During a recent Oakland City Council meeting, community leaders and residents voiced strong opposition to proposed budget cuts affecting environmental enforcement and violence prevention programs. Speakers from Faith in Action East Bay urged the council to maintain funding for illegal dumping cleanup initiatives and expand resources for the Department of Violence Prevention, particularly to support the Oakland Ceasefire strategy, which has historically reduced gun violence by nearly 50% from 2012 to 2019.

Alba Hernandez, a long-time Oakland resident, emphasized that cuts to environmental enforcement officers and the elimination of bulky block parties would exacerbate illegal dumping issues, disproportionately affecting marginalized communities. She highlighted the importance of these programs in promoting equity and community health.

Bill Joyce, a retired public school teacher, echoed these sentiments, advocating for the retention of environmental enforcement positions and the continuation of bulky waste pickup services. He noted that clean streets contribute to crime reduction and that illegal dumping often originates from outside the city.

Chris Moreno, a District 7 resident, called for increased public trash bins in East Oakland, pointing out the inequities in waste management infrastructure across the city. He also supported the addition of staff to the Department of Violence Prevention to enhance the Ceasefire strategy's effectiveness.

Valerie Ochoa, another community organizer, reiterated the need for funding to combat gun violence and criticized the proposed cuts to illegal dumping programs, warning that such actions would deepen existing inequities in the community.

The council members acknowledged the concerns raised, with discussions on potential solutions for improving waste management and supporting local businesses. The meeting underscored the community's commitment to addressing pressing issues of illegal dumping and gun violence through sustained funding and strategic initiatives.