How dangerous is the crime concern in Oakland?
The metropolis’s largest non-public employer is now advising staff to remain within the constructing for lunch as a result of worries about robberies.
“Unfortunately some of these things do happen and I don’t think we should let some of the bad elements make people live in fear or work in fear,” mentioned Neto Brossard, who works in downtown Oakland.
NBC Bay Area has discovered a memo was just lately despatched to Kaiser workers on the firm’s downtown headquarters asserting the brand new suggestions.
Kaiser in a press release to NBC Bay Area on Friday mentioned “In response to the current crime environment affecting all businesses and the entire community of Oakland…we continue to provide guidance to keep employees as safe as possible.”
Others who work within the space mentioned security is an actual concern and staff ought to be given an choice to work to do business from home.
“I would think maybe at least on a hybrid schedule — maybe once a week or something like it would be nice to see the employers work with the employees,” Brossard mentioned.
Oakland police mentioned it plans on rising patrols within the space and police brass are assembly with Kaiser executives to coordinate improve safety.
Mayor Sheng Thao can also be weighing in and launched the next assertion on Friday:
“Thao repeatedly collaborates with enterprise leaders on our shared imaginative and prescient of selling protected and thriving Oakland. Kaiser is a valued employer and accomplice in addressing group security.
Oakland is making progress in addressing group security in our enterprise districts the place a lot of Kaiser’s services are positioned. There are extra cops and security ambassadors on the road than anytime previously two years. At the top of final yr, Oakland skilled important reductions in property crime in enterprise districts throughout the town.
Oakland will stay vigilant and work collaboratively to make sure this downward development continues and that extra assets are delivered to the desk.”
Meanwhile, Blue Shield additionally positioned in downtown Oakland mentioned it’s now paying for rideshares for its staff, alongside with parking and personal safety to handle security challenges.
In a press release, Blue Shield mentioned partially “We stay hopeful and we’re relying on metropolis, county and state leaders coming collectively with the group to enhance security and revitalize our metropolis.
Here is Kaiser’s full assertion to NBC Bay Area:
In response to the present crime surroundings affecting all companies and your complete group of Oakland, in addition to different communities throughout the nation, we proceed to supply steerage to maintain staff as protected as attainable. Kaiser Permanente is dedicated to making sure the protection and safety of our staff and physicians throughout all of our places. We frequently monitor our environments for considerations, evaluate our practices and strengthen them wherever attainable. We are additionally dedicated to native enterprise house owners who’re affected by considerations about rising crime in Oakland and we proceed to encourage our staff to assist native companies whereas taking precautions to guard their private security.
Oakland is our nationwide headquarters, and we’re proud to serve the local people. We are working with metropolis officers and group leaders on how we will assist the Oakland economic system and deal with crime whereas we preserve our unwavering dedication to the town.
Kaiser Permanente is a proud co-founding member of Oakland Thrives, whose purpose is to make Oakland the healthiest metropolis within the nation. In August we introduced a $5 million grant to the Oakland Thrives Leadership Council (from a Kaiser Permanente fund on the East Bay Community Foundation) to assist assist Rise East, the initiative to enhance well being and create equitable alternatives for East Oakland residents, together with reasonably priced housing, protected communities, and financial alternative.
Additionally, final week, Kaiser Permanente introduced a brand new $9 million grant over the subsequent three years to the Oakland Unified School District to develop applications and companies that can assist college students and workers lead more healthy lives. This is the most recent in a stream of multi-year Kaiser Permanente grants to OUSD totaling $60 million since 2010. The grant will assist school-based well being facilities, social emotional studying alternatives and psychological well being screening within the District’s 77 colleges, expanded well being training for college kids in any respect grade ranges, and workers wellness alternatives.