[http://articles.sfgate.com/2011-11-09/bay-area/30380682_1_oakland-mayor-jean-quan-quan-supporters-encampment]
Oakland Mayor Jean Quan on Tuesday asked members of the Occupy Oakland encampment to work with the city to resolve growing concerns over violence, destruction, health and safety.
The mayor, in a written statement, said, "Oakland has demonstrated its support for the 99%. Now is the time for the encampment to show its support for Oakland."
She also asked that all protesters assure Oakland businesses and residents that future demonstrations will be peaceful and for them to "isolate" violent demonstrators.
Quan's statement comes a week after a massive general sStrike organized by Occupy Oakland ended with vandalism of downtown businesses. Over the past few days, businesses have stepped up their criticism over Quan's leadership and some have threatened to pull out of Oakland or have decided not to open planned businesses in the city.
Whether Quan's statement will have any effect remains to be seen. The camp, which was once only on the grass at Frank Ogawa Plaza, now has 180 tents and has expanded onto paved areas.
The city said that firefighters responded to two fires Monday night as campers continue to use portable stoves, butane tanks, halogen lamps and a web of electrical cords under the hay.
Group 'enabled' thugs -
Doug Boxer, an attorney and former planning commissioner who works adjacent to the plaza, witnessed a knife fight at the camp Tuesday. He said campers seemed nonplussed when he tried to bring attention to it.
"Occupy Oakland does not have the ability to control a set of people who are intent on doing significant property damage," said Boxer, the son of Sen. Barbara Boxer, D-Calif. "It's enabled the thugs and the anarchists. They're just itching to get the police to take action."
Quan, in her statement, also asked Oakland residents and organizations to "reach out" directly to protesters at the encampment about the city's concerns.
To help her effort, Quan's most ardent followers urged her network of supporters to attend an Occupy Oakland meeting tonight.
At the meeting, Quan supporters are expected to put forth a resolution stating that "those who launch physical attacks on people or property are not welcome to do so at or near Occupy Oakland events and encampment."
Loss of credibility -
James Vann, one of Quan's most active campaigners, has been regularly attending the encampment's general assembly meetings. Vann said that a group of 150 people advocating for violence has embedded itself in the encampment and its meetings.
"It's a destructive force that I think has the potential of destroying the organization and certainly of losing a lot of credibility with the community and public officials," said Vann, an affordable housing and renter's activist who was on Quan's mayoral transition committee.
When people advocate for nonviolence, Vann said, members of this group shout them down by saying, "diversity of tactics."
The campers themselves remain an eclectic mix of idealists, gutter punks, military veterans and homeless people.
Is consensus possible?
Self-described anarchists and others intent on violence are definitely part of the mix, said Chris Avilla, 36, who moved to the camp from Long Beach last week. "It's pretty unrealistic for her to expect the camp to come to consensus about keeping out the violent elements," he said. "I don't know how we can."
Avilla, like many at the camp, don't believe property damage constitutes violence. Avilla has had money, his tent and sleeping bag stolen.
"Violence is when they hurt me," he said. "I'm healthy."
Others said that nonviolence is something they're striving for, even if it's not something they always practice. That includes Taylor Williams.
The self-described "crustpunk" and anarchist originally from Fort Worth, Texas, said he believes in using violence, but that he would avoid using it at the encampment or at demonstrations.
Crimes in camp -
Williams, 21, said there are people in the camp who have been stealing, while there are others who make sexually suggestive comments to women.
"There are some people who run around here who do need their heads bashed in," Williams said. But he said, "I don't want any heat brought on (Occupy Oakland) more."
In addition to the nonviolence resolution, Quan asked that Occupy Oakland set up a formal committee or specific people for the city to coordinate with.
That struck Ronald "Rasta" Jones as a good idea.
Jones has been part of the encampment since the first day and was arrested when police swept the area Oct. 25.
"This is supposed to be a peace movement," said Jones, 31, who is part of the camp's security team and publicly criticizes the defacing and destruction of property. "If we could get City Hall to work with us, it would be a pleasure and an honor."
But Jones has lived in Oakland his whole life, which he said gives him a different perspective than some.
"I live and breathe these streets," he said. Others intent on violence "they don't care about Oakland. They just tear things up and go home."
Ronald "Rasta" Jones welcomes the city's outreach, saying "This is supposed to be a peace movement."
Credit: Noah Berger / Special To The Chronicle
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