Oakland Mayor Sheng Thao reflects on first 150 days in office, addresses challenges moving forward

. Oakland police numbers show robberies are up 7% year-to-date. The mayor said she is speaking with the governor, CHP and Alameda County Sheriff because she wants to see a regional task force respond to crimes. "Really send a hard message, you cannot come into Oakland and continue to do illegal things like sideshows, continue to take advantage of innocent people who are walking on the streets, minding their own business," said Thao. "The deterrence part is in play.

The mayor’s proposed budget includes an increase for OPD’s overall budget, but freezing sworn-staffing roles at 710 officers. Currently, 741 positions are authorized, and 724 are filled. Thao points to funding for six academies to the next two years to keep up with attrition. "To allow a politician to tell you that somehow these positions are funded, doesn’t actually make you safer, or have a better response," said Thao. "There’s no pathway to fill those positions.

Thao said the public safety plan must also reflect the city’s values—that includes a comprehensive approach of violence prevention and programs that include pathways away from crime. "I believe that in order for us to have a safer future we have to invest in violence prevention, preventing it, interrupting it before it happens," said Thao. "I’m not shutting down any rec centers, programs for seniors, young people, we have to find the cuts elsewhere, violence prevention in itself.

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