""This is not based on any actual threat or specific threat against any official in Oakland, whatsoever," Oakland's supervising deputy city attorney, Selia Warren, told The Oaklandside. "This is merely us trying to be proactive and actually stay ahead of events. We would love to not have to use this, ever.""
""Anyone can read the headlines in the news these days about what's going on.""
A resolution before the City Council Rules committee would delegate authority to the City Attorney to defend city employees and elected officials accused of crimes allegedly committed in the scope of their employment. State law allows cities to provide criminal-defense representation in limited circumstances, including when actions fall within the scope of employment, when representation is in the city's best interest, and when the employee is found to have acted in good faith. Public agencies already must defend employees in civil actions, but criminal-defense obligations are discretionary. The proposal is framed as a proactive measure amid national incidents involving local officials and federal immigration enforcement, and the California Values Act limits local cooperation with federal immigration authorities.
Read at The Oaklandside
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