Oakland Midday Briefing Details

City officials took a van tour of the protest prior to this advisory

The following is the official update from city official in Oakland concerning the general strike day in Oakland.

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At 12:30 pm this afternoon at the Emergency Operations Center, Mayor Jean Quan, City Administrator Deanna Santana, Oakland Police Chief Howard Jordan, and Isaac Kos-Read, Director of External Affairs for the Port of Oakland, conducted a media briefing to provide updates on the demonstrations in downtown Oakland associated with Occupy Oakland and the General Strike. 

Mayor Quan, City Administrator Santana, and Chief Jordan had just returned from a field tour to assess the various demonstrations underway.

The following is a summary of the situation status as of 12:30 pm.

 Oakland Police Department Operations

  • It is estimated that there are 1,000 individuals near Frank Ogawa Plaza; we are anticipating the crowd to grow.
  • Demonstrations so far remain relatively peaceful, and we anticipate that they will remain so throughout the day.
  • No arrests have been made.
  • Chief Jordan indicated that he is concerned about a small number of protesters who seem intent on provoking a confrontation with police. He urged protesters to continue to police themselves and encourage peaceful expressions.

Traffic Impacts

  • Traffic blockage continues in all directions around 14th and Broadway.
  • We anticipate that blockages and traffic disruptions will occur throughout the day in downtown Oakland.
  • AC Transit is re-routing buses downtown along Broadway between 12th and 20th streets. Buses are being re-routed on to Martin Luther King, Jr. Way.
  • Traffic and transit conditions could change rapidly. The City advises downtown employers and employees to contact 511 for up-to-date transit information.

City Services

  • The City of Oakland is open for business and is maintaining regular business hours. This includes libraries, recreation centers, and business offices.
  • About 200 employees took the day off; this represents about five percent of the City’s workforce of approximately 4,000.
  • Overall, there is no impact to City services, with the exception of Head Start.
  • Fifteen of the 17 Head Start centers closed this morning due to staff participation in the day’s event. Parents were advised yesterday afternoon to make alternate child care arrangements. San Antonio and Lions Creek Crossing Head Start Centers are open today.

Business Impacts

  • Mayor Quan stated that the downtown business community has faced economic hardship during the recession and recent demonstrations, and she urged people to show their support of our local merchants, restaurants and establishments, particularly downtown.
  • The City has established a liaison to work with the banks and we will send regular updates to the business and merchant community throughout the day.

Port of Oakland Operations

  • Safety is the #1 priority at the Port of Oakland, and Mr. Kos-Read asked that everyone approach the day with calm and respect.
  • He reiterated that the Port of Oakland is open. This includes the Port’s headquarter’s building, Oakland International Airport, Jack London Square, and the seaport, including ferry service.
  • At the seaport, marine terminals are generally operating, although the situation is fluid. Port staff are in close touch with terminal operators, shipping companies, and other tenants.


The next update is scheduled for 4 p.m.

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