(The Center Square) – California Gov. Gavin Newsom announced he is deploying California National Guard lawyers to prosecute cases in Alameda County, where Oakland is. Newsom’s office also detailed Alameda County District Attorney Pamela Price’s months of delays preventing CalGuard’s deployment, publicly highlighting the state of the district attorney’s office.
Alameda County violent crime rose 188% in 2023 compared to 2022, 74% of which was in Oakland, where violent crime rose 237% over 2022.
In February, Newsom offered Cal Guard and California Department of Justice lawyers and investigators to assist Alameda County District Attorney Pamela Price. Skyrocketing crime in Oakland is so bad offices are telling employees it’s unsafe to leave the building for lunch and fast food chains are shutting down otherwise profitable locations.
On July 10, Newsom’s office sent a letter to Price’s office saying that “despite our outreach, your office has yet to make use of these resources.” The letter details how CalGuard sent a draft memorandum to begin operations soon after Newsom’s February announcement, and that months later in April, CalGuard offered to be deputized under Price’s office.