The signature collection to recall Oakland Mayor Sheng Thao officially started on Saturday, with organizers kicking off the campaign in Jack London Square.
Supporters of the recall blame the mayor for the rising crime.
Oakland police said robberies, burglaries, and violent crimes all of them went up by double digits in 2023 compared to 2022. Meanwhile, many businesses shut down citing crime, especially along the Hegenberger corridor.
“This specific area used to thrive on game day, whether it was the Raiders, the A’s, the Warriors. It was amazing,” said East Oakland native Duane Tatum, who lives near The Coliseum. “It’s frustrating because you start thinking about all the economic activity you’re losing.”
With businesses gone, so are the jobs and tax revenue. He said the job loss hits his East Oakland community the hardest.
“I was tired of complaining about it. I wanted to put feet on the ground and actually tried to turn this thing around. You’ve got other cities that are thriving. We’re headed the opposite way,” said Tatum.