A Progressive City Debates Crime

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Conversations of Note

The prevailing public conversation about crime has been upended in one of the most progressive enclaves in America, where a storied civil-rights organization has had enough. In Oakland, California, the local branch of the NAACP released a scathing open letter on crime last week that purports to capture the frustrations of a community where many now live in fear.

1. Oakland residents are sick and tired of our intolerable public safety crisis that overwhelmingly impacts minority communities. Murders, shootings, violent armed robberies, home invasions, car break-ins, sideshows, and highway shootouts have become a pervasive fixture of life in Oakland. We call on all elected leaders to unite and declare a state of emergency and bring together massive resources to address our public safety crisis.
2. African Americans are disproportionately hit the hardest by crime in East Oakland and other parts of the city. But residents from all parts of the city report that they do not feel safe. Women are targeted by young mobs and viciously beaten and robbed in downtown and uptown neighborhoods. Asians are assaulted in Chinatown. Street vendors are robbed in Fruitvale. News crews have their cameras stolen while they report on crime. PG&E workers are robbed and now require private security when they are out working.
3. Everyone is in danger.

The letter proceeds to lay blame for the crisis on local leadership and their progressive policies, stating:

1. Failed leadership, including the movement to defund the police, our District Attorney’s unwillingness to charge and prosecute people who murder and commit life threatening serious crimes, and the proliferation of anti-police rhetoric have created a heyday for Oakland criminals. If there are no consequences for committing crime in Oakland, crime will continue to soar.
2. People are moving out of Oakland in droves. They are afraid to venture out of their homes to go to work, shop, or dine in Oakland and this is destroying economic activity. Businesses, small and large, struggle and close, tax revenues vanish, and we are creating the notorious doom-loop where life in our city continues to spiral downward. As economic pain increases, the conditions that help create crime and criminals are exacerbated by desperate people with no employment opportunities.
3. We are in crisis and elected leaders must declare a state of emergency and bring resources together from the city, the county, and the state to end the crisis. We are 500 police officers short of the number that experts say Oakland needs. Our 911 system does not work. Residents now know that help will not come when danger confronts them. Worse, criminals know that too.

The authors call for a multiracial anti-crime coalition, and imply that would-be members of such a coalition have been too intimidated to form one:

1. We urge African Americans to speak out and demand improved public safety. We also encourage Oakland’s White, Asian, and Latino communities to speak out against crime and stop allowing themselves to be shamed into silence. There is nothing compassionate or progressive about allowing criminal behavior to fester and rob Oakland residents of their basic rights to public safety. It is not racist or unkind to want to be safe from crime.

And it advocates for social programs and economic development to address root causes of crime:

1. Our youth must be given alternatives to the crippling desperation that leads to crime, drugs, and prison. They need quality education, mentorship, and, most importantly, real economic opportunities. Oakland should focus on creating skilled industrial and logistics jobs that pay family sustaining wages, and vocational training so Oakland residents can perform those jobs. With this focus we can produce hundreds, if not thousands, of the types of jobs desperately needed to stem economic despair. Unfortunately, progressive policies and failed leadership have chased away or delayed significant blue collar job development in the city, the Port of Oakland, and the former Army Base. That must change! We also must continue with mentoring programs like the Oakland branch of the national OK Program that steers youth away from criminal activity. We believe that young people currently in the criminal life will choose another path if they are shown a way.

In response to the letter, the Alameda County District Attorney’s Office released the following statement to local media outlets: “We are disappointed that a great African-American pastor and a great African-American organization would take a false narrative on such an important matter. We would expect more from Bishop Bob Jackson and the Oakland Chapter of the NAACP.”

Commenting on the NAACP’s letter, the civil libertarian criminal-defense attorney Scott H. Greenfield argued at his blog, Simple Justice, “There is nothing inconsistent about wanting better cops, who treat citizens respectfully, don’t violate their constitutional rights and don’t resort to needless violence, and wanting police to do the job of protecting citizens.” He continued:

1. Nobody wants to be wrongfully beaten by a cop. Nobody wants to be beaten by a vicious criminal either. Nobody wants people who are inclined to commit crimes, whether because economic circumstances aren’t as wonderful as Bidenomics tells them or just because committing crimes is a quicker path to getting what

   SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

   1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

   • SDG 16: Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions
   • SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth
   • SDG 4: Quality Education

   2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

   • SDG 16.1: Reduce violence and related death rates
   • SDG 16.3: Promote the rule of law and ensure equal access to justice
   • SDG 8.5: Achieve full and productive employment and decent work for all
   • SDG 4.1: Ensure that all girls and boys complete free, equitable, and quality primary and secondary education

   3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

   • Homicide rates
   • Crime rates
   • Number of police officers
   • Economic activity and business closures
   • Educational attainment and enrollment rates

   4. Table: SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

   SDGs	Targets	Indicators
   SDG 16: Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions	16.1: Reduce violence and related death rates	Homicide rates, crime rates
   SDG 16: Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions	16.3: Promote the rule of law and ensure equal access to justice	Number of police officers
   SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth	8.5: Achieve full and productive employment and decent work for all	Economic activity, business closures
   SDG 4: Quality Education	4.1: Ensure that all girls and boys complete free, equitable, and quality primary and secondary education	Educational attainment, enrollment rates

   Explanation:

   – The issues highlighted in the article relate to crime, public safety, and economic development in Oakland, California.

   – SDG 16 addresses peace, justice, and strong institutions, which includes reducing violence and promoting the rule of law.

   – SDG 8 focuses on decent work and economic growth, which is relevant to the economic impact of crime and the need for job opportunities.

   – SDG 4 pertains to quality education, as mentioned in the article’s call for improved education and vocational training opportunities.

   – The targets under these SDGs include reducing violence and crime rates, increasing the number of police officers, achieving full employment, and ensuring access to quality education.

   – The indicators mentioned or implied in the article include homicide rates, crime rates, the number of police officers, economic activity, business closures, educational attainment, and enrollment rates.

   Behold! This splendid article springs forth from the wellspring of knowledge, shaped by a wondrous proprietary AI technology that delved into a vast ocean of data, illuminating the path towards the Sustainable Development Goals. Remember that all rights are reserved by SDG Investors LLC, empowering us to champion progress together.

   Source: theatlantic.com

    

   

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