By Ken Epstein

Oakland has seen a “huge drop” in the numbers of homicides and violent crimes, including aggravated assaults, rapes, and robberies, according to journalists reporting on a new police report.

The  Oakland Police Department’s most recent crime report indicates that homicides in Oakland are down by 33% compared with the same time last year.  Throughout Oakland, 67 homicides occurred so far this year, while at the same point in 2023, there were 100 homicides.

The number of violent crimes has declined by 19% in the city in 2024 compared to last year.

“This is not an accident,” said Mayor Sheng Thao, who was quoted in Oaklandside, speaking at a press conference. “This is by design. We have reversed a four-year trend of higher crime and more homicides.”

Local reporters point to the magnitude of the decline in crime.

Jaime Omar Yassin, a popular independent online reporter published in the Oakland Observer, wrote on X: “Going into (the) election, Oakland hasn’t had a murder in three weeks, only one murder in the entire month. It’s a staggering nearly 50 murders fewer than the City had under the leadership of (D.A.) O’Malley, (OPD Chief) Armstrong, and (Mayor) Schaaf in late October 2021. On track to have lowest homicides in five years.”

Also writing on X, journalist Ali Winston, a co-author of the book, “The Riders Come Out at Night: Brutality, Corruption, and Cover-up in Oakland,” said:

“Oakland hasn’t seen a commensurate drop in homicides in modern history. When we wrote ‘RIDERS,’ Darwin (BondGraham) and I pored over decades of Oakland crime statistics. This is a huge drop, way beyond the standard deviation.”

While many Oakland residents welcome the news of the drop in crime, some of those who support the recalls of elected officials and seek reasons to portray the city negatively are unwilling to recognize improvements in public safety.

Oakland Post Publisher Paul Cobb said he was deeply concerned that the San Francisco Chronicle has been unwilling to publish the OPD’s latest statistics showing a 33% reduction in Oakland homicides and instead continues to report old statistics that fit a narrative of a failing city.

“It’s upsetting to see a major newspaper that will not report about Oakland accurately and honestly,” he said.

This week, the city was awarded a $2 million grant from Vice President Kamala Harris’ Office of Gun Violence Prevention. In a press conference on Wednesday, Mayor Thao said the grant will help the city expand its Ceasefire program, significantly reducing homicides this year.

Ceasefire provides life coaches for people who are in immediate danger of being a perpetrator or victim of a violent crime to break the cycle of retaliation and victimization. The program was discontinued during former Mayor Libby Schaaf’s administration.

“We’re thankful for the significant investment in a strategy that is working in the Department of Violence Prevention (DVP), finally being recognized as critical to Oakland’s long-term strategic, comprehensive approach to community health and safety,” said DVP Chief Holly Joshi.

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