Jack London CPC 12 November 2009 Meeting Minutes

Oakland Police Emergency: 911*
Oakland Police Emergency on cell phone: 510-777-3211
Oakland Police Non-Emergency: 510-777-3333

* Note: If you call 911 while on a cell phone it automatically goes to the California Highway Patrol. Instead dial 510-777-3211 on your cell phone. Better yet, program it into your cell phone.

• Attending: Donna Drogos (president), Gary Knecht (acting as secretary in Joe Sorquist’s absence), Art Ball (Ellington), Linda & Mark Hallam (288 3^rd), Donald Schlemmer (First & Last Chance Saloon), TK Lewis (JLS Security), Carletta Starks (Community Liaison, office of Councilmember Nancy Nadel), Annie Sloan (OPD), Johnette Roundtree (OPD-PSO), and 4 police officers in uniform: C. Peters, K. Lee, J. Cid, K. Kim
• Public Safety Update: Crime stats during the past 2 months were reviewed by Officer Roundtree (PSO—Problem Solving Officer for Beat 1x—510-393-8981) who noted the following:
• Increase in car thefts: 9 more during past 2 months
• Increase in petty thefts and burglaries during past 2 months: numbers not provided
• Homeless encampment under bridge on Embarcadero was completely closed and cleaned up several weeks ago and is being monitored—so far so good
• Homeless presence at west side of Peerless Coffee reported at last meeting is being monitored—nothing has been observed to date
• Donald Schlemmer and others noted a homeless encampment under freeway at Oak Street (about 5 adults)—OPD will check out
• Donna Dragos and others noted a homeless man frequently loitering in parking lot at 8^th and Washington—OPD will monitor
• Nightclub & Nightlife Updates: Annie Sloan and others provided the following information:
• Kimballs Carnival’s issues have all been resolved to satisfaction of City
• Barbara Killey, who issues and manages cabaret permits for the City, is wrapping up business in preparation for her retirement
• Duke’s R&B (new club at 2^nd & Broadway) has not yet opened. Believe it will be a sit-down supper club. Apparently no cabaret or alcohol permits have been issued (or requested?) yet. Post-meeting research found http://www.facebook.com/pages/Oakland-CA/Dukes-RB/151564246085 suggesting club plans to open in November as “a full service Restaurant, Bar and Show Lounge. We specialize in Southern Cuisine, Quality Drinks and Live Entertainment, set in a New Orleans Style Atmosphere.”
• Clancy’s Aqua Lounge (311 Broadway) was discussed at our last meeting as possibly the location of a unlicensed cabaret (upstairs) possibly owned by John Ivey. Annie Sloan and Officer Roundtree did not have an update nor has OPD paid a visit. One attempt was made but club was closed—another is planned on Friday (Nov 13). Post-meeting research provided plenty of evidence that cabaret activity has occurred at this location (search YouTube.com for “Aqua Lounge Oakland CA” for visual evidence from this summer and Google the same for additional information (“open Mic every Tuesday with the live band…”, etc.).
• Home of Chicken and Waffles (restaurant and bar at Broadway and Embarcadero) is open late (4:00 am on Fridays and Saturdays, midnight other days), creating various noise and other problems, especially after 2:00 am when bars close. Art Ball reported motorcycle club members frequenting HCW (and other clubs) have extremely loud motorcycles, which probably have illegal after-market mufflers. Donald Schlemmer witnessed 2 fights inside the restaurant around 3:00 am on a recent Saturday night.
• HCW isn’t only place frequented by motorcycle club members; Silk Road (across Broadway from HCW; www.silkroadlounge.net) can be problematic; so can Kimball’s (522 2^nd & 215 Washington; www.kimballscarnival.com), and (to a lesser extent) The Warehouse (4^th & Webster; www.thewarehousebar.net), and Everett & Jones (2^nd & Broadway; www.eandjbbq.com). Club Anton (428 3^rd St near Broadway; www.clubanton.com) was also mentioned as having occasional late night noise.
• Trash Cleanup: Annie Sloan noted that Gary Knecht had informed the City of several places where illegal trash was dumped. Knecht reported that it had been cleaned up but noted that trash dumping seems to be on the increase in the Jack London District
• Beat 1x Priorities: Community members were asked to identify Beat 1x priorities for OPD’s attention during the next 2 months:
• Begin monitoring Home of Chicken and Waffles for late night activity especially Friday and Saturday 2:00-4:00 am
• Monitor (or continue monitoring) activities at all eight clubs and bars listed above, especially at closing times
• Begin ticketing riders of motorcycles with illegal mufflers or other equipment and cite for other traffic violations causing noise, especially late at night (Art Ball said cold weather has kept motorcycles away for past 10 days. May need to revisit issue in Spring)
• Continue (or start) monitoring the four homeless encampment locations listed above
• Continue to monitor illegal trash dumping
• Security at Jack London Square: T.K. Lewis, retired from OPD, has returned to Oakland as head of security at Jack London Square. He supervises unarmed patrol staff that monitors JLS activities on foot and via numerous video cameras throughout the Square and elsewhere. If trouble develops, OPD is called. T.K. Lewis provided the following information:
• Distributed free copies of 410 page book How to Protect Yourself from Crime by Ira A. Lipman (get your own free copy at Egghouse)
• Said most common crime in JLS was bicycle theft; said bikes should be parked in racks, which are covered by video cameras; said to report all thefts to OPD
• Reported that a JLD restaurant employee returned to her car at 3^rd & Franklin at 1:30 am on Friday night; observed a guy in her car and asked him to get out; he mugged her and robbed her; she has been in hospital; lesson is to call OPD rather than tell guy to get out
• Another frequent crime is theft of metals to resell as scrap; if welders are observed in new garage (or elsewhere in JLS) at odd hours, odds are someone is stealing metals and should be reported to OPD or JLS security at 444-2421 (JLS emergency number)
• Linda Hallam said she takes ferry home from work and has encountered an unsavory person enroute to 288 3^rd; T.K. suggested walking up Water St. to Webster St.; cameras can observe her and if she calls security office at 444-2306 and asks, someone can keep his/her eye on her while she walks home
• Cushman Wakefield (under contract to master developer Ellis Partners) has hired an new property manager: Mary Ann Starn
• Meeting adjourned at 8:05 pm

