.Swanson Denies Gutting BART Police Oversight Bill (Updated)

Assemblyman Sandre Swanson of Alameda told the Express this afternoon that he did not weaken the BART police oversight plan, because it had already been watered down by the time BART officials brought it to him. “I didn’t craft any language,” Swanson said. The assemblyman said BART leadership decided to change the plan after meeting with a statewide police officers’ group. But that raises questions as to whether some BART leaders decided to alter the plan in secret without vetting it publicly, and whether the weakened plan has the support of all of the board members. The BART oversight plan went through several public hearings, and was criticized for not being strong enough, before the board adopted it earlier this month.
BART spokesman Linton Johnson said this afternoon that the entire board was informed of the changes to the plan at a meeting yesterday, but did not vote on it. And he was not sure if the board would.