{"id":442688,"date":"2026-08-25T04:32:17","date_gmt":"2026-08-25T04:32:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/442688\/"},"modified":"2026-08-25T04:32:17","modified_gmt":"2026-08-25T04:32:17","slug":"letters-video-shows-opd-is-too-eager-to-end-federal-oversight-2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/442688\/","title":{"rendered":"Letters: Video shows OPD is too eager to end federal oversight"},"content":{"rendered":"

Submit your letter to the editor via this form<\/a>. Read more Letters to the Editor<\/a>.<\/p>\n

OPD too eager to emerge from federal control<\/p>\n

Re: \u201cVideo shows officer shooting<\/a>\u201d (Page A1, Aug. 15).<\/p>\n

Regarding the Oakland Police Department\u2019s readiness (eagerness?) to exit the federal court oversight that began in 2003 amid the Riders police brutality scandal, the Aug. 15 article about the video footage of the fatal shooting of Jose Angel Castillo makes it abundantly clear that they need to remain under federal oversight.<\/p>\n

According to the video footage, \u201cCastillo took a step toward officers and swung one of two bladed weapons in the direction of the police while about two parking spaces away. At that point, an initial volley of at least seven gunshots could be heard, and Castillo could be seen collapsing face-first onto the pavement.\u201d<\/p>\n

The truly outrageous, indefensible part occurred when \u201cAfter a pause of one or two seconds, an officer fired another shot as the man lay on the ground.\u201d Better safe than sorry, I guess.<\/p>\n

Mark Gabin
Concord<\/p>\n

Bike plan forces cyclists into danger<\/p>\n

Re: \u201cBike lanes plan generates outcry<\/a>\u201d (Page B1, Aug. 18).<\/p>\n

I\u2019m a 14-year Berkeley Hopkins resident who believes no good deed goes unpunished with the passage of an unpopular bike lane plan by Berkeley City Council.<\/p>\n

Despite two stop signs having been added at a trafficked Hopkins intersection, the more dangerous Hopkins intersection a block away has four stop signs, and two more lanes incorporated into the bike plan: 5 feet wide, concrete divided, it will cram in generic two-wheelers, e-scooters, e-trikes, with no guarantee that high-speed mopeds and e-motos will not join the crowd. Imagine the voluntary flow of traffic with stop signs in all directions, as kids on two-wheelers, tailed by impatient e-bike riders and scooters trying to pass them, are unsure when to pedal forward.<\/p>\n

The possibilities of who arrived in what order at the busiest intersection in the hub of the Hopkins shopping district will invite an accident.<\/p>\n

Shirley Kirsten
Berkeley<\/p>\n

Bike lanes will cost Hopkins businesses<\/p>\n

Re: \u201cBike lanes plan generates outcry<\/a>\u201d (Page B1, Aug. 18).<\/p>\n

Let the record state that Hopkins Street in Berkeley is not a \u201cwide street\u201d near our shops.<\/p>\n

I have lived a half block off Hopkins for 36 years. Too many cars vying for precious few spaces, trying to maneuver through a tiny commercial district bustling with small businesses that the community wants to patronize. We already endure gridlock, cars dodging giant potholes, double-parked vehicles and jaywalking shoppers (including seniors). The city would strip our shops of all parking, leaving the nearest parking on Hopkins half a mile away. Most people will not be able to take advantage of bike tracks and will avoid the area. The businesses will lose their customers. All of which the city probably wants \u2014 new revenue from much higher property taxes.<\/p>\n

The city is destroying a beautiful, if messy, community. There are other ways to build a society that don\u2019t include making people leave.<\/p>\n

Kathe Jordan
Berkeley<\/p>\n

Our politics require a strong third party<\/p>\n

Re: \u201cTwo party system is destined for change<\/a>\u201d (Page A10, Aug. 16).<\/p>\n

While I don\u2019t agree with all of the supporting statements in the letter, I do agree change is needed.<\/p>\n

The writer concludes \u201cboth parties need to start working together again.\u201d I am not optimistic about that point; I am more inclined to support a new party, such as the Forward Party<\/a>. Check the website. They are very credible with leaders from both major parties and well-established in many states, including California.<\/p>\n

Jim Kenna
Brentwood<\/p>\n

Paper gives voice to a variety of views<\/p>\n

Re: \u201cNo place in comics for \u2018Mallard Fillmore\u2019<\/a>\u201d (Page A10, Aug. 16).<\/p>\n

Sam Van Zandt is, like others before him, suggesting removal of the comic strip \u201cMallard Fillmore\u201d because he doesn\u2019t think it\u2019s funny.<\/p>\n

I happen to find the strip humorous. I don\u2019t read the comic strips I don\u2019t find funny; perhaps Van Zandt should do the same.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s interesting that he isn\u2019t asking for the highly political \u201cDoonesbury\u201d strip to be removed from the daily paper or Sunday color comics. Is it only acceptable if it aligns with his views?<\/p>\n

We are all entitled to our views, but it\u2019s unreasonable to foist one\u2019s biased views upon everyone else. I am thankful the East Bay Times continues to provide a variety of comic strips for their readers\u2019 enjoyment.<\/p>\n

Linda Thompson
Walnut Creek<\/p>\n

Donald Trump is the one rigging elections<\/p>\n

It\u2019s ironic that Donald Trump keeps saying the elections are rigged while he is, in fact, doing everything he can to rig the upcoming elections.<\/p>\n

The voter fraud rate is 0.0003%<\/a>. I guess Trump never heard the phrase, \u201cIf it ain\u2019t broke, don\u2019t fix it.\u201d<\/p>\n

Frank Grygus
San Ramon<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Submit your letter to the editor via this form. Read more Letters to the Editor. OPD too eager…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":442689,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[34],"tags":[389,184,764,3642,7,390,391,392,332,393,181,2953,1564,143,145,144,407,975,2652,398,1689],"class_list":["post-442688","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-oakland","tag-alameda-county","tag-bay-area","tag-berkeley","tag-brentwood","tag-california","tag-central-contra-costa","tag-concord","tag-contra-costa-county","tag-east-bay","tag-east-contra-costa","tag-latest-headlines","tag-letters","tag-letters-to-the-editor","tag-oakland","tag-oakland-headlines","tag-oakland-news","tag-oakland-police-department","tag-opinion","tag-san-ramon","tag-tri-valley","tag-walnut-creek"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/442688","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=442688"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/442688\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/442689"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=442688"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=442688"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=442688"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}