San Leandro officials who backed Defund the Police want new tool for fighting crime; but police rejected it because they’re understaffed
Prop 47 reform bill not supported by two East Bay lawmakers
CITY NEWS
—DEFUND DICHOTOMY—Two San Leandro councilmembers, who last year, under the banner of the Defund the Police movement pushed for a reorganization of its police department’s budget, are advocating for greater police enforcement amid a wave of catalytic converter thefts. In an extraordinary exchange, San Leandro Councilmembers Victor Aguilar, Jr. and Fred Simon repeatedly offered police brass a tool that might limit theft, but San Leandro police rejected the idea, saying it would further drain its already depleted staff.
—The discussion in San Leandro highlights the pinch some East Bay progressives, like Aguilar and Simon, who advocated strongly for defunding the police last year are feeling today as public anxiety over rising crime is pushing the pendulum toward greater measures of law and order. The reality is even more apparent in cities like San Leandro, which has historically have an understaffed police force and little margin for error when crime increases.
—At a San Leandro City Council Rules Committee meeting last week, San Leandro Police said the proposed purchase of a bait car to entrap would-be thieves is a waste of resources and would only bring a short-term reduction in property crimes. San Leandro Police Capt. Luis Torres said a bait car is resource-intensive—requiring a team of officers for an extended period of time—and its success in capturing criminals is fleeting.
—Torres blamed the current set of laws. “The goal is to arrest and prosecutor those individuals. Nine times out of 10, the ways the laws are written, they're going to be cited out and released. They're not going to spend much time behind bars." He added, “The punishment isn’t severe enough. The gains on their end outweigh any potential punishment."
—City staff recommended against the bait car plan. San Leandro City Manager Fran Robustelli said while catalytic converter thefts are a pressing problem, the city council should prioritize deterring violent crimes and greater attention to its growing homeless problem. The city is currently without two police officers tasked with homeless outreach efforts, Robustelli said. Meanwhile, the police department is down 16 officers and struggling to adequately provide services, Torres said.
—But Aguilar and Simon were not persuaded and moved the bait car proposal along on a 2-1 vote. Aguilar twice called the police department’s opposition to the bait car as an excuse. A large number of Aguilar’s constituents are calling him about catalytic converter thefts, he said. Aguilar urged for a pilot program involving the bait car, suggesting it would do little harm to test it for a few months. San Leandro Police Chief Abdul Pridgen reiterated the program would impact his understaffed department. Nevertheless, Aguilar said homeowners paying property taxes expect police to do whatever is necessary to protect them.
SACRAMENTO DISPATCH
—EAST BAY OFFICIALS TANK PROP 47 REFORM—A bill to lower the minimum amount of stolen goods required for felony theft from $950 to $400 failed to get out of an Assembly committee last week. The rise in shoplifting, sometimes brazenly performed, has fueled calls for reforms to Proposition 47, which set the benchmark for felony theft at a figure some now say is too high. The bill, AB 1603, by Assemblymember Rudy Salas was voted down in the Assembly Public Safety Committee.
—Two East Bay assemblymembers sit on the committee. Hayward Assemblymember Bill Quirk voted no, Oakland Assemblymember Mia Bonta was present, but did not cast a vote. Assemblymember Reggie Jones-Sawyer, the chair of the public safety committee, said lowering the threshold will affect Black residents and minorities and “refill jails.” No other discussion about the bill was made committee members.
—Additional resources to fight crime is likely coming from Gov. Gavin Newsom, Jones-Sawyer said. “We need Batman or we’re waiting for Batman. Well, Batman is the attorney general. Batman is the California Highway Patrol. We do have a Batman,” he said. “When others do not do their job and exacerbate the situation because they don’t like the laws that are in place because they are law enforcement. We’re lawmakers. We made the law. They’re suppose to enforce it.”
COUNTY NEWS
BART BOARD
—SIMON RETURNS—BART boardmember Lateefah Simon returned to the transit agency’s Zoom screen last week after being forced to relinquish her seat due to a residency issue. Simon’s comments suggest the issue isn’t going away and the final result may not be favorable. While referencing her constituents, Simon said, “For right now I will continue with all that I have to serve that constituency.” “I feel like I have so much work to do,” she added, “I understand there is still a process ahead.”
—BART management incorrectly removed Simon earlier this month without a vote of the BART board or through a court. BART will continue working on the matter with outside counsel, said BART Board President Rebecca Saltzman. The underlining issue of residency, however, is not in dispute. Simon lives roughly one block outside of her district, meaning removal remains a distinct likelihood.
ELECTION 2022
20TH ASSEMBLY DISTRICT
—DOUBLE MEANING—20th Assembly District candidate Shawn Kumagai is beginning to reveal a left-of-center, moderate appeal as highlighted by two endorsements announced within the past day. Kumagai announced the endorsement of state Controller Betty Yee on Tuesday.
—The backing of a statewide officer is always a positive development for a campaign, but Yee, while popular in the East Bay, is typically identified as a moderate. The same with Southern California Democratic Assemblymember Blanca Rubio, who endorsed Kumagai’s campaign yesterday.
—The Rubio endorsement also has additional meaning. Rubio’s backstory is similar to Kumagai’s opponent in the 20th District—labor leader Liz Ortega-Toro. As a young child, Rubio’s family was deported to Mexico. Ortega-Toro was once an undocumented resident, yet Rubio backed Kumagai.
—MONEYBALL—Form 497-Late Contributions filings for Monday and Tuesday.
Aisha Wahab, 10th State Senate District—International Brotherhood of Boilermakers, Iron Ship Builders, Blacksmiths, Forgers and Helpers Local 549 PAC, $9,800; U.A. Local 342 PAC Fund, $9,800; Operating Engineers Local 3 Statewide PAC Small Contributors Cmte, $9,700; IBEW Local 525 Small PAC, $9,700; Northern Calif. Carpenter Regional Council; $9,700.
Richard Valle, Alameda County Board of Supervisors—National Union of Healthcare Workers Candidate Committee for Quality Patient Care and Union Democracy, $2,500.
Cheryl Cook-Kallio, Alameda County Board of Education—Bill Quirk for Assembly 2022, $2,500.
Kate Dao, Alameda County Board of Education—Tony Yeh of Pleasanton, $10,000.
Pamela Price, Alameda County DA—Kathy Rai of Berkeley, $1,000.
Seth Steward, Alameda County DA—Richard Richardson of Oakland, $1,000.
Alameda Forward, Alameda Yes on B Committee—O’Mahony & Myer, Inc., $3,000.
Yes on A for Livermore Students—Harley Ellis Devereaux of San Francisco, $2,500.
DATEBOOK
—HOT TAKES, HOT CAKES—If you’re hungry for pancakes and politics, I’ll be speaking at the San Leandro Breakfast Club on Wednesday morning at 9 a.m. I’ll talk about the East Bay Insiders newsletter, San Leandro’s election season, and much more.