Next Meeting is scheduled for 7:00 pm Thursday 14 January 2010 at the Egghouse, 229 Harrison Street

Jack London CPC 12 November 2009 Meeting Minutes

Oakland Police Emergency: 911*
Oakland Police Emergency on cell phone: 510-777-3211
Oakland Police Non-Emergency: 510-777-3333

* Note: If you call 911 while on a cell phone it automatically goes to the California Highway Patrol. Instead dial 510-777-3211 on your cell phone. Better yet, program it into your cell phone.

• Attending: Donna Drogos (president), Gary Knecht (acting as secretary in Joe Sorquist’s absence), Art Ball (Ellington), Linda & Mark Hallam (288 3^rd), Donald Schlemmer (First & Last Chance Saloon), TK Lewis (JLS Security), Carletta Starks (Community Liaison, office of Councilmember Nancy Nadel), Annie Sloan (OPD), Johnette Roundtree (OPD-PSO), and 4 police officers in uniform: C. Peters, K. Lee, J. Cid, K. Kim
• Public Safety Update: Crime stats during the past 2 months were reviewed by Officer Roundtree (PSO—Problem Solving Officer for Beat 1x—510-393-8981) who noted the following:
• Increase in car thefts: 9 more during past 2 months
• Increase in petty thefts and burglaries during past 2 months: numbers not provided
• Homeless encampment under bridge on Embarcadero was completely closed and cleaned up several weeks ago and is being monitored—so far so good
• Homeless presence at west side of Peerless Coffee reported at last meeting is being monitored—nothing has been observed to date
• Donald Schlemmer and others noted a homeless encampment under freeway at Oak Street (about 5 adults)—OPD will check out
• Donna Dragos and others noted a homeless man frequently loitering in parking lot at 8^th and Washington—OPD will monitor
• Nightclub & Nightlife Updates: Annie Sloan and others provided the following information:
• Kimballs Carnival’s issues have all been resolved to satisfaction of City
• Barbara Killey, who issues and manages cabaret permits for the City, is wrapping up business in preparation for her retirement
• Duke’s R&B (new club at 2^nd & Broadway) has not yet opened. Believe it will be a sit-down supper club. Apparently no cabaret or alcohol permits have been issued (or requested?) yet. Post-meeting research found http://www.facebook.com/pages/Oakland-CA/Dukes-RB/151564246085 suggesting club plans to open in November as “a full service Restaurant, Bar and Show Lounge. We specialize in Southern Cuisine, Quality Drinks and Live Entertainment, set in a New Orleans Style Atmosphere.”
• Clancy’s Aqua Lounge (311 Broadway) was discussed at our last meeting as possibly the location of a unlicensed cabaret (upstairs) possibly owned by John Ivey. Annie Sloan and Officer Roundtree did not have an update nor has OPD paid a visit. One attempt was made but club was closed—another is planned on Friday (Nov 13). Post-meeting research provided plenty of evidence that cabaret activity has occurred at this location (search YouTube.com for “Aqua Lounge Oakland CA” for visual evidence from this summer and Google the same for additional information (“open Mic every Tuesday with the live band…”, etc.).
• Home of Chicken and Waffles (restaurant and bar at Broadway and Embarcadero) is open late (4:00 am on Fridays and Saturdays, midnight other days), creating various noise and other problems, especially after 2:00 am when bars close. Art Ball reported motorcycle club members frequenting HCW (and other clubs) have extremely loud motorcycles, which probably have illegal after-market mufflers. Donald Schlemmer witnessed 2 fights inside the restaurant around 3:00 am on a recent Saturday night.
