As long as Oaklanders embrace the “don’t snitch” mentality by continually undermining the OPD, nothing will ever change.

The more of our fellow citizens who commit crimes and go to prison/youth authority detention centers, the more who learn to “embrace” the no-snitch mentality. For many, their survival depends on it.

The number of parolees in Oakland is staggering. The revolving door back to prison and detention is staggering. The “Bakery” simply fishes in that endless stream of affected families.

Is it abhorrent? Yes. And I share in that revulsion. I share in the clarity of right and wrong. But I also share part of that history of deprivation, degradation, perversion, and horror places like the “Bakery” procreate inside the young who get exposed to it, and become enslaved in it.

I am no social missionary or “compassionate” type. I am a man with a history.

By the grace of God and intelligent parents who left the barrio in Old Sacramento California,in the late 1950s, I escaped it. To those in my clan, on both sides, who stayed there- out of 1136 of us who were alive then, over one third did prison time for any or all of the following: a) drug smuggling, b) gun running, c) prostitution, d) pimping, e) criminal assault, f) armed robbery, g) sexual assault and rape, h) kidnapping, i) extortion, j) racketeering, and k) murder. The statistics for surviving grandchildren and great grandchildren of that generational era, the stats are proportionally double.

One fourth of my clans have died from complications due to alcoholism and drug addiction, which include diabetes, stroke, heart disease, syphllitic insanity, mental illness and psychosis, and suicide.

I have survived so far. My children have survived.

But there is still a connection between me and the “Bakery”: I recognize the hold that place has in the lives of people who are captive to it still. There are “Bakeries” all over the US in every major city. Some are bars. Some are Gentleman’s clubs. Some are “that house on the corner”. Some are “Card Clubs”. The patrons have a history with the police, most which is not good. Most have a guest list that is familiar with many of the penal institutions That guest list includes elders, offspring, and their offspring’s offspring.

California Indian reservations- no different. Behind the façade of casino prosperity are the same afflictions. I was fortunate, my Indian elders two generations back fled our homeland when the government moved to intensify the reservation system. The first grandkids from that era grew up semi-urban, living part time in Los Angeles (winter) and posing as Mexican migrant labor during the spring, summer, and fall (wasn’t quite cricket to be an “Injun”).

If anyone is still reading, for me this entire “Bakery” thing reminds me of how my own family survived, what it took to “get out” and “get away”, took make something of ourselves, what it took to participate as a set of fully functioning set of adults.

The role of the police and elected officials had very little to do with that.

So how do these stories get told? How do people living on that “inside” zone hear what my own parents heard?

What are we willing to do as dedicated Americans about the malignancies our politicians are too impotent to address?

IMAGE: Bear1909 getting out the family album.8)

I see it less as an embrace and more as a means of survival. This point of view is rooted in my personal history and my grasp of what prison and youth detention does to the incarcerated citizen of the United States.

The no-snitch mentality is a learned behavior among the incarcerated and formerly incarcerated.

The more of our fellow citizens who commit crimes and go to prison/youth authority detention centers, the more who learn to “embrace” the no-snitch mentality. For many, their survival depends on it.

The number of parolees in Oakland is staggering. The revolving door back to prison and detention is staggering. The “Bakery” simply fishes in that endless stream of affected families.

Is it abhorrent? Yes. And I share in that revulsion. I share in the clarity of right and wrong. But I also share part of that history of deprivation, degradation, perversion, and horror places like the “Bakery” procreate inside the young who get exposed to it, and become enslaved in it.

I am no social missionary or “compassionate” type. I am a man with a history.

By the grace of God and intelligent parents who left the barrio in Old Sacramento California,in the late 1950s, I escaped it. To those in my clan, on both sides, who stayed there- out of 1136 of us who were alive then, over one third did prison time for any or all of the following: a) drug smuggling, b) gun running, c) prostitution, d) pimping, e) criminal assault, f) armed robbery, g) sexual assault and rape, h) kidnapping, i) extortion, j) racketeering, and k) murder. The statistics for surviving grandchildren and great grandchildren of that generational era, the stats are proportionally double.

