Cinco De Mayo Coverage...

For the rest of us :)

Happy Fifth of May Tazer Faithful!

The Tazer is keeping a close eye on the celebrations taking place in Richmond/San Pablo today and this evening. We'll update you as events (if any) unfold.

I'm sure many of us (Tazer included) are hoping for the best today and tonight...no violence!

Somebody Call The Medic...

Folks have busted out the WHOOPIN STICK! Here's commentary from Tazer contributor Mike Ali. SIDENOTE: More than a few "city officials" were copied on this:
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The City of Richmond's Mayor's Office and City Council still circles the wagons around them in silence, hoping that the impact of the Violence Prevention Movement's boycott will simply fade away like a bad dream! However one City Hall insider stated, " The Mayor's senior staff knows that this boycott is having a direct political impact city-wide and they don't know how to damage control it. So they have chose a policy of silence until they can develop a stragety to counter the organisers of the boycott!"

TAZER NOTE: "Counter the organizers of the boycott"? Pardon my creole again, but WTF?!?!?! Why would you try and "counter" this group as opposed to WORKING WITH THEM? This is proof that the body count is nothing more than a game to some people. Are you going to "declare war" on us too? Cowards!

Their only position is the theme of 'stronger than pride' when it comes to admitting they are losing the war on violence that they have declared. As Kicking Bear, a Lakota holy man once said, "WE CANNOT LIVE ON YOUR PROMISES AND LIES!" And that is current policy from the City Government with regards to their so-called war on violence.....PROMISES AND LIES!

How stupid do they think we are! Their current mentality in dealing with the current kill cycle in Richmond resembles the thinking of country plow-pushers. Their time is running out and THEY do know it. The community is on the brink of NOW DEMANDING that elected officials get up off their asses and REALLY do something to bring this current kill cycle to end NOW!

The power of the BOYCOTT is picking in numbers daily, as rock-super star Patti Smith says, "People Have The Power". So let the kids at the City Hall play in their sandbox, and the real Men and Women of the Violence Prevention Movement will continue the work!

Remember, HONOR AND SUPPORT THE BOYCOTT!!

Yours in the struggle for Human and Civil Rights in Richmond,
Micheal Ali

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Might be gettin' a little hot in the fryin' pan huh? More as it breaks.

A TRULY concerned citizen expands on the TRUTH...

The Tazer has deemed this response worthy of front page action. A big thanks to the Dread Cap-i-tan for taking the time to compose this:

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"Seems the silver lining in today's update is that the ice cream vendor lived. Still, attempted robbery + attempted murder had a high potential for lethality.

So, what will the city council do? Why, maintain the status quo, of course! To the city council: PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE, PROVE ME WRONG!!!

As for seeing to it that Cinco de Mayo festivities happen during the day, I'm taking this to mean that official events will occur and be complete before sundown. As we're heading into summer, there's been more and more sunlight, so I don't think that's a terribly good thing to allow.

More to the point, if "Have the events during the day" is the RPD stance -- and they're counting on Mr. Sun to do most of their work -- then I'm going to recommend that everyone batten down their hatches.

RPD is going to have to be EXTRA vigilant, and network freely with CCC sheriff, CHP, and any other mutual aid cities, especially as night falls and alcohol accumulates in revellers.Any possibilty of legally abbreviating alcoholic beverage sales tomorrow?

It would only be a defensive measure, but a possibly imporant one that should be investigated if the city can do it.

Likewise, any other measures for 23rd St. in particular, such as anti-cruising ordinances, strict enforcement of loitering, or maybe even sobriety checkpoints. Sure, 23rd lets out to darn near anywhere, but in association with the CHP, the least that can be done is prevention of drunk driving."
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The Tazer LOVES the truth!

Not The Kind Of Roll To Be On...

Good Thursday Tazer faithful.

In regard to not being on this kind of roll, keep in mind we are talking City of Richmond and violence prevention...

So, yesterday's victim was about as innocent as they come:
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Richmond

ICE CREAM VENDOR SHOT IN FAILED ROBBERY: An ice cream vendor was in serious condition after being shot Wednesday evening by three armed robbers.

Residents near the corner of 33rd Street and Ohio Avenue reported hearing gunfire shortly before 6 p.m.

When police arrived at the scene, they found an ice cream truck two blocks east of where the shooting was reported. Inside the truck, officers found the vendor, who had been shot in the jaw, Lt. Ricky Clark said.