• HCW isn’t only place frequented by motorcycle club members; Silk Road (across Broadway from HCW; www.silkroadlounge.net) can be problematic; so can Kimball’s (522 2^nd & 215 Washington; www.kimballscarnival.com), and (to a lesser extent) The Warehouse (4^th & Webster; www.thewarehousebar.net), and Everett & Jones (2^nd & Broadway; www.eandjbbq.com). Club Anton (428 3^rd St near Broadway; www.clubanton.com) was also mentioned as having occasional late night noise.
• Trash Cleanup: Annie Sloan noted that Gary Knecht had informed the City of several places where illegal trash was dumped. Knecht reported that it had been cleaned up but noted that trash dumping seems to be on the increase in the Jack London District
• Beat 1x Priorities: Community members were asked to identify Beat 1x priorities for OPD’s attention during the next 2 months:
• Begin monitoring Home of Chicken and Waffles for late night activity especially Friday and Saturday 2:00-4:00 am
• Monitor (or continue monitoring) activities at all eight clubs and bars listed above, especially at closing times
• Begin ticketing riders of motorcycles with illegal mufflers or other equipment and cite for other traffic violations causing noise, especially late at night (Art Ball said cold weather has kept motorcycles away for past 10 days. May need to revisit issue in Spring)
• Continue (or start) monitoring the four homeless encampment locations listed above
• Continue to monitor illegal trash dumping
• Security at Jack London Square: T.K. Lewis, retired from OPD, has returned to Oakland as head of security at Jack London Square. He supervises unarmed patrol staff that monitors JLS activities on foot and via numerous video cameras throughout the Square and elsewhere. If trouble develops, OPD is called. T.K. Lewis provided the following information:
• Distributed free copies of 410 page book How to Protect Yourself from Crime by Ira A. Lipman (get your own free copy at Egghouse)
• Said most common crime in JLS was bicycle theft; said bikes should be parked in racks, which are covered by video cameras; said to report all thefts to OPD
• Reported that a JLD restaurant employee returned to her car at 3^rd & Franklin at 1:30 am on Friday night; observed a guy in her car and asked him to get out; he mugged her and robbed her; she has been in hospital; lesson is to call OPD rather than tell guy to get out
• Another frequent crime is theft of metals to resell as scrap; if welders are observed in new garage (or elsewhere in JLS) at odd hours, odds are someone is stealing metals and should be reported to OPD or JLS security at 444-2421 (JLS emergency number)
• Linda Hallam said she takes ferry home from work and has encountered an unsavory person enroute to 288 3^rd; T.K. suggested walking up Water St. to Webster St.; cameras can observe her and if she calls security office at 444-2306 and asks, someone can keep his/her eye on her while she walks home
• Cushman Wakefield (under contract to master developer Ellis Partners) has hired an new property manager: Mary Ann Starn
• Meeting adjourned at 8:05 pm

Next Meeting is scheduled for 7:00 pm Thursday 14 January 2010 at the Egghouse, 229 Harrison Street