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Program for Friday January 24, 2003

Chuck Lewis of PG&E
Storm Weather Response Program

Door Duty: Joanne Blum and Joe Thomas

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Program for Friday January 31, 2003

Dr. Edward Epstein, Rotary Peace Scholar

Door Duty: Erle Brown and Stan Teaderman

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Program of January 17, 2003

Lt. David O'Donnell of the RPD

Prez Dave introduced our guest speaker Lt. David O'Donnell of the RPD. Lt. O'Donnell is Commander of the Special Investigations Unit, a SWAT Commander and has been a Richmond Police Officer for 29 years. He has a BSc. in Business Administration from Cal, a Masters in Public Administration and is a graduate of the FBI National Academy. Lt. O'Donnell is also a second degree black belt in Judo/jui Jitsu.

Lt. O'Donnell introduced the members to the City of Richmond's proposed Vehicle Seizure and Forfeiture Ordinance. The proposed ordinance, which has gone through its first reading at City Council is designed to treat illegal drug buyers and "johns" soliciting prostitutes, and their personal property (automobiles) as a public nuisance, just like a dilapidated building or trash covered vacant lot. Lt. O'Donnell made the point that illegal solicitation of drugs or sex has a very profound negative impact on Richmond residents, neighborhoods and the community's quality of life. He sighted four recent homicides of out-of-town drug buyers as ample evidence of this fact.

O'Donnell explained that the ordinance is targeted at property, cars, for several reasons:
1)Police intervention based on a determination of 'probable cause of illicit solicitation' is easier to establish than probable cause for the sale of illicit drugs or sex. The car's role as a nuisance vehicle, for out-of-town johns and druggies has been well established in the courts.
2)Targeting the property instead of the perpetrator has multiple negative impacts on the perpetrator like;
a)Removes the ability to travel to Richmond for illegal solicitation.
b)Impounds an important personal asset considerably more valuable than illicit item being sought in Richmond, and, results in direct financial loss to the perpetrator;
c)Places the perpetrator in the position of explaining the impound/confiscation of a valuable asset to "innocent third parties" like a spouse or partner, lenders and leasing companies, other owners like parents, employers & etc.
3)Property confiscation and liquidation allows both the Richmond Police and victims, Richmond neighborhoods, to participate in recovering some of the costs of illicit activities. Funds received from vehicle sales are split 50/50 between the police and the victims.
4)It is hoped that the police participation in the recovery of confiscated vehicles will pay for illicit solicitation policing costs, allowing city tax funds to be used for other purposes.

The writer notes with interest Lt. O'Donnell's business education, observing the most well proven "law" in economics is the Law of Supply and Demand. Lt. O'Donnell did not specifically say that the proposed ordinance and it's expected reduction of demand can be expected to have an immediate and similar reduction on the supply side of illicit items/activities in Richmond neighborhoods, further reducing a problem without "policing" it.

Lt O'Donnell described the success of the ordinance archetype in Oakland where it has been law since 1998. There have been no repeat offense arrests of any of the 400 solicitors who's cars were confiscated. O'Donnell noted that most of the time solicitors settle their case out of court before their vehicles are fully confiscated, essentially buying them back from police impound. Members expressed some concern about "due process" issues in the confiscation process. O'Donnell said the car is impounded and a hearing is held before a judge before full confiscation is approved. Innocent third parties, especially lien holders are protected from confiscation, essentially being paid first before liquidation funds are paid to police or victims. O'Donnell said that co-owner innocent third parties were not automatically protected from loss, but that decision could be made as part of the confiscation hearing process.

Lt. O'Donnell concluded his remarks saying that the Vehicle Seizure and Forfeiture Ordinance will make a significant contribution to improving the quality of life in many Richmond neighborhoods that are negatively impacted by illegal drug sales and prostitution. He said the proposed ordinance is expected to be law by April.

For more information about the Vehicle Seizure and Forfeiture Ordinance go to: http://www.ci.richmond.ca.us/Posted%20Docs/WhatsNews/rpd.htm.

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Last Week
President Dave rang the bell and asked Barry Gordon to lead the Pledge of Allegiance.
Thought for the Day - "Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere." The Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., "Letter from the Birmingham Jail", in Why We Can't Wait, 1963

Visiting Rotarians:

Guests:
Stoney introduced his Rotary mentor and previous club member Troy Pewitt.
George Egan introduced his guest Jerry Brockett.
Prez. Dave introduced Dave Harris from the Richmond Police Dept. and acknowledged RPD guest speaker Lt. David O'Donnell.

Announcements
Prez. Dave announced that the District 5160 will have its Conference in Fairfield April 24th-27th complete conference details can be found @ http://www.rotary5160.org./conference.htm.
The Rotary License Plate program has until march 15th to get 2,500 new sign-ups. You have more time if you thought about getting a Rotary License Plate but did not act. Prez. Dave reminded the members that a good reason to participate in the program is because our club gets 50% +/- of the fee collected by the State. More information is available @ http://www.ca-rotarylicenseplates.org.
Prez Dave announced the following actions taken by the Board of Directors:
1.Approved $2,500 International project to be headed by Ted Abreu and Board International Service Chair Joni Hiramoto to bring electricity to the Ghanaian orphanage visited by Ted Abreu and Judy Kafka during the summer.
2.Approved $2,000 for the Christmas in April project which also needs a chair. Jim Bates name was mentioned.
3.Approved $1,500 for Stoney's Australian Adventure to the Rotary International convention in Brisbane.
4.The Club will begin a canned food drive to benefit the West County Food Pantry. Prez Dave said a receptacle will be by the badge box each meeting going

The RI Convention for 2003 will be held in Brisbane Australia
Registrants from our District are eligible for the Visa known as Electronic Travel Authority (ETA) provided they hold a US Passport. They can apply online or through a travel agent. To apply online have them visit: http://www.eta.immi.gov.au/index.html.
Both a Passport and Visa are required, and you don't want to be "stopped at the gate" because a Visa has not been ordered early enough for travel to Australia.

Nominations for district governor are being accepted for the period 12/1/02 through 2/15/03. Please contact Bill Spaulding with any nominees at 925-938-0700.
The district conference will be held in Fairfield on 4/24-27/02. A Golf tournament will held concurrently

Coming Speakers
01/31/03 Dr. Edward Epstein - Rotary Peace Scholar 02/07/03 Paul Camacho, "IRS Criminal Investigations"

Recognitions
David K. read the Thank You letter sent to the club by the Earl Brown Family acknowledging our remembrance of Andy Brown.
Joey Bags was not present Prez Dave noting he had heard that Joey's shop had been burgled.

Happy/Sad $$
Prez Dave had $10 Happy Dollars for all his winnings at craps on the Reno trip.
Ex. Prez RichieB had $5 Happy Dollars for the great news that the Board of Directors had money to expend and did it!
Charlie Wong had $5 Happy Dollars for Cal being 4/0 in the Pac 10 (Basketball, and it's 5/0 at the time of this writing which ought to be worth another five bucks Charlie.).

Raffle
There was $352 at risk. Lt. O'Donnell picked Mark Howe as the rafflee in our State sanctioned raffle. Mark picked a white ball.

Prez. Dave rang the bell and adjourned the meeting.

Jim Young
Editor