For various reasons, Carl Chan and the other organizers have decided to postpone today’s rally for a little while. No new date has been announced, but it shouldn’t be too long. The organizers are sorry for any inconvenience, and wish to let everyone know that the Recall process is proceeding full steam ahead! Stay tuned for more information.
Meanwhile, Sheng Thao has released a statement on crime. Among its many dubious claims, here’s the part that most concerns me: “Enhanced Youth Service Referral Pipeline: The DVP, OUSD and the Alameda County District Attorney’s Office and Probation are collaborating to create referrals to DVP programs and services specifically for juveniles involved in crime or violence.”
I’ll begin by saying that I don’t want “collaboration” with DVP, OUSD or Pamela Price’s office when it comes to prosecuting juvenile criminals. These three organizations have long been captured by the hopelessly woke. They perceive their task as the unremitting quest for “social justice” and are unwilling to support or even acknowledge the public safety and level of policing we need to protect us. Each of the three organizations is run and staffed by leftwing ideologues who have achieved power through “the long march through the institutions.” Their claim that criminals are compelled to break the law due to “structural racism” is insane. These ideologues do not believe in punishment, which they feel merely perpetuates the White power structure. They favor what they think of as “rehabilitation.” This means, in effect, that nothing bad happens to the criminals, who know they can commit their crimes with impunity, because the people running the system-- DVP, OUSD and the D.A.’s office—believe in letting them go free so they can reoffend.
Thao also makes much of MACRO, the Mobile Assistance Community Responders of Oakland, which is absorbing tens of millions of dollars that would more usefully be invested in the Oakland Police Department. I’ve made no secret of my mistrust of this sinister-sounding program, which the Left pushes in their never-ending effort to defund the police. According to MACRO’s own timeline on the City of Oakland’s website, “Police and Fire Start Dispatching MACRO calls on Aug. 1, 2022.” That was more than a year ago. Have you seen or heard any evidence that MACRO is out there on the streets, doing anything useful? I’ve seen MACRO vehicles exactly twice. One time was a few days ago, when a MACRO truck was parked by Kaiser Center but the people inside appeared to be resting. Another time was a few weeks ago, when I saw a MACRO team giving a bottle of water to a derelict who was huddled in a bus stop that was littered with garbage. You’ll have to pardon me when I allege that MACRO is a huge scam. Somebody is making bigtime money off it. But who?
I’ll give Sheng Thao credit for at least making the right sounds about crime. She’s against it! Who knew? Thank for, Madame Mayor. You were late to the party, but at least you’ve finally joined us. When you say “Violent crime is something that touches all of us and I take it very seriously,” I hope you mean it. But mere words count for nothing. The thing for you to do now is to determine how to make OPD stronger than ever, even if that means transferring dollars away from DVP and MACRO. After all, the police are the only ones out there who are taking care of us. It certainly isn’t the phony cronies who run DVP or the kids riding around in their MACROmobiles.
Steve Heimoff, President
Coalition for a Better Oakland