Safe and Sanctioned Alternative

Many have confused my position on the Sideshow and my attempts to create a safe and sanctioned alternative. Some of the confusion is contrived, like the erroneous reporting by the Oakland Tribune when they reported that I wanted to create a venue where people could drive recklessly while passengers hung from moving vehicles; or Mayor Brown's proclamation that a safe and sanctioned alternative is tantamount to legal anarchy and that his spectator ordinance is a sincere effort to restore peace to beleaguered communities. Let me be clear, I DO NOT SUPPORT ILLEGAL SIDESHOWS; NOR DO I SUPPORT MOVING ILLEGAL ACTIVITY FROM ONE LOCATION TO ANOTHER. I have worked to create a comprehensive strategy designed to directly address illegal Sideshows because I understand the devastating impact illegal sideshows have had on East Oakland neighborhoods.

Law Enforcement professionals have stated repeatedly that a law enforcement only strategy will not solve Oakland's Sideshow problem. Understanding this, in 2003, I convened a coalition that included Oakland's former Police Chief, the Lieutenant of Patrol, Sideshow participants, an Insurance Broker and an Architect to develop a safe and sanctioned alternative. We created a schematic of the venue, established protocols, researched insurability, surveyed potential participants; and scouted for venues. Mayor Brown attended two of our meetings and was shown our safe and sanctioned alternative and was advised of our willingness to simultaneously introduce a Spectator Ordinance. The Mayor was disinterested in either of our proposals. Although former Oakland Police Chief Richard Word and I had numerous informal conversations with Mayor Brown they were to no avail. Needless to say, I find Mayor Browns Spectator Ordinance and the timing of its introduction disingenuous at best. Moreover, the language in Mayor Brown's Ordinance is derived from San Diego's and Los Angeles' programs. It is unfortunate that Mayor Brown only took the punitive components of these programs and dismissed their comprehensive strategies.

In 2002, San Diego had an epidemic of Illegal Street racing -- they had 16 deaths and 31 serious injuries. For every 1000 people who choose to illegal street race, 49 were either killed or seriously injured. To address this epidemic, they created an alternative to illegal street racing - RaceLegal.com. RaceLegal.com has proven to be tremendously successful. The latest statistics indicate a 99% drop in organized Illegal Street racing activity in San Diego. Additionally, they have witnessed a 79% and 55% improvement in Illegal Street racing related death and injury over the past two years. For less than $200,000 a year San Diego has eradicated their illegal street racing epidemic - Oakland can do the same.

Like in 2003, today I stand prepared to work with Mayor and my colleagues on the Council to develop a real solution to the Sideshow. That will only happen with a comprehensive strategy not a quick band aide fix. To do anything less makes me wonder if the Mayor and some of my colleagues fear that a successful safe and sanctioned alternative will have a backlash on them for their years of rhetoric and inaction.