Oakland Mayor Apologizes for Promoting Lock-Pick Class

Oakland Mayor Jean Quan is on the defensive, after a recent newsletter sent by her office included a plug for a class on how to pick locks.

Quan apologized Wednesday, after outraged residents blasted her on an online neighborhood forum. The class description also included an announcement that lock-pick sets would be sold to those who signed up, reports the Oakland Tribune .

"This is awful," one person wrote on the forum. "How could she possible do that in this climate? What's next? The fundamentals of armed robbery?"

Mayor Quan's public image took another hit Tuesday, when the San Francisco Chronicle reported that 60% of Oakland reisdents disapprove of the mayor and 65% said the city is heading in the wrong direction.

The first in a series of town hall meetings about reforming the Oakland Police Department are scheduled for Wednesday. Consultant Bill Bratton has been hired to help the department "tackle a violent crime wave while also softening its image," reports the Chronicle .