Dimond News

by Ann Nomura

Dimond Loves Its Library The Friends of Dimond Library, City Councilmember Quan, and neighbors came out strong against Mayor Brown's proposed cuts in library services. Volunteers collected over 10,000 signatures in less than a week, 1,100 from Dimond Library patrons and supporters. Let us make this perfectly clear: We love our library and will fight to keep it open. Dimond and the City Government The Beat 22X Neighborhood Crime Prevention Council (NCPC), chaired by Peggy Lucas, plans to weigh in on the issue of redistricting and the city budget. The NCPC wants to be sure that the city budget reflects neighbors' goals, values, and priorities. They meet the last Monday of the month at 6:30 p.m. in the Dimond Library. Crime Down Throughout the Dimond The Dimond neighborhood includes parts of two police beats, 21Y and 22X. Last year crime in beat 22X declined while crime in beat 21Y increased. In 2002, beat 21Y had two homicides and more than its fair share of other violent crime. Crime in beat 21Y for the first 25 days of 2003 is less then half that of the first 25 days of 2002. The Oakland Police Department made beat 21Y a priority in 2002 and made numerous arrests. The City of Oakland's Department of Code Compliance has been very active as well in the Dimond, with over 20 verified blight complaints in beat 21Y. Beat 22X also had less crime this January, as compared with last year. The only worrisome trend in beat 22X has been a rash of home burglaries (nine since the first of the year) on and around Lincoln Avenue. Neighbors Sue the Hillcrest Motel and Win The Hillcrest Motel on the corner of Lincoln Avenue and MacArthur Blvd. has burned three times in less than a year. Neighbors contend that the arson, drug dealing, prostitution, and other activity at and around the motel endanger our whole community and put the motel's patrons at tremendous risk. In spite of years of constant pressure from the community, problems have persisted. Fortunately, Dimond neighbors don't give up easily. Three years ago they began a cordial process of crime and blight abatement with the owner. When this failed and conditions worsened, they took legal action against the owner and won several small claims cases against the business. After multiple court settlements against the motel, problems still persisted. Frustrated with the continued crime and blight in spite of their efforts, neighbors began working with Leila Moncharch, attorney-at-law. They have just won another settlement against the Hillcrest Motel owner in Superior Court. The Hillcrest neighbors say they will keep fighting until they win a peaceful neighborhood where the Hillcrest no longer creates crime and blight. Councilmember Quan Office Hours in the Dimond Hoang Le Banh, aide to City Councilmember Jean Quan, will have regular office hours in the Dimond at the Safeway Police Substation (3550 Fruitvale Avenue), from 1 to 4 p.m. on Thursdays. Visit and make your voice heard.