I went to the vigil for the four slain Oakland police officers tonight.  Listening to the speakers, walking around the neighborhood and seeing the outpouring of support from people of all ethnicities got me thinking..What circumstances create a violent criminal with no regard for the rule of law or civility?

There have been many conversations about how society, the education system, the penal system, the parole system, etc. have failed and created or allowed criminals such as Lovelle Mixon to exist.  But what if those conversations are missing the point?

A young man, 20 years old commits a car jacking, is jailed for assault with a deadly weapon, allegedly kills someone, serves 6 years in jail.  Within months of being paroled, allegedly rapes 5 women, one who is 12 years old and then shoots two police officers after they make a routine traffic stop and he presents them with a fake drivers license.  All this before dying in the exchange of gunfire in which two additional police officers are killed and he also endangers his 14 year old sister who is safely removed by the police officers from the apartment in which he is hiding. Facts are, that the apartment belongs to another sister and he is shooting from within a closet with an AK 47 which easily penetrates the walls at this distance, not just the wall in the apartment where he is hiding mind you, but continuing to travel into adjoining apartments and possibly out into the streets. He is firing with complete disregard for human life, in fact, he is trying to take as many lives as possible before he loses his.

This leaves a lot of questions still to be answered, but one that is without question is, “Was he a monster.  Not according to his family, who were harboring a known felon with a no bail arrest warrant. Why did they do that?

I have spent a lot of time thinking about what Lovelle Mixon represents to the City of Oakland and the state of our society.  He is an extreme example of the evil that can lurk in the heart and mind of an individual and it’s especially heinous because four police officers had to lose their lives to find this out.  But what about the one individual he allegedly killed or the 5 women he allegedly raped (DNA evidence indicates that he did commit the rapes)? Are their lives or the effects of his crimes on their lives any less tragic?

How does a lack of education or strong family life affect his actions? How does time in jail or parole bear responsibility for his actions after leaving custody? Perhaps he would have committed the rapes (and many more) and even more murders had he not spent 6 years incarcerated.

Who is really responsible for his actions?  Lovelle Mixon is an unusual criminal in that there are many young high school drop outs that commit crimes against society yet do not reach the point where they are shooting at police officers. Even more, there are plenty of high school dropouts that never commit any crimes, get jobs, have families and live a non-eventful life as upstanding citizens.

Perhaps this was the Oakland version of a perfect storm. What if the officers had taken an additional 15 minute break prior to their arriving at 74th and MacArthur Blvd? Lovelle Mixon would have already parked his car and been out of sight, no where near the location where the officers were killed. What if he had found a different location to park his car or hung out a bit longer at his buddies house prior to going to his sister apartment.

Perhaps this is one of those terrible events that are so difficult to comprehend because it is so out of the ordinary, like the Columbine High shooting.  Perhaps it is so difficult to comprehend because it is so rare for all of these circumstances to come together. We seek to understand how someone could have such reckless disregard for the police, but in the mind of Lovelle Mixon, are the police any more worthy of respect than the women he raped or the person he killed or the victim of his car jacking?  Someone like Lovelle is beyond caring what the rules are to such an extreme that his violent death was inevitable, maybe not by the bullets of the police, but a violent death was awaiting him somewhere, somehow.

Looking back on the circumstances, I can only presume that his family raised him poorly, their statement that he “was not a monster” was either delusional or trying to save face for themselves. At least they had the decency to offer their condolences to the officers families and the family that is the Oakland Police Department. If they didn’t realize what a violent criminal he was, they surely know now. But it is still a question of why did they continue to protect him when the safest situation for everyone was Lovelle Mixon in jail.

Someone is an accomplice to Lovelle Mixon and for that they should pay a price. They should pay the price that Lovelle Mixon should be paying right now.

submitted by David Tom

Is it just me that feels like i am being held hostage by the terminator and our legislators?  Is it just me that feels pissed that we can’t get one GOP vote to allow Californians  to access the funds that we as citizens have paid into state coffers, and need to run this great state.  I feel like the ploys of layoffs and mandated days off without pay is fowl to say the least.  Closing a place like DMV and other state offices, that bring in revenue, doesn’t seem economically viable for this state.  You don’t make money by closing the store.  Every small business owner knows this simple rule.

