Oakland Residents Concerned About Police Layoffs
OAKLAND, Calif. (KCBS) Oakland police said the layoff of 80 officers last week did not affect their response to a knife-wielding man, who was killed by Oakland and BART police on Saturday near the Fruitvale BART station.
But residents in the area are expressing some concerns about what the diminishing police presence will mean for public safety.
Juana Nieva lives at the corner of 33rd Avenue and East 16th Street and has called Oakland home for 30 years.
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"We need more officers because everyday, these things are happening," she said. "Young people are selling drugs. I hear gunshots."[pullquote quote="We're going to have more problems because we don't have enough help." credit="Oakland resident Juana Nieva"]
A community meeting is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. at St. Elizabeth School on Thursday, where a petition drive will get underway.
"We are going to sign up to have more officers. So that way, people will feel more safe," said Nieva. "Because even now, teenagers are drug dealers. And we're going to have more problems because we don't have enough help. They are coming from other cities to help Oakland."
Nieva said her neighbors are trying to band together to help out and make things safer in her community.