The driver told police that three men in their early 20s, one with dreadlocks, approached a side window and demanded money. When the driver refused, one man fired inside the truck, and then all three took off running, Clark said.

The 56-year-old victim is in serious but stable condition at Highland Hospital in Oakland.

The men have not been found.
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Have a familiar ring to it? And still, no move by the City to bring all of the Violence Prevention groups together to begin work on a solution AND still not a peep about the "Office Of Violence Prevention"...how's that coming along by the way? What's that you say? You don't know because you haven't done anything?

It begs asking again: How long do the City, its Council and the Mayor's Office plan to do and say nothing? Why do folks have to boycott you to get your attention? Why do you let people continue to be hurt or killed in our city? Why won't you do something about it?

Ok, The Tazer is off the soapbox now...interesting piece this AM on "Mornings On Two" in regard to what Richmond City Police are going to do in order to avoid a repeat of the violence/rioting that happend durning last year's Cinco De Mayo events on 23rd st:

*Have the events during the day *

I welcome eveyone's comments on this.

TAZER SIDEBAR: I notice there was no mention of the "Office of Violence Prevention" or any discussion about Violence Prevention as this week's City Council ho-down...not too important to you guys huh? Let The Tazer guess...you need a few more bodies for it to push those election hot buttons right?

Tuesday Updater

Good Tuesday Tazer Faithful...

It pains The Tazer to have to lead with this, but again, another Richmond murder...this time in the Iron Triangle (credit: West County Times and author Karl Fischer):
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Few leads in Richmond killing

By Karl Fischer
CONTRA COSTA TIMES

RICHMOND - Police interviewed relatives and pursued scant leads this morning after the killing of a 23-year-old man Monday night in front of his mother's home in Richmond's Iron Triangle.

Someone shot Earl Brown several times about 9:08 p.m., detective Sgt. Dominic Medina said. Several rounds hit the building but nobody else was injured.

Officers found Brown on the ground on the 100 block of West Barrett Avenue. An ambulance took him to Kaiser Permanente Medical Center in Richmond, where he died.

Brown had a criminal history, police said, but nothing authorities know about his background suggests a motive for his killing, Medina said. Detectives say the victim was developmentally disabled.

Police have sketchy information about cars and people seen in the area at the time of the shooting. They ask anyone with information about who killed Earl Brown to call Detective Terry Miles at 510-620-6860.

The killing was the ninth committed in Richmond this year.
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TAZER NOTE: Anyone in a position of power want to explain WHERE THE HELL THE SUPPOSED OFFICE OF VIOLENCE PREVENTION IS?

All the talk, all the "buzz", and still, nada...just another young person dead in Richmond. I see why the boycott is on, but amazingly, the council and the mayors office refuse to even talk to people to work on a solution.

Good job guys...you, The Council and The Mayor's office get your rocks off playing politics while bodies stack up on the city streets and families lives are shattered. Don't be surprised when people decide you're not doing your job anymore and decide to do it for you.

HEAR US CLEAR: THE TAZER WILL NOT SHUT UP UNTIL YOU WORK TO STOP THE KILLING. EVERY TIME YOU TURN AROUND, THE TAZER WILL BE THERE WITH A FOOT IN YOUR A@!, CALLING YOU ON THE CARPET.

Updater

Happy Monday Tazer Faithful!

The Tazer has been kept rather busy by the industry it works in, so there's quite a bit to get to...unfortunately, we start with yet another murder:
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MAN DIES IN MORNING SHOOTING: A 26-year-old man died after a street-corner shooting Monday morning.

More than one gunman opened fire on Michael Morris about 9:30 a.m. at the corner of Silver Avenue and Giaramita Street, police said."When deputies arrived they found him laying face down," Contra Costa sheriff's Lt. Donny Gordon said.

"He had been shot multiple times in the torso and his extremities."An ambulance crew drove Morris to Kaiser Permanente Medical Center in Richmond, where he died.Morris lived a few blocks from where he died, sheriff's Lt. Kitty Parker said.

