Mayor Quan Loses An Ally

Nov 14th, 2011

The mayor of Oakland has tried to mitigate her responsibility for the horrific police riot against that city's occupation by reminding voters of her activist background. Not good enough.

Via SFGate:

"Mayor Jean Quan's chief legal adviser resigned early this morning after what he called a "tragically unnecessary" police raid of the Occupy Oakland camp.

Dan Siegel, a civil rights attorney and one of Oakland's most active and vocal police critics, said the city should have done more to work with campers before sending in police.

"The city sent police to evict this camp, arrest people and potentially hurt them," Siegel said. "Obviously, we're not on the same page. It's an amazing show of force to move tents from a public place."

Siegel strongly and vocally opposed any plan by the city to take down the month-old camp in the days leading up the police raid."

I suspect this not the last defection Mayor Quan will have to endure. Here is a reminder of what she authorized.

The Oakland PD Is "Confused"

Nov 2nd, 2011

Oakland PD Chief Anthony Batts via

The Oakland Police Officer's Association has released what they are calling an "Open Letter" to that city's citizens.

It is actually a very remarkable read. Although it sidesteps issues of police responsibility for the more extreme acts of violence last week, it does raise some very legitimate questions about Mayor Jean Quan:

"We represent the 645 police officers who work hard every day to protect the citizens of Oakland. We, too, are the 99% fighting for better working conditions, fair treatment and the ability to provide a living for our children and families. We are severely understaffed with many City beats remaining unprotected by police during the day and evening hours.

As your police officers, we are confused."

I am not sure of any other police organization in this country which has, at this time, publicly declared itself to be part of "the 99%."

This is a radical development.