I’m thankful we recalled Sheng Thao and Pamela Price. We sent a powerful message across America: even Oakland, one of the bluest cities, has its limits when it comes to tolerating incompetence, enabling criminals, and woke lies.

What is Oakland’s #1 priority heading into the new year? Is it:

1.   Balancing the budget?

2.   Fighting crime?

3.   Bringing retail back?

4.   Ending encampments?

5.   Restoring public trust in government?

“Council members Nikki Fortunato Bas and Carroll Fife spearheaded the push to defund the Oakland Police Department.” That was the headline of the June 24, 2021 edition of the San Francisco Chronicle. This occurred just as Oakland’s infamous summer of murder was starting, when 134 people were slaughtered on the city’s streets. So great was the outcry against this carnage that a majority of the City Council, who had previously indulged in anti-police rhetoric, including Sheng Thao, voted at summer’s end to fund an additional police training academy. But two Council members voted against it: Yes, Bas and Fife.

The Oakland Police Commission on Nov. 14 voted to establish an ad-hoc committee for “reviewing and assessing policies and practices related to handcuffing within the Oakland Police Department.” The Commission did not explain why they chose to review this topic at this time. No public comments were taken before their vote, nor was OPD notified beforehand what sorts of changes the Commission might be considering or when further hearings will be held.

Somewhat off topic, but so many of you have contacted me to ask how I’m doing that I thought it’d be a good idea to reply here. Without getting into the gory details, I can say that I’m okay, all things considered.