Oakland's Democratic mayor Libby Schaaf admits defund the police 'went too far ...

Oakland's Democratic mayor Libby Schaaf admits defund the police 'went too far ...
Oakland's Democratic mayor Libby Schaaf admits defund the police 'went too far ...

The mayor of one of California's most crime-ridden cities said Thursday efforts to defund her city's police department went 'too far,' after it saw murders and violent crimes surge to levels not seen in 15 years following the movement's introduction in the summer of 2020 

Oakland Mayor Libby Schaaf asserted to Politico in a sit-down interview that her city urgently needs to address the 'root causes' of rising crime, mere months after the Democrat pulled an abrupt about-face on the anti-cop campaign at the end of last year, after seeing murders and violent crimes surge to concerning levels.   

'I think it was a correction to the 'defund' conversation, which I personally think went too far and got convoluted,' Schaaf, a Democrat who previously championed the movement, told Politico.

'I think everyone agrees we need to invest far more into prevention, into the root causes of crime, and particularly into our mental health system, which is completely failing us, both when you look at crime as well as homelessness,' Schaaf said.

Oakland Mayor Libby Schaaf said her city needs to address the 'root causes' of rising crime and homeless numbers, mere months after the Democrat pulled an about-face on the anti-cop campaign at the end of last year, after seeing murders and violent crimes surge in 2021

Oakland Mayor Libby Schaaf said her city needs to address the 'root causes' of rising crime and homeless numbers, mere months after the Democrat pulled an about-face on the anti-cop campaign at the end of last year, after seeing murders and violent crimes surge in 2021

The urban, populous city, located a stone's throw from similarly crime-ridden San Francisco, recorded 134 murders in 2021 - nearly double the 78 that came two years before in 2019, before the movement began - as well as nearly 7000 violent crimes, with many coming toward the year in a bloody crime wave around Thanksgiving.

Among the dead were retired police officer and father of two Kevin Nishita, and a 1-year-old boy hit by a stray bullet as he sat in the back of his mother's car. Both killings occurred in broad daylight. 

The concerning increase alarmed Schaaf, she said, spurring the politician to implement a proposal in December to add two new police academies and unfreeze positions within the department while employing 60 new officers, after the city saw its 127th homicide of the year.

The move came in stark contrast to a decision by the city council in June to slash $18.5 million from a proposed increase to the Oakland Police Department's budget, a move criticized by Oakland Police Chief LeRonne Armstrong, who said at the time that 'crime is out of control' in the city. 

The urban, populous city, located a stone's throw from similarly crime-ridden San Francisco, recorded 134 murders in 2021 - nearly double the 78 that came two years before in 2019, before the movement began

The urban, populous city, located a stone's throw from similarly crime-ridden San Francisco, recorded 134 murders in 2021 - nearly double the 78 that came two years before in 2019, before the movement began

'There is a clear problem in this city,' Oakland police Chief LeRonne Armstrong said late last year, addressing the wave of violent crime and rising murder rates. His department experienced cuts brought on by officials like Schaaf, who has since had a change of heart

'There is a clear problem in this city,' Oakland police Chief LeRonne Armstrong said late last year, addressing the wave of violent crime and rising murder rates. His department experienced cuts brought on by officials like Schaaf, who has since had a change of heart

'It's been particularly heart-wrenching in Oakland because we had just made national headlines for cutting gun violence in half and sustaining those lower rates for five years,' Schaaf, who was elected in 2015, said of concerning high homicide rates, not seen since 2006, when the city recorded a then-abnormal 148 killings.

The levels then fluctuated in the double digits for the next decade-and-a-half, before abruptly spiking from the 78 seen in 2019 to 109 in 2020, the year the movement, spurred by the May 2020 death of George Floyd at the hands of a Minneapolis police officer, was introduced.

'When we saw this surge come up during the pandemic - and, let's also be honest, after George Floyd, after this country just saw its faith in government justice compromised - we were just heartbroken.' 

The city saw nearly 7000 violent crimes, the second-most in the entire state

The city saw nearly 7000 violent crimes, the second-most in the entire state

Oakland’s police force of sworn officers now stands at 676, dipping below a 2014 voter-approved measure that required the police department to have at least 678 sworn officers. 

Currently, the city, which boasts a population of more than 400,000, began this year with 723 sworn officers, after seeing its deadliest year of homicides in more than a decade in 2021.  

'When we listen to the communities that have been most impacted,' Schaaf said Thursday,' and when you look at gun violence, the communities that are paying the highest price are the communities that are paying the highest price in all areas, whether it's income inequality, food insecurity, [or] housing insecurity.' 

After initially supporting the Defund Police movement, Schaaf backtracked on her stance in December and proposed a plan to hire 60 more police officers, which was promptly passed

After initially supporting the Defund Police movement, Schaaf backtracked on her stance in December and proposed a plan to hire 60 more police officers, which was promptly passed

She added: 'So we are hearing loud and clear that justice is something that

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