Safety concerns among students at Northeastern University in Oakland have prompted the institution to propose creating its own police force, separate from the Oakland Police Department. The university aims to enhance security after merging with Mills College but faced a setback as the city rejected the proposal due to legal concerns and a lack of precedent. Community members express the need for increased safety, yet there are calls for more community engagement from university officials, reflecting broader discussions on law enforcement and public safety in Oakland.
"Oakland is not safe and it would be nice to have the extra amount of safety," says graduate student Evun Adebesin.
"Communities can't thrive. They can't expand. You can't really have a good quality of life if it's too dangerous to go outside," says Stephanie Hayden.
City Attorney Ryan Richardson says there is no precedent with what Northeastern is proposing. There is "no support for it in California law."
Newly elected Oakland City Council Member, Ken Houston stated, "They need to speak to the community, and they definitely need to speak to me."
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