Phil Matier: Oakland Mayor's Budget Calls For More Police On Streets
OAKLAND (KCBS)— Oakland Mayor Jean Quan unveiled a new two-year budget on Wednesday that calls for more police officers on the streets. The announcement comes one day after 5 teenagers were arrested in connection to the murder of Quinn Boyer, an off duty paramedic who was driving in the Oakland hills.
With four new academy classes, the police should be on the streets in full force in two years time.
It's good news for the city, but it still leaves them about 100 officers shy of where they were before the mass layoffs a few years ago. They're trying to pull themselves out, but it's going to be slow.
This also means we'll start seeing cuts to head start programs and with programs for the elderly, but I think that's because of the sequestration cuts and cuts from the feds.
Oakland Mayor Quan Unveils 2-Yr Budget, Includes More Police On Streets
The last few reports we've had have been pretty positive. There's big money coming in with the aid of some Chinese investors to the city's waterfront and Jack London Square. Retail and revenue are up, so they are bringing in money to the city.
They're also getting rid of furlough days that closed both City Hall and the public libraries for 11 days last year. City workers as a result will see their pay go back up about nine percent.
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