January 12, 1999

Council Member Nathan A. Miley
Chair, Public Safety Committee
Attention: F. Joseph DeVries, Aide
1 Frank Ogawa Plaza
Oakland, CA 94612

Dear Mr. Miley:

We are aware that the City Council of Oakland will soon be considering the adoption of a proposal to encourage parents to refrain from hitting their children. We have worked with Jordan Riak, of PTAVE, in his efforts to prevent spanking. We enthusiastically support his work and are excited with the possibility of Oakland becoming a no-spanking community. The costs of spanking have been known to health care professionals for a long time, but unfortunately that knowledge has never been adequately implemented on the public level. If your no-spanking resolution is adopted, not only will your city enjoy the benefits, but other cities may follow your example.

We look forward to that outcome and we congratulate you for taking the lead.

Sincerely,
[Signature]
David B. Pruitt, M.D.
President

[Signature]
Richard Goldwasser, M.D.,
President, Northern California Regional Organization of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry

DBP/thw

cc: Jordan Riak