APPROVED AS TO FORM AND LEGALITY
________________________
CITY ATTORNEY’S OFFICE
OAKLAND CITY COUNCIL
RESOLUTION NO. ______________ C.M.S.
INTRODUCED BY COUNCILMEMBER GALLO
RESOLUTION (1) DECLARING A LOCAL STATE OF EMERGENCY IN
THE CITY OF OAKLAND DUE TO GUN VIOLENCE; (2) CALLING ON THE STATE TO ASSIST IN ESTABLISHING AN ACTION-ORIENTED 90-
DAY STATEWIDE TASKFORCE TO ASSIST IN THE DEVELOPMENT
AND IMPLEMENTATION OF LOCAL, COMPREHENSIVE VIOLENCE
REDUCTION STRATEGIES FOCUSED ON GUN VIOLENCE
REDUCTION AND (3) CALLING ON THE STATE TO PROVIDE
RESOURCES TO ADDRESS INCREASING GUN VIOLENCE IN
OAKLAND
WHEREAS, the most fundamental responsibility of government is to provide for the safety and security of its people. Successful policing involves more than just a crime statistic. Police must earn the trust of all residents, through professionally trained police officers governed by a clear set of rules, including the overall quality of life of a neighborhood; and
WHEREAS, Oakland has experienced and increase in gun violence that parallels the national trend viewed every day in news accounts that has caused great concern to the residents and businesses of Oakland. Gun violence has been characterized as an epidemic in Oakland for ma ny years, deserving of an emergency public health response. Gunshot wounds have been a leading cause of death for young Oaklanders, especially Black and Latino youth, since at least the early 2000s; and
WHEREAS, the mass shooting on September 8, 2022, was one of the Bay Area’s worst instances of school gun violence in recent memory. Amongst a 4- school complex with 800 children, two students, a school counselor, a security guard, and two members of a grounds crew were shot: and
WHEREAS, Statistics compiled by the Oakland Police Department show that the rate of assault with a firearm is a total of 373 in Oakland. According to Oakland Chief of Police LeRonne Armstrong, as of September 28th, four hundred and fifty (450) shootings have occurred in Oakland this year. One hundred and thirty- seven (137) of the shootings are believed to be related to gang violence; and
WHEREAS, Oakland residents are living in fear and our children and families are traumatized.
The guidance and resources of the state of California are desperately needed to help communities, like Oakland, to address the rapidly rising incidence of gun crime and violence; now, and
2 WHEREAS, Government Code Section 8630 empowers the governing body of a city to proclaim a local emergency due to the existence of conditions of disaster or of extreme peril to the safety of persons and property within the territorial limits of the city caused by such conditions as air pollution, fire, flood, storm, epidemic, riot, drought, sudden and severe energy shortage, plant or animal infestation or disease; and
WHEREAS, gun violence is the cause of extreme peril to the safety of persons and property within the territorial limits of the City of Oakland; now, therefore be it
RESOLVED: That City Council herby declares the existence of a local emergency resulting from gun violence in the City of Oakland; and be it
FURTHER RESOLVED: That the City Council calls on the State of California to assist in establishing an action- oriented 90- day statewide taskforce to assist in the development and implementation of local, comprehensive violence reduction strategies focused on gun violence reduction; and be it
FURTHER RESOLVED: That the City Council calls on the State Legislature to provide resources to the city to address gun violence.
IN COUNCIL, OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA,
PASSED BY THE FOLLOWING VOTE:
AYES - FIFE, GALLO, KALB, KAPLAN, REID, TAYLOR, THAO AND
PRESIDENT FORTUNATO BAS
NOES –
ABSENT –
ABSTENTION –
ATTEST:
ASHA REED
City Clerk and Clerk of the Council of the
City of Oakland, California
2646873v8 / Attorney Initials - updated 12/28/2021
3