Attacks on Oaklanders Up More than 29 Percent

Although homicides rose to 148 in 2006 from 94 the year before, that is not the real news for Oakland residents.

There were 3,150 armed and strongarm robberies last year, nearly 600 more than in 2005, an increase of 29 percent.

Thugs assaulted 693 people with a firearm in 2006, an increase of 50 percent over 2005.

These are the statistics from crime reports at the Oakland police department. Official figures reported to the FBI may vary slightly.

Officials who want to hide the lack of public safety in Oakland cite the overall figure: crimes of all major categories were up "only" 5.5 percent in 2006. Indeed, the overall sum washes out the jump in violent attacks because some types of crime declined. Burglaries were down 7 percent. There are still far too many of them: 7,899 reported, but that's down from 8,521; the drop cancels out a lot of the increase in attacks and violent robberies, as a matter of arithmetic. That is small consolation to the victims. Our guess is that Oakland residents and merchants – at least, the ones who have not given up reporting burglaries – added alarms, lighting, window bars and other security protections after years of break-ins. Domestic violence was down almost 14 percent, too.

None of this changes the fact that in 2006 thugs did more mugging, beating and other attacking of Oakland residents, for the sheer heck of it or while robbing their victim.

The absolute levels of crime remain high. Auto thefts, for example, for which Oakland ranked six among all major U.S. cities in 2004, rose another 7 percent from 2005 to 2006.

Welcome to the city with half a police department. That is not a sarcastic joke. It is a summary of what happens all the time. For example, this incident was reported Jan. 27 on a neighborhood email list:

"I just met my new across-the-street neighbor in the 4700 block of (a street half a mile below MacArthur Blvd). She moved in last week. I'm sorry to report that her dog was involved in a hit and run accident on their first day and her daughter's car was stolen last night. Jeez, they aren't even unpacked yet!"

The city council evades what should be its number one priority. Councilmember Quan advised a victim of auto theft to find some other vehicle and drive around looking for the stolen one. Oakland needs at least 1,100 police officers, not the 700 or so it has now, but the council refuses to commit to a solid plan to get them. Instead, councilmembers sold voters new Measure Y taxes in 2004 with a promise of 802 officers, a commitment that the City has not kept more than two years later. Meanwhile, councilmembers grant the money to an agency that promotes the sideshow culture. The City even officially denied in court that it owes Oakland residents so much as one officer for their money.

The 2006 crime tally shows that Oakland is not the same as other cities. This city lacks basic public safety, and the politicians wedded to developers and some corrupt social agencies do not care.