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Sick of Your Local Police Force? Crowdfund Your Own
Nerval's Lobster writes "A subset of Oakland, California residents have decided to crowd-fund a set of private security patrols, via a trio of campaigns on a crowdfunding Website named Crowdtilt. The three patrols, if adequately funded, will cover Lower Rockridge North/West, Lower Rockridge South/West, and Lower Rockridge 'including part of the Uplands.' Each campaign has a different (Facebook verified, apparently) sponsor, and wants between $20,000 and $25,000 to make the dream of private patrols a reality. Unlike Kickstarter, the Crowdtilt campaigns don't feature fabulous prizes for contributing; gifting $100, for example, won't entitle you to 'One (1) free "accidental" shooting of your choice.' That aside, dozens of residents have contributed cash to the loosely allied projects. 'What occurred last week at the Casual Carpool has ignited our neighborhood to act,' reads one of the campaign descriptions, referring to the broad-daylight stickup of commuters waiting in a carpool line on Oakland's Hudson Street. 'While the city and the police are doing what they can, we feel it's time for us as a community to begin exploring a wide range of ideas and taking some action on our own.' All three crowdfunding pages want to hire VMA Security Group for a four-month trial period through February 2014, possibly followed by a continuing contract if everything works out. That security company already patrols the Rockridge commercial district during the holiday season, and protects a number of Oakland businesses and households. While the VMA Security Group's officers are certified to carry firearms, one of the crowdfunding pages plans to ask any of them assigned to the neighborhood to remain unarmed 'unless they feel they cannot accomplish their duties otherwise.' Upscale neighborhoods pay for private security all the time, of course. The question is whether crowdfunding — better known for financing things such as games and indie movies, at this point — could catch on as a way of funding residential projects."
If only there were some mechanism where a large portion of the population could give some money to people to provide law enforcement services to a community before the Internet was invented.
Rockridge? I saw this movie, it involves an incompetent, corrupt governor, and a black sheriff. I also suspect it will end with a giant pie fight in the Warner Brothers studio commissary.
Slow Down Cowboy! It's been 1 hour, 47 minutes since you last successfully posted a comment
Are They calling it Oakland Community Police?
Does RoboCop work for them?
In Soviet Russia, Trojan exploits YOU!
In my neighborhood we have great police coverage, especially at night. One officer keeps making repeated rounds past his ex-wife's house all night long.
"Think about how stupid the average person is. Now, realise that half of them are dumber than that." - George Carlin
But usually it's just called paying your taxes.
You too can be the next George Zimmerman! Apply today!
I call shenanigans! SHENANIGANS!!!
I swear to God I'll pistol-whip the next guy who says "Shenanigans"!
I am officially gone from