I am miffed at the fact that this is such a difficult task to accomplished.  We as Californian are responsible for to pay our bills , pay our taxes and pay their salaries.  The more I look at the curent situation the more I long for the blandness that was Gray Davis.  I am insulted by the Republican revolt and refusal to honor their oath to represent and due the work of the state for it’s citizens.  They have pigoen hold on the vote and they are not letting go.  This is wrong, and i know that this is not what your constituancies elected you to do.  We are at four and a half months and you got us picking at bones, I think you have made your point.  Now it is time to do your job.  I feel like the GOP has been allowed to run this country into the groun and now we are letting the 8 largets economy in the world down the same path.  I personally have had enough.  This positioning is selfish and detrimental to the state in every way.  It is time for our representatives to get it together.  NOW!!! Be responsible and do what you were elected to do.  The Business of the state, because this current stalemate is bogous and stiffeling to the country.  I do beleive that as Cali goes so does the country.

I have had the fortune of being able to grow up in THE TOWN!  I have always had a certain pride for the potential of Oakland and also a nostalgic love for what Oakland was growing up.  As a youth I remember that Oakland had at least an active downtown, proud citizens, and strong union oriented/ mom and pop work force which served as the life blood to this urbanized colorized city.  Oakland has had a long history of fighting for the people and for the protection of peoples individual rights, but we need to recognize that we have a part in the rise or demise of Our Home Town.  We need to realize that cop killings and Black on Black crime are a reflection of a greater social issue affecting us all in America and the world currently (remember Paris was Burning Just a little while ago..remember?). We need to acknowledge that Business’s have fled Oakland for a number of reason for decades. While many of us sat passively and watched these business’s disappear and wither away (both big industry and Mom and Pop).  How can this happen under the radar of Oakland city officials?    I an insulted that because of our political PCness we stifle our own progress and censor the voice of this City.  Now I am not previ to the back room conversations that go on concerning the city’s vitalization, but I am concerned that  every time the spot-lite hits Oakland our city officials find a way to squelch the light(The Wayan’s, HBO,etc…)?  Can you tell me why we wouldn’t want the cash infusion that Hollywood brings.  The effect of Hollywood’s presence in the town would do much for the image and economics of Oakland (like the Raiders return).  The exposure alone would boost the self image of Oakland and it’s citizens.  The fact that  a series was an option meant reoccurring work for many support industries (food service , hospitality, transportation, yadda yadda fill in the blanks,) as well as, the artist and technicians who might profit from being able to work locally rather then take our talents elsewhere. Beyond the fact the this is more then a shovel ready project we could expodite this project and be self sufficient prior to what may or may not come our way with the current regime change.  Look the decision makers need to realze that Oakland is beautiful and so are it’s residents. Oakland has alot to show the world and we do it in our own way all the time.  Wouldn’t it be nice to exhibit some control of the perception of the town to the world and take advantage of oppurtunity when it comes knocking, rather then letting the CNN depict what they think we are???

People need money! people need Jobs!people need to be included in the revitalization of the Town, and we as citizens aren’t affraid to show our true colors so why are our officials.  Why does everyone who egarly walk into city hall with a project (excluding the Raiders and loft developer ) wind up disgruntally running away from Frank Igawa Plaza? Why?

So it’s come to this…the Republicans have nothing to say about the serious issues facing America so they create baseless and useless conflicts in the media over lipstick!.  John McCain himself used the analogy with Hillary Clinton and no one raised a fuss.  I guess the old adage about there being “No bad media coverage” is being utilized to the fullest by McCain/Palin.

If John McCain is such a war hero, then why is he hiding behind the skirt of Palin?  It just goes to show that simply being a prisoner of war or a decorated veteran doesn’t make you fit to lead a country.  McCain/Palin offer nothing new for America.  John McCain wants to keep us on the Bush road to poverty and Sarah Palin wants us to go back to the stone ages of religion that treat women as chattel.   John McCain and Sarah Palin are the farthest thing from reformers.  It funny how the past 8 years McCain has been the dutiful Republican but now will denounce everything he stood and voted for during the Bush presidency…talk about a flip flopper!  He will say anything to get elected.