He had no prior contact with authorities.Detectives have no leads in the homicide case, the third investigated in North Richmond this year. Authorities ask anyone with information to call sheriff's Detective Jason Barnes at 925-313-2634.
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TAZER NOTE: Pssssssssssssst...City Council....Irma...That's the TRUTH that keeps poking you in the side...you might want to pay attention
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In a less than stellar newsnote, The City of Richmond has retired their Office of Violence Prevention blogspot...we think. Tazer contributors reported the site being down, and we really just thought it was a glitch...then it just stayed that way. We'll keep you updated if anything breaks.
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The Tazer felt the need to move this info up to the main page. "Tom Carson" has come up with quite the innovative way to contribute to the efforts of violence prevention:
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We all agree that Richmond has some serious issues to consider. Please go to: http://modernizingcities.blogspot.comand read the article at: http://moderncities.blogspot.com/2006/04/modernizing-richmond-california-using.html
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The Tazer must warn you Tom: This teeters VERY close to looking like poverty pimping. Why? A technical good or service solution to a problem that affects people who don't readily have access to the tools to utilize what you propose looks a whole lot like someone trying to secure city monies for a project that most wouldn't be able to use (this is already being done quite a bit, albeit quietly). Since that's happening already, The Tazer would advise something slightly different: Adjust your plan to educate folks to be able to use your proposed idea(s), then attempt to move forward with them. Good Luck!

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Tazer friend Charlene Harris has been working hard in the areas of violence prevention and vicitms support. Here's a great event that the MASK organization has coming up:
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MOTHERS AGAINST SENSELESS KILLINGSPRESENTSA “M.A.S.K. HEALING GARDEN DEDICATION CEREMONY” & 2 ND ANNUAL COMMUNITY CANDLE LIGHT VIGIL
THEME: “NO MORE RETALIATIONS”
PRESENTED BY: SURVIVOR EVANGELIST JACKIE THOMPSON.
WHEN: MAY 13, 2006
WHERE: BOOKER T. ANDERSO ANDERSON JR. COMMUNITY CENTER

TIME: 4:30 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.A LIVE BUTTERFLY RELEASE, CHILDREN’S EDUCATIONAL BOOKGIVEAWAYS, GOSPEL MUSIC, SURVIVORS POETRY SLAM,MOTIVATIONAL SPEAKERS AND DELICIOUS FOOD.
A DAY TO PROMOTE PEACE & HEALING WITHIN OUR HOMES,NEIGHBORHOODS & COMMUNITIES.
SPONSORED BY: THE OFFICE OF VICTIMS OF CRIME/DEPARTMENT OFJUSTICE, EAST BAY COMMUNITY FOU FOUNDATION, KAISER PERMANENTE,NDATION, THE CITY OF RICHMOND PARKS & RECREATION, PUBLIC WORKSDEPARTMENTS, WORLD WALL FOR PEACE, THE BUTTERFLYGARDENERS ASSOCIATION AND MOTHERS AGAINST MURDER
PLEASE RSVP: CONTACT CAMMY: 510. 467.4241 or Email:Khadeyah1@sbcglobal sbcglobal.net

The Richmond Truth Tazer is glad to help spread the word on this event. Please attend if you can!
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Here's a piece from Tazer Contributor Mike Ali:

Greetings to all! Instead of wasting millions of dollars on the so-called City Of Richmond's Violence Prevention Office (OVP), they should be directing the monies and assets to the creation of the OFFICE OF VICTIM AND SURVIVOR SERVICES Victims and Survivors of Violence in the City of Richmond should know their following Civil and Human Rights here in the City: VICTIMS OF VIOLENCE HAVE THE RIGHT TO: "Access, Advocacy, Justice, Assistantance, Choices, Resources, Protection, Security, Education and Information." The killing fields of Richmond has created a new minority of people, whose immediate and extended families, friends and associates are in tramatic shock from the War on Violence that the City of Richmond is losing. The Violence Prevention Movement has attempted to advocate for the this SPECIAL community, however the Mayors Office and City Council has blown us off numerous times when we have attempted to advocate for our community! Again, proof that this City Government needs to take a position of leadership and create an'OFFICE OF VICTIM AND SURVIVOR SERVICES'. How many more isolated families will have to go through this hell! How much longer will the Mayor's Office and City Council sit in SILENCE and ignore our families!? They just do not give a damn, that's what I keep hearing over and over again! And people ask WHY the Violence Prevention Movement is Boycotting! Because the City Government of Richmond feels that these families Civil and Human Rights are unimportant. Their lack of leadership has taught our families and the real Violence Prevention Movement that they will not and do not care ADDRESS OUR ISSUES AND CONCERNS! It is now day 31 of the Boycott! As Dr. King stated:" WE SHALL OVERCOME!" 'Honor and Support the BOYCOTT' Yours in the Struggle for Human and Civil Rights in the City of Richmond, Micheal Ali
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Preach on Brother Ali...if the Tazer has anything to say about it, this foolishness will stop SOON.