Congresswoman Barbara Lee & Congressman George Miller Announce Innovative Solutions to Fighting Crime in the East Bay
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Efforts in the East Bay to reduce high crime rates are getting a boost from a new federal initiative being unveiled today in Washington, announced Reps. George Miller (D-Martinez) and Barbara Lee (D-Oakland), whose constituents in Richmond and Oakland are expected to benefit from the new program.
Aimed at maximizing current resources, the U.S. Department of Justice is launching a new Violence Reduction Network (VRN) to enhance federal-local anti-crime partnerships.
Under the VRN, the Department of Justice will work closely with five selected locations across the country, including a joint site encompassing Richmond and Oakland, to collaborate on effective violence reduction strategies. The sites were chosen because they had violent crime rates above the national average, represented diverse geographic locations, and displayed a readiness to participate in innovate methods in crime reduction.
East Bay Representatives George Miller (D-Martinez) and Barbara Lee (D-Oakland) issued the following statements in response to the new initiative.
“Every person, in every community, deserves to feel safe. In an age of shrinking federal, state and local budgets, we must maximize every dollar to develop and implement effective violence reduction strategies,” said Congresswoman Lee. “If we want to reduce violence in our East Bay communities, we must work together. The Violence Reduction Network is an important step toward that. Yet it does not negate the need for federal resources, common sense gun control policies and community programs that give young people healthy and productive options.”
“Reducing crime is a top priority for our community. The Violence Reduction Network is the kind of forward thinking strategy that will improve our ability to combat violent crime,” said Congressman Miller. “By working together, we have the ability to harness the strengths of both local and federal agencies and build on the progress that we have already made in creating safe communities. I look forward witnessing the positive effects the VRN will have on the cities of Richmond and Oakland. My hope is that we will continue to develop innovative solutions that will make our communities safe and free of violent crime.”
Each selected location will be assigned a strategic liaison charged with coordinating efforts between local law enforcement and the DOJ. Louis Quijas was named Strategic Site Liaison for the cities of Richmond and Oakland. Quijas has a proven record of enhancing the coordination between law enforcement agencies, heading the Office of Law Enforcement Coordination for the FBI and Department of Homeland Security. Additionally Quijas will bring the expertise he gained during his 29-year career in law enforcement.
This comprehensive approach to crime reduction is being announced at the three-day VRN Kickoff Summit beginning today. The primary focus of the summit will be to provide working sessions to analyze and discuss the challenges, needs, and available resources for each location. Attorney General Eric Holder will open the summit, which is being attended by key personnel from Richmond and Oakland.
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Congresswoman Lee is a member of the Appropriations and Budget Committees, the Steering and Policy Committee, is a Senior Democratic Whip, former chair of both the Congressional Black Caucus and Progressive Caucus. She serves as chair of the newly formed Whip’s Task Force on Poverty and Opportunity.