Local leaders acknowledged Friday morning that great progress has been made in making Oakland’s streets safer.
Each year, Fr Aidan McAleenan of St Columba’s Catholic Church will place crosses outside the church, each representing a person lost to violent crime. For the first time since 2019, there are fewer than 100 crosses spread across the lawn.
According to the Oakland Police Department, homicides are down 33% this year. There are currently 71 crosses on that lawn, compared to 113 murders this time last year and 126 total for all of 2023.
A press release about the crosses noted that it was at a meeting at St. Columba’s Catholic Church in 2012 where community and faith leaders initiated the ceasefire strategy.
Local leaders honored the victims at church Friday morning. Mayor Sheng Thao – who faces a recall vote next week – highlighted the impact of the ceasefire program, which she revived after taking office.
“We are seeing results now,” Thao said. “That means 33% fewer crosses, 33% fewer families having to endure the grief.”
Officials said Oakland has also seen a 37% drop in overall crime.
“My violence interventionists spend every day and night in the community building relationships with those most vulnerable to violence, and proactively mediating conflict and preventing retaliatory shootings,” explains Dr. Holly Joshi, head of the Department of Violence Prevention, explains.
The Ceasefire Strategy also aims to reduce recidivism and strengthen police-community relations.
