Piedmont/Montclair letters: Bratton should mend Oakland community fences

Bratton must mend community fences

In observing the coverage and conversation around new Oakland Police Department consultant William Bratton, much of it has been focused on the narrow scope of his extremely expensive contract and fears of the infamous stop-and-frisk tactics Bratton employed in Boston, New York and Los Angeles.

Now that Bratton is here to stay, it is my hope that he can mend fences with the grass-roots citizens groups who were his initial opponents to better inform his work.

Whether his contract was worth its price will be proven by the outcomes of his tenure, and he will undoubtedly find success difficult to achieve if he views the community as adversaries of his agenda rather than allies in reducing violent crime in Oakland.

Miquette Thompson

Oakland

Children should take bow for oratory

Lafayette Elementary School, located in Oakland, took first place at the second Regional MLK Jr. Oratorical Fest. The event was held Feb. 15 at Acts Full Gospel Church.

This means that every individual class at Lafayette Elementary that participated in the event won its own first-place award for its performance. Children, we share in your success. Take time to feel great joy and pride for the city of Oakland, pride for the community and special pride for Lafayette Elementary School.

It

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Piedmont/Montclair letters: Bratton should mend Oakland community fences