AC Transit Contest
Lenore Weiss, Alameda-Contra Costa Transit District
Celebrate your bus line, its passengers, and the neighborhood your bus runs through. Enter AC Transit's contest. Send us your stories, poems, or artwork. Winning entries in all categories will be posted on the AC Transit Web site. Prizes include free bus passes.See http://www.actransit.

The League of Women Voters presents two District 4 candidate forums with Jean Quan andDavid Stein:
October 17, 6:30 p.m., City Hall, Room 1
October 22, 7:30 p.m., Laurel Elementary School Cafeteria
.

City Council Candidates Quan and Stein Vie for District 4 Votes in November
To help voters choose, the Metro prints their replies to our questions, one for each of the September, October, and November issues.
Question 2: We are concerned about the escalation of violent crime in the city. What steps would you take on the City Council to develop a sound public-safety program?.

Voting on the "Strong Mayor" Issue Measure CC Factual Statement
Helen Hutchison
In 1998 voters passed an initiative for a six-year trial Charter change that took the Mayor off the City Council and put the Mayor in charge of city administration and public services, the "Strong Mayor" form of government.When the Mayor was part o.

Onions & Orchids
Peter Bond
Dear readers: This writer does search for individuals and businesses worthy of inclusion in this column, but he relies mostly on input from others. So, please e-mail your ideas for Onions and Orchids to bpbond\@aol.com.Onions to the management at K.

Violent Crime in Oakland
Jean Quan
I know from walking and talking to neighbors on every street in our district that the safest communities are well organized and have positive activities for youth. At our May rally in Sacramento against education cuts, the mother of a recent murder v.

Council Comment
Farewell
By Councilmember Dick Spees, District 4 Editor's note: We owe the success of this paper to many, but to no one person more than ourretiring District 4 Councilmember, Dick Spees. He gave generous financial help when we werestruggling.

Dealing with Crime in Oakland
David A. Stein
Reducing crime is more than catching criminals. It also requires consistent efforts to prevent crime and remove its causes.We must invest in our children, create jobs, and reduce drug use. Our City Council needs to build community partnerships that.

Street Beat
Compiled by Sheila D'Amico
Photos Clifford Stevenson
We asked this question at the Laurel Community Festival on September 7: "What ideas do you have for solving the issue of violent crime in Oakland?" "Get Jesus in there. If we could come together and get God in our lives, get unity.