Voters Say No to Soft-on-Crime Policies in Oakland

In California's Bay Area, a big change is happening. Voters in Oakland have voted to remove Mayor Sheng Thao and District Attorney Pamela Price from their jobs. People are upset about rising crime rates, homelessness, and feeling unsafe. Thao lost her job with 62% of the vote, while Price lost with 64%. Even in San Francisco, Mayor London Breed lost her re-election. Crime has been a big problem in Oakland, especially during the pandemic when homicides jumped by 72%. People like Patricia Harris, who lost her son to violence, feel that local officials haven't done enough to stop it. Harris watched her son's killer walk free after DA Price's office made a deal that reduced his charge. Price hasn't accepted her loss yet. She says she won't back down until all the votes are counted. Thao also resisted at first but finally accepted her loss. Both leaders have until December 5 to leave their jobs.

Some people in Oakland feel that leaders haven't been honest about crime rates. They say what they see on the streets doesn't match what leaders say. For example, the Oakland Police Department reported a 35% drop in homicides this year, but some people don't believe that number. Many Oaklanders also feel that crime got worse when Thao fired the popular police chief and took a long time to hire a new one. Plus, Thao's administration missed a deadline to apply for a state grant to fight retail theft. And in June, the FBI raided Thao's home as part of an investigation. People like Carl Chan, who helped with the recall campaign, are hoping for a fresh start. They want someone who can do their job well and not just push their own ideas.

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