Oakland mayor says 'crime is down, you cannot hide bodies' as city receives grant to fight crime

OAKLAND, Calif. (KRON) -- With one week to go before her recall election, Oakland Mayor Sheng Thao called a news conference Monday to announce Oakland’s Department of Violence Prevention (DOVP) had received a $2 million dollar grant from the U.S. federal government. The money will be used to bolster the anti-crime ceasefire strategy that she restored when she became mayor.

“Crime is down. Crime is down, and you cannot hide bodies, so we know those numbers are accurate,” said Oakland Mayor Sheng Thao. "Due to the re-implementation of our ceasefire strategy, we are seeing a 33 percent reduction in homicides year-to-date. So far this year, 34 less people have been killed."

While the mayor is announcing the grant now, one week before Election Day, the city was actually notified they received the money one month ago. DOVP said the money will be used to add three life coaches who will have daily contact for at least a year with 75 of the most vulnerable members of Oakland’s community.

“The role of my life coaches is to work one-on-one with those individuals who have been identified as most at-risk of picking up a gun or being a victim of gun violence in the next 90 days,” said Dr. Holly Joshi of the DOVP. ”They build relationships, and they allow people the access the resources that they deserve to get off cycles of violence and to keep themselves healthy, safe and thriving."

The most recent Oakland police crime stats show year-to-date homicides are down 33 percent and violent crime is down 19 percent compared to last year. 

While the perception might be that crime is up in Oakland, stats tell a different story. With these two bumping up against each other, it remains to be seen how it will impact the recall of Mayor Thao and the reelection of those on the Oakland City Council.