A crime-plagued California city may be one step closer to reversing its misfortunes after clamping down on its progressive mayor.
Sheng Thao will face a historic recall election in November amid anger over his failure to control the situation in Oakland.
The progressive Democratic lawmaker is the first mayor in the city’s history to be recalled, after a campaign to recall her garnered more than 40,000 signatures.
“In just one year, Thao’s incompetence and dishonesty accelerated Oakland’s decline, leading to the closure of long-standing businesses and the abandonment of generational families,” the Oakland United to Recall Sheng Thao (OUST) campaign website states. ).
Critics are also angry that he missed a chance to apply for a $15 million retail theft grant, fired Oakland Police Chief LaRonne Armstrong “without cause” without naming a successor, and lost the Oakland Athletics baseball team.
Crime-plagued Oakland may be one step closer to reversing its fortunes after clamping down on its progressive mayor. In the photo: a ‘shanty town’ in the Californian city
They also accused her of lying when calling the State of Emergency to confront the wave of crime plaguing the city.
Oakland has been rocked by violent crime in recent months, including murders that increased from 78 in 2019 to 126 last year.
Overall crime increased 18 percent in 2023, property crimes increased 17 percent and violent crimes increased 21 percent.
And in the first four months of 2024, residential burglaries skyrocketed 118 percent compared to the same period last year.
Surprisingly, in 2023 one car was also stolen for every 30 residents.
The situation has led several large corporations to withdraw from the city, citing fears for the safety of staff and the crippling impact of retail theft.
Dozens of shocking crime stories have emerged in Oakland in recent months. On Tuesday, the rental car of a Florida family dropping off their son in the city to enroll him in college was vandalized. Since then, the traumatized parents and their family fled the city and withdrew their son from studying in the city.
Sheng Thao will face a historic recall election in November amid anger over his failure to control the situation in Oakland.
Oakland has been rocked by violent crime in recent months, including murders that increased from 78 in 2019 to 126 last year. Pictured: Police investigate a multiple shooting and homicide at a gas station in Oakland on January 23, 2023.
A family from Florida was robbed on their first day in Oakland, where they were visiting to enroll their son in college.
The video shows a woman being pistol-whipped and dragged by two muggers in Oakland last week, before 15 different robberies and two carjackings were recorded over the weekend. As of Tuesday, most are still under investigation.
And in August 2023, a particularly disturbing video showed an innocent woman being dragged along the ground by two muggers after trying to fight them off.
Oakland’s only In-N-Out Burger restaurant in the area has closed after 18 years, despite still making healthy profits, as customers and staff are “unsafe” due to rising crime rates, the company said .
Local Denny’s also closed its doors, while Taco Bell refuses to allow indoor dining amid a series of incidents.
Earlier this year, Kaiser, PG&E, Clorox and Blue Shield announced they were spending $10 million of their own cash on additional safety measures for their employees amid inaction from the city.
Thao’s opponents blame his progressive policies for skyrocketing crime.
Among them was a bizarre proposal suggesting that life coaching could help tackle homicides and other crimes.
The plan was suggested as part of the city’s ceasefire plan, which had been waning until Thao took office.
Thao’s opponents blame his progressive policies for skyrocketing crime.
A Taco Bell in downtown Oakland that is no longer allowing customers inside for safety reasons.
A thief breaks into a car outside the Shell gas station on Hegenberger Road before leaning into the vehicle to steal items and then escaping in a waiting vehicle.
“You created a public safety crisis by systematically dismantling the Oakland Police Department, leading to the city’s reputation as one of the most dangerous in the United States,” OUST wrote to Thao in a statement.
‘In short, they lack the competence, credibility, judgment and ability to lead what was once a great American city.
Lives have been lost, property destroyed, businesses closed, and collective fear and trauma are daily occurrences for Oaklanders. Therefore, we, the concerned citizens, demand its removal for the sake of the future of our city.’
The mayor has previously denounced the rise in crime and stated that the increase began in 2019, before her term.
Also facing recall in November is the progressive district attorney for Alameda County, which includes Oakland.
Pamela Price’s policies have been blamed for emboldening criminals and prioritizing their needs over those of crime victims.
In 2022, San Francisco, which is just across the Bay Bridge from Oakland, recalled its progressive prosecutor Chesa Boudin after similar anger.
