Oakland Police Union Wondering Why City Employees Are Being Encouraged To Join “Occupy” Protest
After Oakland Mayor Jean Quan ordered police to clear that city’s “occupier” protest out of a park, which ended in violence after the protesters fought back against the cops, she began backtracking to the point where she’s now not only giving the protesters free rein in the park she’s also giving city employees the day off to join the movement’s general strike.
All the city employees, that is, except for the cops. And they’re feeling a little confused about the whole thing:
As your police officers, we are confused.
On Tuesday, October 25th, we were ordered by Mayor Quan to clear out the encampments at Frank Ogawa Plaza and to keep protesters out of the Plaza. We performed the job that the Mayor’s Administration asked us to do, being fully aware that past protests in Oakland have resulted in rioting, violence and destruction of property.
Then, on Wednesday, October 26th, the Mayor allowed protesters back in – to camp out at the very place they were evacuated from the day before.
To add to the confusion, the Administration issued a memo on Friday, October 28th to all City workers in support of the “Stop Work” strike scheduled for Wednesday, giving all employees, except for police officers, permission to take the day off.
That’s hundreds of City workers encouraged to take off work to participate in the protest against “the establishment.” But aren’t the Mayor and her Administration part of the establishment they are paying City employees to protest? Is it the City’s intention to have City employees on both sides of a skirmish line?
It is all very confusing to us.
Meanwhile, a message has been sent to all police officers: Everyone, including those who have the day off, must show up for work on Wednesday. This is also being paid for by Oakland taxpayers. Last week’s events alone cost Oakland taxpayers over $1 million.
The Mayor and her Administration are beefing up police presence for Wednesday’s work strike they are encouraging and even “staffing,” spending hundreds of thousands of taxpayer dollars for additional police presence – at a time when the Mayor is also asking Oakland residents to vote on an $80 parcel tax to bail out the City’s failing finances.
All of these mixed messages are confusing.
I’ll say it’s confusing, and the idea of giving public employees a day off (at a heavy expense to the taxpayers) is tantamount to subsidizing an overtly political movement. Agree with the occupiers or not, the city’s actions aren’t any more appropriate than if they gave everyone the day off to attend a Barack Obama fundraiser. Or a tea party protest.
Tags: Asshats, jean quan, oakland, occupy wall street