One fourth of my clans have died from complications due to alcoholism and drug addiction, which include diabetes, stroke, heart disease, syphllitic insanity, mental illness and psychosis, and suicide.

I have survived so far. My children have survived.

But there is still a connection between me and the “Bakery”: I recognize the hold that place has in the lives of people who are captive to it still. There are “Bakeries” all over the US in every major city. Some are bars. Some are Gentleman’s clubs. Some are “that house on the corner”. Some are “Card Clubs”. The patrons have a history with the police, most which is not good. Most have a guest list that is familiar with many of the penal institutions That guest list includes elders, offspring, and their offspring’s offspring.

California Indian reservations- no different. Behind the façade of casino prosperity are the same afflictions. I was fortunate, my Indian elders two generations back fled our homeland when the government moved to intensify the reservation system. The first grandkids from that era grew up semi-urban, living part time in Los Angeles (winter) and posing as Mexican migrant labor during the spring, summer, and fall (wasn’t quite cricket to be an “Injun”).

If anyone is still reading, for me this entire “Bakery” thing reminds me of how my own family survived, what it took to “get out” and “get away”, what it took to make something of ourselves, to participate as a set of fully functioning set of adults.

The role of the police and elected officials had very little to do with that.

So how do these stories get told? How do people living on that “inside” zone hear what my own parents heard?

What are we willing to do as dedicated Americans about the malignancies our politicians are too impotent to address?

IMAGE: Bear1909 getting out the family album.8)

On August 10th, 2007 at 4:56 pm, leepro said:
Note to bear1909:

Seriously, bear, could we all have a copy of your brain? Or at least a “link” to it?

/tongue in cheek (but really admire you!)

oh my. that means access to “The Bear1909 Dark Side Follies”

There isn’t enough popcorn on the planet to get you through it!

Thanks, Leepro. You are too kind!

Seriously, bear, could we all have a copy of your brain? Or at least a “link” to it?

/tongue in cheek (but really admire you!)

Knowing his past history, the voters of Oakland collectively decided it would be a swell idea to have a socialist congressman serve as the mayor….so I’m finding it extremely hard to garner any sympathy towards their situation.

What was it Malcolm X said about “chickens coming home to roost”?……

As long as Oaklanders embrace the “don’t snitch” mentality by continually undermining the OPD, nothing will ever change.

I lived in Oakland for 15 years (2 blocks off Lake Merritt) and can tell you that black apathy is the root of the problem.

You don’t need federal, state or city funds to pick up trash, start a neighborhood watch or report a crime. Actions speak louder than words.

For gawd’s sake, don’t wait for the government to do it for you….do it for yourselves!

On August 10th, 2007 at 11:10 am, Rusty said:
Calls to end black-on-black violence are calls for people of color to unite in what should be a common goal: equality.

Rusty- get a copy of “Black on Black Violence” by Dr. Amos Wilson. Then, you might have something more insightful to say about “calls to end black-on-black violence.”

You see, Rusty, the calls are just that. Calls. And the phone isn’t ringing anywhere except in the dens and living rooms of comfortable political elites.

Final note: it is less about “equality” for us minorities, and more about “equity”. Think of it this way: equality refers to everybody having a pair of shoes- equity refers to everybody having a pair of shoes that fits them.

Now that is not to say that everybody is *entitled* to a pair of shoes for free, is it.

On August 10th, 2007 at 12:04 pm, pressto said: These people elected him and are getting exactly what they want. Hope they look forward to becoming the murder and crime capital of the US.

I beleive they have had that ‘honor’ a few times in the past.

http://video.aol.com/video-detail/id/2988893762

Beginning Saturday, California Highway Patrol officers will join Oakland police in patrolling the city’s toughest neighborhoods.

You can read the whole article, Mayor Dellums and the city of Oakland can’t seem to control their city so they need the State to come in now.

How can one be bankrupt when their assets total more than their debt?

If the assets are illiquid (like real estate or a building) it’s possible you could have substantial assets yet still not be able to pay your bills. Bankruptcy protection would allow you to keep the assets.

Happily, in this case, the judge nixed that idea and is forcing them to liquidate the assets and pay the debt.