Five Years of Measure Y Part 2: Street Outreach

For part 2 of Sandhya Dirks' report on Oakland's Measure Y, now five years since it was passed, Sandhya took a closer look at another integral part of the violence prevention initiative: street outreach teams.  The teams are made up of ex-gang members and ex-convicts that are using their street cred to stop the violence where it starts.  They go out at night, and will reach out to "loved ones," basically anyone that they think could use their help, which means they refer them to Measure Y service providers.

These outreach teams were tapped to join a new initiative that is called the Oakland Gang Reduction Intervention and Prevention Program, or O-GRIPP.  The program is modeled after Ceasefire, a very hands-on, and focused approach to dealing with violence already tried in cities like Boston and Chicago.  Ceasefire gets mixed reviews, and in Oakland's case, some wonder why a new initiative is being partly funded by Measure Y, without voter approval.

Listen in on Sandhya's piece, and let us know YOUR thoughts.  How do you feel about a program like O-GRIPP?  What would you propose as a possible approach?  Comment here at this blog, or by calling in at (415) 264-7106.  You can also email us at news@kalw.org.