The City of Oakland has always taken pride in its diverse community, artistic vibe, beautiful scenery, locally-owned shops, award-winning mutli-cultural cuisine, and civic pride. But that pride is being challenged as 3 years after the life-changing pandemic, a disturbing rise in crime continues to plague the vibrant East Bay city.

Oakland Police Department reports that there has been a steady increase in city-wide crime overall since the pandemic, with the highest increases in most categories occurring in the last year. Burglary and other property crimes increased 36%, violent crime increased 21% and the rate of vehicle theft has literally doubled.

The Latino business community has been hit particularly hard with increased robberies, break-ins and other crimes occurring mostly after dark. Still, the spirit of Oakland is heard in the passion of the people to find solutions to restore safety to their beloved city and make things perhaps even better than before.

Mirsha Rodriguez, who owns an insurance business for nearly 20 years in the Fruitvale district, has seen the uptick in crime firsthand. She says businesses aren’t bustling as much and rarely stay open late. She experienced forced entry in her building but feels fortunate it wasn’t as bad as some of her neighbors, who have been held at gunpoint. Rodriguez says changes are necessary to turn things around.

“I used to walk every day from 21st to 73rd Ave. With more crime and homelessness, I don’t feel safe anymore,” says Rodriguez. “If crime increases, businesses will be forced to close and people will take their business somewhere else.”

Rodriguez strongly advocates for more police involvement, among other improvements by the city to deter violent crime.

The Oakland Police Department (OPD) is well aware of the rise in crime and its challenges. Darryl Rodgers, Trust Building Officer with the East Oakland Police Department, attributes the increase to many factors including low staff, which can affect 911 response times and how proactive officers can be; and economic challenges which can influence individuals to engage in crime.

Leticia Chavez has been the owner of the restaurant Obelisco in the Fruitvale area for 17 years. She also heads an important group of about 30 merchants called the Merchant Committee, who meet regularly and focus on solutions to the growing problem. All have had personal experience with the surge in crime, and it has affected their businesses and patrons. She feels the Latino community has especially been impacted due to their unique circumstances.

“One of the biggest problems the Latino community faces is the language barrier that prevents people from reporting crimes,” says Chavez. “So, while we could use more police officers on the streets, we as a community need to do more to ensure the police are actually called upon to help.”

Chavez prefers to focus on solutions to the crime problem and empowers other merchants by asking what they can do collectively to prevent future crime. Some proposed solutions include assigning non-police volunteer ambassadors to patrol streets to ensure crime is caught in real time and assist victims in reporting crime by phone or online, adding more lighting in dark areas, cutting back overgrown shrubbery and installing cameras to record street activity.

The Merchant Committee has been working closely with the Unity Council, a non-profit organization that for 50 years has promoted social equity and improved quality of life in Fruitvale. They work directly with Oakland Police Department, Oakland Fire Department and the Department of Violence Prevention. The Merchant Committee and the Unity Council, headed by CEO, Chris Iglesias, will meet again next week to discuss more solutions including preparations for a day of beautification called “Clean-up Day” on October 25th. On this day, the community, merchants and residents, will work together to clean up the neighborhood, covering graffiti, painting, planting and other efforts to make Fruitvale great again and appear more welcoming.

“The Unity Council is committed to working side by side with community members and those most impacted by the recent uptick in violence so that we can continue to improve the health and safety of everyone in Fruitvale and the surrounding communities,” says Iglesias, who is helping provide what the participants need to make “Clean-up Day” a success.

City-wide efforts to demand something be done about increased crime are ongoing. Walks, rallies and even a strike on September 26, 2023 brought together business owners to send a louder message to City Hall that the car break-ins, carjackings, robberies and assaults cause businesses to lose customers and perhaps more doors to close permanently.

“Without basic safety, there is no business. Without basic safety, there is no community. Without safety, there is no city,” said Jennifer Tran, President of the Oakland Vietnamese Chamber of Commerce, at the event.

Chavez agrees. She says that naturally they welcome Oakland administration and law enforcement to fulfill their responsibility to protect the people. And it appears many efforts are indeed being made.

According to Officer Rodgers, the OPD has deployed Foot Patrol officers in designated crime laden areas throughout Oakland. Four Trust Building Liaison Officers have been assigned to Chinatown, Fruitvale, Deep East Oakland and Little Saigon. Both officers in Fruitvale are Spanish speaking and have established relationships with residents, visitors, business owners and stakeholders in the area. OPD continues to deploy their Violent Crime Operations team for focused, intelligence-driven law enforcement to catch criminals.

“Our Crime Gun Intelligence Center is actively engaged in firearm tracing and ballistic analysis,” says Officer Rodgers, “and we are working with our local, state, and federal law enforcement partners, collaborating on investigations and enforcement.”

Officer Rodgers also reminds citizens they can practice behaviors that can help keep them safe such as being aware of their surroundings, being discreet with their phones, purses, jewelry and other valuables, walking with others in well-lit, high traffic areas, not using ATMs at night, no leaving valuables or personal information in cars, parking in well-lit areas and if being followed, driving to a safe place like the police or fire departments. Above all, don’t hesitate to call 911.

In an effort to address understaffing issues in the OPD, the Oakland City Council just passed a public safety resolution bill that eventually should result in more 911 dispatchers, police officers, violence prevention programs, and surveillance equipment for local businesses. Soon more help is expected to be on the way.

Chavez feels it is not about pointing fingers, however. She is confident that it is also their responsibility as citizens and merchants to be part of the solution.

“Latinos are always optimistic,” says Chavez. “We are not looking for blame, war or revenge. Just a better life and a belief that together we can make a difference for a more safe and positive future.”