Say what you will about Monta, but I don’t think he’s worth the price. He’s not the guy to lead the Warriors deep into the playoffs (don’t even think about the Finals, it’s the West). He went from making $700K a year to $10 million a year…that’s a lot of coin to give someone for just scoring points. He’ll never be a point guard, will not be able to replace Baron’s leadership skills, doesn’t play defense and now hurts himself

What? Monta fall down!

out of season and lies about it. There were no other offers for Monta so the Warriors didn’t really know what his market value was, they basically just bid against themselves and wasted money. Monta could have been signed for $50 Million, which is still a bucket load of money for anyone, but especially someone that is not the leader of the team.

Recall? Wow… isn’t that how the gubernator got his job? Let me ponder this for a minute. It is an interesting thought. Well No! he has not gotten us a budget on time like every other governor in California, This is no surprise, so that doesn’t affect my radar, but come to think of it there are other situations that he has gotten away with on the backs of Californians that sets off my bells and whistles. For example; beep: He has essentially jacked the schools since he’s been in office. Beep Beep: The threat to cut the hourly rate of state employees while they legislature bickers over the budget. Beep, Beep Beep: Education and vocational school grant won’t be paid because of budget impasse. Beep Beep Beep Beep: Roads, streets, highways, bridges and levees are in disrepair, across the state while tolls are increasing. Beep…. energy and food cost are thru the roof in a state where we produce all these resources and lead the world in innovation, production and conservation. I can no longer hear you for all the beeping, so again I repeat. Recall??? Hmmm… No how about do you job!!! Deflate your peck’s, take a seat at the table(no the cigar tent) and get some state business done. Because let’s face it Arnold didn’t want to go to the GOP convention anyway…so work it out before you get terminated by your own devices. Check out the article
Micblake out

Collectively I think we can acknowledge that we are in an economic depressed period round these parts. I feel no need to go over all the surface situations facing us in the Town. I know we each of us have our own fiscal burdens, but I would like to talk about the fact that what was once an anomaly in reporting is now the hype of the night time news. When daily shooting, banks robberies, and now this “Strong arm robberies” theme as the lead off story for the news morning, noon and night I believe we are playing on a slippery slope. Since the broadcasting of the take over robberies in the area it is obvious to me that the drama surrounding these crimes seems to be drawing more players to the game. This accompanied by the fact that almost every story ends with no arrest and few leads. There is no wonder that the method is being copied all over the area. Don’t get it twisted I like to know what is going on in the Town, but all these press conferences with no solution is more of the same do nothing bull shit we have been dealing with for years. This approach has gotten us is one crew in Fremont (originals and inside job) and one crew in Oakland (one of the copycats), with God knows how many unsolved robberies on record. Look I am a taxpaying, land owning, Oaklandite and it is killing me that once we get back to business in the town the powers that be can’t help and protect us when we go to dinner, have coffee, get a pedicure etc… Really !. Does anyone up there see that these strong arm robberies are a result of desperation and hype. Let me cut to the chase can we get some freakin’ beat cops on the streets, who can know what is going on the in the neighborhoods Please! Please get out of the cruisers and get on the streets, be of the streets so that you can know what is going on in the streets, and maybe we can get some control of our streets.

Oh yeah and drop that whole asshole thing it doesn’t work with the uniform, when the uniform works for us.. ..feel me!

How come when a 17 year old girl in the city is impregnated it’s a moral crime, a social burden and the parents are negligent, but in the GOP it is a celebration of the American family. Do they listen to themselves… Abstinence didn’t work obviously so i suggest before Palin tries to leave Alaska she might want to fire that current life class back up and hand out some trojans, then maybe you can talk to me about running for office. Just because you arranged a shotgun wedding for Bristol doesn’t hide the fact that somewhere the message was lost in transmission and the state in one way or another will be helping to care for Bristol’s newborn. Weather it be Alaska or god forbid the DC it looks like the taxpayers will be paying the bills ( at least for the moment). Sounds like top shelf welfare to me Mr. Wannabe President. So can anybody tell me what up with that.