This letter was recently sent to middle and high school principals in the area for communication to students and parents about unacceptable activity at the intersection of MacArthur Blvd. and Fruitvale Ave.
Dear Middle and High School Principals,
There is an increasing concern in the Dimond Business District regarding the behavior of youth at the MacArthur Blvd. and Fruitvale Ave. intersection, a major AC Transit hub. This concern specifically involves teenagers 13 to 18 years of age. It seems many of these teenagers are from various Oakland area middle and high schools, and are spending several hours in the afternoon socializing with friends at McDonald’s, 2208 MacArthur Blvd., and at the bus stop in front of Cybelle’s Pizza, 3465 Fruitvale Ave. Observed and documented behaviors include shouting, throwing objects at cars, walking in front of cars diagonally across the intersection, crossing against lights, rolling cigarettes at the northeast corner of Fruitvale and MacArthur (at the side of Radio Shack, 2200 MacArthur), and acting aggressively toward pedestrians and cars. Additionally, OPD Community Policing has reported that several fights have occurred behind McDonald’s and in the back parking lot of Bank of America, 2154 MacArthur Blvd.
This disruptive behavior is having a negative effect on the Dimond District. Residents, visitors, bus riders, drivers, and merchants are impacted by this behavior and our elder citizens, shoppers, and business owners feel intimidated. Traffic flow is being disrupted.
At a special meeting on November 16, representatives from Oakland Police Department, Neighborhood Services, OUSD Police, AC Transit, Alameda County Supervisor Keith Carson’s Office, Oakland City Council District 4, Dimond Improvement Association, and Dimond Business & Professional Association met to discuss this issue.
It was decided that several actions would be taken to resolve this situation. The first action is this letter alerting students, parents, and principals of surrounding schools regarding this important concern about student and youth behavior at the intersection of MacArthur Blvd and Fruitvale Ave. between the hours of 3 p.m. and 5 p.m. on school days. This disruptive and belligerent behavior is unacceptable. It is especially important that the fighting does not escalate to further violence.
We welcome youth to visit Dimond, but we ask for a change in attitude and activity. This community embraces youth, residents, visitors, and elders, and all people should feel comfortable in shopping, walking, riding the bus, bicycling and driving through our district. (End of letter.)
This letter was approved by the board members of the DIA and DB&PA, and signed by representatives of the Dimond Improvement Association (DIA) and the Dimond Business and Professional Association (DB&PA).
For comments or concerns about youth behavior in Dimond, please contact Bruce Stoffmacher, Community Liaison, Office of Councilmember Libby Schaaf, District 4. Tel: 238-7041; email: bstoffmacher@oaklandnet.com.
Email comments to CarrieLCampbell@hotmail.com or krussell@russell-gordon.com.
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