There’s some serious tension brewing in Oakland, California, where the local police union has called for Mayor Sheng Thao to resign immediately.
The Oakland Police Officer’s Association (POA), led by President Huy Nguyen, made this bold demand at a press conference on Tuesday, citing a lack of resources for law enforcement and an ongoing crime crisis in the city.
Nguyen didn’t hold back in his criticism, stating that the city’s failures, from the surge in crime to a budget crisis and even a recent FBI raid, have left officers struggling to respond to emergency calls. He emphasized that Oakland’s police department is understaffed, leading to slower response times and, in some cases, officers being unable to respond at all.
In response, Mayor Thao released a video statement, countering the union’s claims by asserting that crime in Oakland has actually declined. She accused the POA of playing politics at a sensitive time and defended her administration’s approach to public safety, highlighting that her budget funded new police academies and saved 80 police jobs.
However, the police union argued that these measures are insufficient and called for more investment in the city, including hiring and retaining more police officers.
This conflict comes amidst a backdrop of recent violence in Oakland, including a sideshow shooting on Sunday that left five people wounded and another shooting on Monday that hospitalized two teenagers and one adult. These incidents have only added fuel to the fire, as the community grapples with rising crime.
The POA’s call for Thao’s resignation is not just rhetoric; a recall effort to remove her from office is already underway. The union is urging Thao to step down voluntarily to save the city the time and resources that a recall election would require.
They argue that if she resigns this week, the election to replace her could take place in November, rather than dragging out until April, which would delay necessary budgetary adjustments.
