Oakland Tribune from Oakland, California • 3

JAt, -1 Oakland Tribune Thursday, October 29, 1992 ujua nr ft crime ring gang and resulted In the murder of five Aslan gangsters in ths last few years. Early last year the Wo Hop To emerged on top and "seised control of Illegal gambling, loansharking and extortion In the Chinese community, not only in San Francisco but throughout California as well as other states, San Francisco police said in a statement In September 1991, Oakland police broke up a massive extortion effort by the Wo Hop To aimed at Chinatown merchants. In the San Francisco case, police In late May See RING, Page A-7 more were Indicted for a string of home robberies and armed holdups of Aslan restaurants. The arrests culminate a four-month-long laves tigation of the Wo Hop To by the San Francisco police gang task force and district attorney's office, the California Attorney Generals Office, the Oakland police and a variety of other federal and local police agencies. This hopefully will send a clear message to the people who wish to engage in this type of activity that a united force will come bp against them, groups." The suspects nine of whom are Juveniles are part of a Wo Hop To faction that recruited Asian boys as young as 12 years old from San Franciscos Hop Sing Tong to act as enforcers and soldiers for Chow, authorities said.

The tong Is a Chinese benevolent association, but Chow used It to house his youth gang operation, police said. The Wo Hop To Is a Hong Kong-based "triad" crimlnial ring that five years ago began trying to organise and take control of Asian criminal rackets on the West Coast, police said. (ANuorinMa crime rug uvi been San Francisco grand jury on charges of armed rob-, bery and operating a Pacifica brothel that Imported KirU from Southern California. Thirteen of the suspects, including alleged gang 5veder Ry0 "Shrimp Boy Chow, were pUeea Sender arrest la an ehrly mowing sweep yesterday 69 law enforcement agents from all over the Bay jArea. Five of the gang members were charged Id 'connection with the brothel operation ana nine jS i said Sgt Dan Foley of San Franciscos gang task force, who lead the Investigation.

"This hopefully will discourage young kids from joining these the Wah Ching an existing' That touched off a bloody listing power struggle with San Francisco street Coalition wants judge to dismiss 1-80 project suit The coalition formed because the suit threatens 21,000 jobs, jeopardizes the Cypress Structure replacement project and lets traffic congestion on 1-80 worsen. By Benny EvangeBata inuwnw fwn WwnWw A group of business, labor and community representatives who say they have the necessary horsepower formed a new transportation coalition yesterday with the immediate goal of fighting an environmentalist lawsuit that is blocking the Interstate 80 widening. About 50 people met in the Port of Oakland board room to form the Coalition for Balanced Transportation for Congestion Relief and immediately issued a resolution asking an Alameda County Superior Court judge to dismiss the lawsuit, which is scheduled for a hearing tomorrow. "The principal reason (for forming the coalition) is the 1-80 lawsuit and the need to express a point of view that is shared by the vast majority of Bay Area residents, said Steve Heminger of the Bay Area Council, a business-sponsored group. But a spokesman for the small Berkeley-based Urban Ecology, which is the lead plaintiff in the suit against the state ment of Transportation, said the coalition will not affect the case.

This is a basic legal question, whether Caltrans complied with the law, said Urban Ecology board member Stephen Wheeler. These are politicians and business people who are not looking beyond the short term and not helping develop any sort of transportation system that can meet the needs of the region in the next century," Wheeler said. Urban Ecology, the Sierra Club and two other environmental organizations sued Caltrans over the 8318 million plan to widen 1-80. Judge James R. Lambden last month ordered Caltrans to stop work on the project, pending a hearing tomorrow.

The coalition formed because the suit threatens 21,000 jobs, jeopardizes the Cypress Struc-ture. replacement project and lets traffic congestion on 1-80 worsen, said Walter Abernathy, the coalition's primary organizer and chairman of the Port of Oakland Customers Council. See COALITION, Page A-7 Dunsmuir hearings set despite delay requests Act One's of Alameda, helps Mark Rivera, of Fremont transform himself into a sheik. Political costumes dead this year, but not Catwoman ByKoHyOuai quests for Perot costumes. People would have bought them If we had them, said Joy Braithwait of the Toy House In Alameda.

But Bay Area shops say they didnt get expected shipments of Perot masks in time for Halloween. Even so, they are helping customers make da Weve been suggesting people buy a a little pair of jumbo ears, and use of those now-popular hairy troll dolls in a red, white and blue theme. "But hes absolutely dying here in the store, she said. Political costumes are just dead this year. Although costume shop owners say they see some differences in costume preferences this year Barbie is big, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles are cooling off, and Nintendos Mario and Luigi, Pee Wee Herman, and G.f.

