Crime is the hottest issue in the city of Oakland, and Mayor Sheng Thao may be facing a recall as a result.
But is crime really that bad, or is it just a wrong perception? At a press conference on Monday, eight days before Election Day, the mayor announced that the city of Oakland is significantly safer than it was a year ago and that everyone should do their best to make people believe that.
Thao and city officials gathered at City Hall to announce a $2 million federal grant for the ceasefire program, an initiative of the city’s Department of Violence Prevention.
“This $2 million investment will be given to the DVP over a three-year period,” said DVP Chief Dr. Holly Joshi, “and will allow us to hire three additional life coaches, taking our team from ten to thirteen life coaches.”
The life coaches provide intensive assistance and support to people who have been identified as likely to commit violence or are victims of it. They say it works, and Thao, who is fighting for her political life in a recall campaignsaid it actually makes Oakland a lot safer.
“Thanks to the re-implementation of our ceasefire strategy, we are seeing a 33% decrease in homicides this year. So far this year, 34 fewer people have been killed,” Thao said. “It is a direct result of a shift in our strategy under my administration.”
But Sergeant Tim Dolan, vice president of the Oakland police union, said that’s not what they’re seeing in the field.
“Not at all,” he told CBS News Bay Area. “I’ve been assigned to East Oakland for a while as a patrol supervisor, and the calls for service have definitely increased, the crime is increasing. In fact, the crime has increased. I think we’re up 33% from the year 2020 and the properties Crime is up 74% from 2020.”
So who is right? They both quote figures, but with opposite conclusions. It turns out that when it comes to Oakland, safety is more of a feeling than a data point. And those feelings can vary enormously.
“I think it’s a huge improvement,” said Oakland resident Susan Lewis. “That they have a great support system in terms of government, in terms of helping to reduce crime. Based on living here, I believe the crime rate has gone down.”
“Everyone I hear talk about Oakland talks about its danger, not its safety,” said longtime resident Lawrence Gladfelder. “I don’t see a significant increase in the safety factor. I don’t see more police officers on the streets. I see less and less.”
But Thao emphasized that things are improving and people just need to be convinced of that.
“Crime is down. You can’t hide bodies, so we know those numbers are accurate. But at the same time, we need to promote the great positive stories of Oakland,” she said. “Ultimately, of course, there is the feeling of safety. And that is incredibly important. And all of us have a responsibility to ensure that our community feels safe.”
