By Kelly Rayburn OAKLAND - Mayor Ron Dellums on Monday floated the possibility of a new property-tax increase to pay for additional police officers, as police staffing remains a hot-button issue in Oakland.
His remarks came as the city took a big step toward reaching — and possibly exceeding — the department's authorized level of 803 officers by the end of the year: 93 trainees began simultaneous academies in Oakland and Santa Clara County on Monday.
not added the 63 officers. Oakland is also facing a lawsuit about whether it has implemented Measure Y properly. An initial hearing on the lawsuit is set for May 29.

Oakland Mayor Ron Dellums dropped a bombshell on Monday, announcing a plan to sponsor a November ballot measure to boost the police force by an additional 150 officers over the next three years by raising property taxes.
It's the biggest news from Dellums since he took office in January 2007, and if he can pull it off, it would be the best thing that's happened to the city of Oakland for years. And in my eyes, Dellums will have made the transformation from Oakland's mild-mannered Quiet Mayor into the mayor with a big red "S" on his chest.
b when he made the comment, and hesitant about giving the impression that he was some sort of Rudy Giuliani-style law-and-order mayor.

A man found shot in the Oakland Hills was the city's 53rd so far this year but there is another number that is giving Oakland some hope.
Even if most of Oakland's new police recruits make it all the way through graduation, it will finally put the city at its 803-officer mark. The number is a magic number because for the first time in a long time, the department will be fully staffed.
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OAKLAND, CA - Monday morning 94 police cadets are being welcomed to the Oakland Police Department in an effort to increase the force to 803 officers. A number the city hopes to reach by the end of the year.
The incoming cadets nearly double the rate of incoming officers and is a result of an intense new recruiting program to get more officers on the streets of Oakland.
nt Deaths of Abalone Fishermen Raises Concerns

By Pamela Tom OAKLAND, CA (KGO) - A Sunday night murder in Oakland brings a new high in homicides for the year. Oakland's top brass is swearing in enough new cadets to nearly double the incoming rate of officers. This is coming as the homicide rate has nearly doubled - 53 this year, compared to 37 at this time last year. The total number of homicides for all of last year in Oakland was 127.
Two police academies are getting underway on Monday with 97 cadets in all. Even though some of them may not graduate, the department expects them to reach full capacity by the time the cadets' graduate in November.
of other slower departments. I felt the activity level here is really high," said Michael Arsanis, Oakland police cadet.

By Holly Hayes Toilets that were manufactured before 1994 - using 3 1/2 to a whopping 7 gallons per flush - represent huge water hogs in many households.
New, high-efficiency models use as little as 0.8 gallons per flush (gpf) for liquid waste, which adds up to big savings on your water bill, not to mention being Earth-friendly. Even more enticing: Most water utility districts in California offer rebates to make replacing older models quite attractive.
rrent federal standard of 1.6 gpf - and certainly doesn't meet the Santa Clara County goal of having 1.28 gpf (or lower) toilets in every home.