federal government to address the underlying issues contributing to the neighborhood’s challenges.