.Unhappy New Year

Man killed by BART police in Oakland, lesbian gang-raped in Richmond, and Jane Brunner replaces Ignacio De La Fuente as president of Oaktown council.

Less than three hours into the New Year, a terrible tragedy unfolded
at the Fruitvale BART station. Hayward resident Oscar Grant was riding
home on the BART train, when he apparently got into a nasty fight with
a man after a heated argument. BART cops swarmed up to stop the fight
and waded into a crowd, trying to separate everyone and calm the scene
down. One officer, who has not been named by authorities, shot and
killed Grant during the incident. Although the BART station’s cameras
did not record the shooting, a witness did, and KTVU aired the footage
a few days later. Grant, it appears, was lying on his stomach and
struggling as an officer tried to put handcuffs on his wrists. The
officer then drew his gun and shot him in the back. According to the
San Francisco Chronicle, the bullet traveled through Grant’s
body, ricocheted off the ground, and reentered him; Grant later died at
Highland Hospital. BART officials are now trying to determine if the
officer meant to tase Grant, and grabbed the wrong weapon. Local
attorney John Burris, who has handled police brutality cases for
decades, has announced plans to file a $25 million lawsuit against BART
on behalf of the family. Grant, who worked at an Oakland market, leaves
behind a young daughter.

Gang-Rape Suspects Held

When a lesbian was kidnapped and brutally raped by a gang of men in
Richmond on December 13, the story shocked and horrified people all
over the Bay Area. Soon, four suspects were identified, and Richmond
police put out a very public all-points bulletin, as the incident made
national headlines. Last week, the four men were either arrested or
turned themselves in. The victim was walking near her car when the men
struck her and threw her into a vehicle, then raped and taunted her
with homophobic slurs before dumping her naked on the street. Now, the
men are in custody while police investigate the incident.

End of Nacho’s Era

City Councilman Ignacio De La Fuente has presided over the city
council for so long that it’s hard to remember a time when he was just
another vote. For years, Nacho has been part of a machine that has at
times included Jerry Brown and Don Perata, and once he was poised to
become the next mayor. Ron Dellums ended that, but De La Fuente managed
to hold onto the presidency in 2007, beating back a challenge from
rival Larry Reid. But over the weekend, De La Fuente declared that he
would not seek another term as president, which seemed to suggest that
he didn’t have the votes this time around. And indeed on Monday, the
council voted 8-0 to name Councilwoman Jane Brunner as the new council
president, and then named De La Fuente as vice mayor.

Typically, the role of vice mayor is just ceremonial — but
there is one major exception. Under the city charter, the vice mayor
assumes the role of mayor if the mayor were to leave office before the
end of his term. Rumors have spread for months that a recall campaign
may be mounted against Mayor Ron Dellums, or that the former longtime
congressman may seek a post in the incoming Obama administration. If
Dellums were to leave early, then new vice mayor De La Fuente would
finally become mayor — at least until there is a special
election, which must be held within 180 days of Dellums’ departure.

In the meantime, the new council leadership will face a host of
painful financial problems, as city officials project a budget deficit
of $50 million for the next fiscal year. To that end, the city council
has put together a wish list of infrastructure projects it hopes
incoming President Barack Obama will fund in his expected economic
stimulus package. The projects tally some $89 million in work,
including a $20 million plan to buy and rehabilitate foreclosed
properties, and councilmembers hope they will result in more than 1,000
jobs. Hope, of course, being the operative word.

Bailey Revelations Anger Oakland
Cops

As new revelations emerge about how Oakland police handled the
murder of journalist Chauncey Bailey, rank-and-file officers are
reportedly disgusted at how the department’s leadership has dealt with
the case. The Chauncey Bailey Project writes that many cops are angry
that homicide Sergeant Derwin Longmire apparently failed to report key
evidence that suggested a conspiracy to kill Bailey on the part of
members of Your Black Muslim Bakery. Meanwhile, Longmire’s attorney
Michael Rains has denounced the department’s decision to delay raiding
the bakery for two days in 2007, a decision that likely cost Bailey his
life.

Problems at the Port

Facing a steep decline in airline traffic, officials with the Port
of Oakland have announced that they will face a $12 million budget
deficit in the next fiscal year. At least they can rely on steel
shipped in to build the Bay Bridge, right? Wrong. A contractor with
Caltrans tried to unload a boat full of bridge material at the port,
but hired two unions other than the local longshore union. Longshoremen
promptly shut down the berth and refused to let the goods through,
claiming that they had the exclusive right to unload material at the
port. After several days, the contractor agreed to sail the ship under
the new bridge and unload the goods there.

Three-Dot Roundup

The US Census has announced that San Pablo has become the first city
in Contra Costa County with a Latino majority. … Cal football coach
Jeff Tedford, fresh from a 9-4 record, has agreed to extend his
contract to 2015.

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