“It is unbearable to work and live in the area,” says Hugo Guerrero, a business owner in Fruitvale and CEO of Asociación de Comerciantes y Profesionistas de Oakland (ACPO). There is a lot of prostitution, drugs and robberies,” adds Guerrero. “Almost every day you see a business robbery.”

Last week, Oakland Mayor Jean Quan, Councilmember Ignacio de la Fuente and a group of Fruitvale merchants and police officers gathered at Otaez restaurant for their fourth meeting to improve safety in the area. The popular restaurant, located on the corner of International Boulevard and 39th Avenue, was where Jesus "Chuy" Campos was shot and killed. Campos, 58, was shot on April 8 as he was opening his restaurant. Campos´ death shocked the community and helped motivate Fruitvale merchants and residents to take more direct action against crime.

The meeting was also an opportunity to announce the installation of 100 high-definition video cameras designed to capture any crime on camera.

“After the killing of ‘Chuy’ Campos, the business owners in the area really organized to press the mayor to put the video cameras,” said Guerrero. “This program is just part of the solution - there is a lot to do to fix the problems that we face every day. It a real challenge.”

"I'm scared, my employees are scared, I don't feel safe," said Darlene Franco, 34, Campos' daughter who works at Otaez restaurant.

Franco said that since her father's murder, the family´s store was broken into and another man was shot in front of the restaurant.

The video cameras will be installed at locations along Fruitvale Avenue and International Boulevard, as well as other key locations throughout the Fruitvale district. About fifty cameras are already in service. Video will be recorded and stored for 30 days before being deleted.

“The video cameras are not the solution but are one more way to combat and solve crimes in the Fruitvale,” said City council member Ignacio de la Fuente.

“The police want to do a better job and we have tried to convince the people that they have to cooperate with the police - it is the only way to solve the crimes,” asserts de la Fuente.
“I think we can make a safe city if we work together,” says Guerrero. “The mayor has helped the businesses a lot - for the first time we have worked as a team.”

According to the mayor’s office, police cameras have been in place throughout the city for a few years but the Fruitvale installations are the first coordinated approach that blankets an entire area. The city will soon be moving the project deeper into East Oakland. Mayor Quan also announced that Oakland police have established a Police Resource Center, funded with $20,000 from Oakland's Redevelopment Agency and additional grants.