GLN Monthly meeting minutes 11/15/23
Barnett Hall, Lakeshore Baptist Church
Questions: Eric Hughes – hughesearthur@gmail.com

• THERE WILL BE NO REGULARLY SCHEDULED MEETING IN DECEMBER – HAPPY HOLIDAYS TO ALL
• Crime Reports from OPD presented by Community Resource Officers for beats 14,15,16,17 – D. McKinney 9872, and T. Le 9891 (Grand Lake Neighbors covers beats 14Y (Grand Lake) and 16X (Crocker))

14Y Crime Stats:

16X Crime stats:

• * Auto burglary data is likely underreported. Anecdotal reports suggest the number is not zero.
  • Some people may not be making reports and there may be a lag in data from online reporting.
• CROs present at this meeting have been on a 90 day violence suppression operation.
  • Plain clothes and uniformed officers were used to catch auto burglars.
• Residents are concerned about red light running
  • Motorcycle units to enforce traffic laws have been requested, but there has been no action taken yet.
• CROs recommend increased vigilance during holiday season:
  • Be aware of vehicles that may be following you.
  • Leave no valuables in vehicles.
  • If safely possible, record or take photos of crime in progress.
  • Video and still photos can be emailed to CROs. Add the crime report number to the email.
  • Leave a note on a car if you witness an auto burglary and have photos/video or other info.
  • Merchants w/video can contact Capt Yu or call the OPD non-emergency line.
  • If a contact with an officer is made at a crime scene, ask officer for an axon capture link to upload photos/video.
  • Does the camera registry where the residents and merchants can register their video cameras w/OPD still exist?
• Joe Hawkins and Jeff Myers, co-founders of the Oakland LGBTQ Community Center, located at 3207 Lakeshore Ave, gave a presentation on the Center and their vision for the new Lakeshore LGBTQ Cultural District. 
  • Jeff and Joe bring a wealth of community organizing and fund-raising experience to the neighborhood. They share Grand Lake Neighbors goals such as filling vacancies on Lakeshore, beautifying the plaza outside the Center, having community ambassadors and increasing neighborhood safety.
  • Oakland has one of the largest LGBTQ populations in the country. Historically, there has always been a large LGBTQ population in the Lake Merritt area. The LGBTQ community has felt safe and comfortable here. The vision for a Lakeshore LGBTQ Cultural District is not new and began in 2003.
  • The Oakland LGBTQ Community Center was founded and incorporated in June of 2017. The Center was established as a 501(c)(3) by both the IRS and the State of California in February of  2018.  Joe Hawkins, who is also co-founder of Oakland Pride, is the Center’s first CEO/Executive Director. Jeff Myers, who also worked as a volunteer coordinator with Oakland Pride, is the Center’s first Board Chair.
  • The creation of the Center in Oakland marks the first time in our city’s history that a non-profit organization has opened a multi-ethnic, intergenerational, LGBTQ community, multi-service center. The Oakland LGBTQ Community Center is also one of very few, all-inclusive LGBTQ community centers in the nation, led and founded by African Americans, and the first in the state of California. 
  • Community members are invited to make an appointment to tour the Center. The best day to take a tour is Saturday. For more information on the Center hours and the educational, social, and health related activities and programs and services that the Center has to offer, go to the website: www.oaklandlgbtqcenter.org
• There were no representatives from Nikki Bas’ or Dan Kalb’s office at the meeting due to illness. 
• Other topics discussed at the meeting:
  • Updating the OPD websites such as the CRO list. A list of 7 needed updates were given to Debra Israel in Nikki Bas’ office. No date has been provided for the updates. 
  • Lakeshore Ave vacancies: 
    • Dumpling Hours has opened at 3331 Lakeshore.
    • There will be a vintage clothing shop opening at 3319 Lakeshore.
    • An unconfirmed business is going into the old Starbucks space. 
    • Attempts to contact owners and property managers to encourage them to fill vacancies are ongoing.
  • There are a few new businesses on Grand Ave and only 1 current vacancy.
    • The Sanctuary (an apothecary, apparel, and home decor boutique) has opened at 3344 Grand Avenue. 
  • Working groups status:
    • Carol, from the Lakeshore Ave Business Improvement District, is taking the lead on the attempt to establish an OPD office on Lakeshore. The Wells Fargo representative is tardy in getting back to her on setting up a meeting with OPD. 
    • Traffic enforcement: 
      • This is a huge undertaking, and we appreciate the efforts of the group to get a handle on it. It has become an issue that is too big for an all volunteer group to address.  
      • We have, however, created a list of 8 common neighborhood enforcement issues that will be discussed with OPD. They are:
        • Speeding 11mph or greater over the speed limit.
        • Running stop signs – traveling through the stop sign at a speed of 3mph or greater. 
        • Running red lights – entering the intersection after the light turns red.
        • No license plates and fake license plates.
        • Reckless driving.
        • Stolen cars, or cars police are searching for because they were involved in other crimes.
        • Stolen license plates.
        • Double parking (excluding delivery vehicles).
    • Neighborhood cleanups: we have submitted the paperwork to receive Neighborhood Services funding for graffiti kits. 
    • Facilitate police access to video camera footage: we are researching the use of “Axon” video submission application and process. We are also trying to clarify what the current use of the ‘camera registry’ is. 

Next steps:

• Set up a meeting with Captain Yu of OPD to discuss the above issues. That meeting has been requested.