Joe just arent making it some owners say the biggest change is In what people are willing to pay for costumes. Although Oaklands Act One Costumes Is doing a good business this Halloween, owner Lucille Narron says she can definitely feel the pinch of recession. Eighty percent ot our income tar the year comes in now. And people are being cry ooks, very conservative, very much tighter with their pocketboo OITVE GOT TO HAVE ears big ears if you want to be a hit this Halloween. 1 Bay Area costume shop owners say theyre swamped with demands for costumes of those big-eared favorites Batman, Catwoman and presidential candidate Ross Perot "Catwoman, thats the mean one.

And Batman, its still Batman" for men and boys, said Greg Maxwell of Stagecraft Studios In Berkeley. "It's good old Batman again this year, and Catwoman, agreed a costume stocker at the Oakland Wool worths. "We cant keep them on the shelves. All the women, at least the very 9 By Sandy KMfman Despite objections from opponents, the city council has decided to hold a public hearing Nov. 17 on the proposed 341-unit Dunsmuir Heights housing development in the Oakland Hills.

Opponents had wanted the Issue delayed until January, when at least two new council bers will take office. The i nents believe the new will be more inclined to oppose the project. The development would be in District 7, where Dezie Woods-Jones will replace Council member Leo Bazile. During the election, Woods-Jones opposed the project, while Bazile said he had not yet made up his mind. The proposal has undergone several revisions since then, however.

"Dunsmuir was a big issue in District 7," said Paul Merrick, a member of the Dunsmuir Ridge Alliance, which is opposing the development "The public voted and elected a new council member partly because of that We dont want it to be rushed because the proponents are thinking this is a better council But the existing city council voted 5 to 3 this week to proceed with the public hearing. It will begin at 7:30 pm. Nov. 17 in the East Hall of the Oakland Convention Center at 10th Street and Broadway. I'm not willing to wait until 1993 or 1994, said Council member Ignacio De La Fuente.

If we dont begin the hearings, we cSnnot make a decision. There are going to be several hearings. Were going to allow every person to have a say. De La Fuente said he believes that because of the complexity of the issues and the hundreds of people who will want to speak, there is no way the council will be ready to vote before January, regardless of when the hearings begin. Voting against the Nov.

17 date were Council members Marge Gibson Haskell, Mary' See DUNSMUIR, Page A-7 putty, and do their own Perot costumes, said Pam Maestas of Costume Corner in El Sobrante. Although George and Barbara Bush masks have sold well other years, except for Perot, costume shop owners say Halloween revelers dont seem interested in politics this October. "With the debates and all, people are probably Just up to their eyebrows In things political, said Barbara Davidson, owner of A-l Dance and Theatrical In San Leandro. Davidson said she has a costume she thought was going to be a sure hit a troll for president costume featuring one i I pick Catwoman, said Lucille Narron of Act One Costumes in Oakland, pointing out the skintight catsuit is part of the catty ones get-up. And, although local costumers say Bush masks arent selling as well years, theyve had plenty of re- George I as other When people spend money on the World Series, they dont spend as much on costumes, she said, admitting that she was one of the few people rooting against the As thls year.

r' I Oakland sees new train station in 93 lAmtrak sites also inaugurated in Hayward, Fremont, Santa Clara Recalling the 122 years commission president The festivities came a day after proud Emeryville city officials held a ceremony eight miles north to inaugurate their own new Amtrak station, which Oakland leaders tear may take away business from the Jack London They both will complement each other." Yesterday continued a banner week for Amtrak in California. On Monday, new rail service was launched in Los Angeles. The next day, ceremonies marked new stations Tn Emeryville and SuisunCIty. And after Oakland, Amtrak helped inaugurate new station sites or remodeling projects in Hayward, Fremont and Santa Clara. "In the last five years, the people of California have finally recognized that this is an alternative to their cars, laro said.

Were pleased to be a part of To a chilled crowd, the ports Lock- 1 cermonies signaling the start of a new station and a new era in transportation." The new 16 million Jack London Rail Station, on the southeast comer of Alice Street and Embarcadero, is scheduled to open around July 1992, first as an interim replacement for the old Am-trak station at 16th and Wood streets. And when the permanent station at site opens about one year later, it iWlll be a worthy successor to the Jc depots that have born the name Oak-iland" said James B. Lockhart, port Its gratifying to know a little dty as small as Emeryville can do such a End and great thing, Emeryville yor Robert Savage sajd Tuesday standing on a gravel-filled lot near the Emery Bay Public Market that will become a $6 million Amtrak station, also by July 1993. Amtrak officials gave their commitment to make both stations a success. It was not a competition," said Ronald Scolaro, Amtraks chief admin-istrhtive officer few government affairs.

See STATION, Page AS The Jack station will be at Alice Street and Embarcadero. I 4 i I 4 1.