Glimmer of hope for hellhole California city as residents take drastic action against their progressive mayor

A crime-ridden California city may be one step closer to reversing its setbacks after taking drastic action against its progressive mayor.

Sheng Thao will face a historic recall election in November amid anger over her failure to get a handle on the situation in Oakland.

The progressive Democratic lawmaker is the first mayor in the city’s history to face recall after a campaign to oust her gathered more than 40,000 signatures.

“In just a year, Thao’s incompetence and dishonesty has accelerated Oakland’s decline, forcing old businesses to close and generational families to leave,” says the Oakland United to Recall Sheng Thao (OUST) campaign website.

Critics are also angry that she missed the opportunity to apply for a $15 million shoplifting grant, fired Oakland Police Chief LaRonne Armstrong “without cause” without naming a successor, and fired the baseball team from Oakland A lost.

They also accused her of lying about declaring a state of emergency to deal with the crime wave that paralyzed the city.

Oakland has been rocked by violent crime in recent months, including homicides that rose from 78 in 2019 to 126 last year.

Crime increased by a total of 18 percent in 2023, with property crime increasing by 17 percent and violent crime by 21 percent.

And in the first four months of 2024, home robberies increased by 118 percent compared to the same period last year.

Astonishingly, one car per 30 residents was also stolen in 2023.

The situation has prompted several major companies to withdraw from the city, citing fears for staff safety and the crippling effects of shoplifting.

Dozens of stories of shocking crimes in Oakland have emerged in recent months. On Tuesday, a Florida family dropping off their son in town for college had their rental car looted. The traumatized parents and their family have now 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 her failure to get a handle on the situation in Oakland

Oakland has been rocked by violent crime in recent months, including homicides that rose from 78 in 2019 to 126 last year. Pictured: Police investigate a multiple shooting and murder at an Oakland gas station on January 23, 2023

A Florida family was robbed on their first day in Oakland, where they were visiting to enroll their son in college

Video showed a woman being pistol-whipped and dragged by two assailants in Oakland last week, before 15 separate robberies and two carjackings were recorded this 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 male robbers after she tried to stop them.

The Oakland area’s only In-N-Out Burger restaurant closed after 18 years, despite still making a healthy profit, because customers and staff are “unsafe” due to rising crime rates, the company said.

The local Denny’s has also closed its doors, while Taco Bell is refusing to allow indoor dining following a rash of incidents.

Earlier this year, Kaiser, PG&E, Clorox and Blue Shield announced they were putting $10 million of their own money into additional safety measures for their employees, while the city did nothing.

Thao’s opponents blame her progressive policies for skyrocketing crime.

This included a bizarre proposal suggesting that life coaching could help tackle murders and other crimes.

The plan was proposed as part of the city’s ceasefire plan, which had been waning until Thao took office.

Thao’s opponents blame her progressive policies for skyrocketing crime

A Taco Bell in downtown Oakland is no longer allowing customers inside due to safety concerns

A thief breaks into a car outside the Shell gas station on Hegenberger Road before leaning into the vehicle to grab items, then escapes into a waiting vehicle

“You have created a public safety crisis by systematically dismantling the Oakland Police Department, which has led to the city’s reputation as one of the most dangerous in America,” OUST wrote in a statement to Thao.

“In short, you 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 fear and collective trauma are a daily occurrence for Oaklanders. We, the concerned citizens, therefore demand your recall in the interest of the future of our city.”

The mayor has previously condemned the increase in crime, stating that the increase in 2019 began before her term.

The progressive district attorney of Alameda County, which includes Oakland, is also facing a recall in November.

Pamela Price’s policies have been accused of encouraging 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.