Oakland Residents Demand Accountability and Change
Frontlines with Jonathan Choe makes a stop in Oakland, California, where a sense of lawlessness overwhelms the streets. Local activist Seneca Scott is leading a movement that aims to bring in a new mayor and turn around this failing city. Watch this five-minute video, which outlines the fraud, homelessness, and violence that the city’s progressive government has enabled.
Editor’s Note: The transcript that follows was automatically generated and lightly edited, so please be aware there could be typos or other small errors. The Stream is working toward a transcription service that does fast, accurate, and reliable work; thank you in advance for your patience!
00:00:10:12 – 00:00:26:14
Imagine dealing with the worst homeless crisis in the Bay area. The major fight, dude. You ok? Crime spiraling out of control. Back on international here. Notorious strip. Seen already multiple prostitutes out here. And a public school system in shambles.
00:00:26:17 – 00:00:34:06
Abc7 has reported on the city’s $129 million budget deficit. Following this dramatic fire at a homeless encampment in Oakland.
00:00:34:09 – 00:00:51:10
This is a daily reality for Oakland, California. The state of the of the city. Certain neighborhoods are packed with visible poverty and overrun by a culture of lawlessness. Gun violence and robberies recently forced the beloved In-N-Out burger to close its only restaurant in Oakland.
00:00:51:11 – 00:00:57:22
Even though it was profitable for the safety of our associates. We just felt like, this is this is not okay.
00:00:57:22 – 00:01:16:11
For a city that’s seen homicides and carjackings, nearly double. The defund the police movement, fueled by far left activists, has led to a shortage of officers. Move the Oakland Raiders out of the Bay area. And making matters worse, this city’s lost three professional sports teams just in the past few years.
00:01:16:12 – 00:01:21:17
I think it hurts even more that our community and our family. We will no longer have that.
00:01:21:18 – 00:01:34:03
While nearby San Francisco appears to be on the comeback trail with a new mayor. We’re going to get people off the streets. Prosecutors are about to lift the curtain. Oakland’s mayor was recalled and is now under federal indictment for alleged corruption.
00:01:34:05 – 00:01:38:21
That’s entangled several Oakland Power players. I have done nothing wrong.
00:01:38:23 – 00:01:42:12
This is Oakland, California mayor.
00:01:42:14 – 00:01:46:08
Community organizer Seneca Scott helped push Sheng Thao out of office.
00:01:46:10 – 00:01:49:04
You know, we always told everyone that Sheng Thao was corrupt.
00:01:49:04 – 00:01:52:12
With a grassroots campaign that captured constituent anger.
00:01:52:13 – 00:01:56:05
We’ve got to bow. We’ve been vindicated. I used to have some handcuffs here.
00:01:56:07 – 00:01:58:20
And weaponizing it into political change.
00:01:58:22 – 00:02:05:00
Mobilize tens of thousands of members so you can communicate with them. What do you believe? She didn’t do nothing. She knew what was going on.
00:02:05:02 – 00:02:10:05
Scott says the level of government fraud, mismanagement and neglect under the Thao administration.
00:02:10:06 – 00:02:13:21
You got to take them out. You’ve got to remove the political influence.
00:02:13:23 – 00:02:16:06
Has set his city back several years.
00:02:16:08 – 00:02:21:21
Easiest way to do it is to actually truly address the needs of the working class.
00:02:21:23 – 00:02:33:21
This really looks dystopian, like a scene out of Grand Theft Auto the video game. Scott showed me the proof by taking me through one of the worst RV encampments that’s been allowed to flourish unchecked for years. You don’t see in local news.
00:02:33:22 – 00:02:39:18
Not like this.
00:02:39:19 – 00:02:42:19
I won’t tolerate city council.
00:02:42:20 – 00:02:46:12
He says the city won’t be able to move forward if this indifference continues.
00:02:46:13 – 00:02:52:12
We have less than 44% with about 23% voter turnout. We’ve got to change that. We’ve got to get people voting.
00:02:52:15 – 00:03:01:04
But Scott also says there’s nowhere else to go but up, and is already mobilizing his team for the next mayoral election in April, which could make or break the city.
00:03:01:06 – 00:03:06:21
And I also want people want integrity. I want people who share values. So we’re calling on people who voted for the week off.
00:03:06:22 – 00:03:10:01
Vote April 15th and Oakland special election.
00:03:10:02 – 00:03:21:08
The two frontrunners are former Congresswoman Barbara Lee, delivering and prioritizing for you and former Oakland Council member Lauren Taylor. And they couldn’t be any more different on the Democratic spectrum.
00:03:21:11 – 00:03:23:14
They’ve said we are a city divided.
00:03:23:14 – 00:03:45:05
Lee is a progressive and wants universal basic income for the homeless, and is against encampment sweeps. I saw council members push to defund the police without a plan for how we would keep communities safe. Taylor is seen as more pragmatic and has promised to clear out tents, RVs and plans to be tougher on criminals by using drones and street cameras to enforce the law.
00:03:45:06 – 00:03:47:12
We have not been getting the leadership that we deserve.
00:03:47:12 – 00:03:49:15
So let’s do this.
00:03:49:17 – 00:03:57:19
The dreadlocks salon is in the heart of Chinatown. Okay.
00:03:57:20 – 00:04:05:10
Regardless, salon owner Charlotte Smith says a new leader must come in and focus first on public safety, just like San Francisco.
00:04:05:11 – 00:04:08:12
I know Oakland’s going to come back is really very resilient city.
00:04:08:13 – 00:04:23:18
Do you believe Oakland has a chance to come back? And how is that going to happen? Of course. The work, diligence and this time around, we’re closer with the community that’s now demanding accountability, change and a consistent voice at the table.
00:04:23:23 – 00:04:26:17
It has to go back to the people and that’s that’s the biggest issue.
00:04:26:21 – 00:04:38:04
To help unlock Oakland’s potential that’s been squandered for so many years and to set its trajectory forward for a better future. Why did you decide to keep your business here despite everything?
00:04:38:08 – 00:04:51:09
Every major city has his ups and downs, but this place has a flavor unlike any other place. So whether it is going up, is going down, is going to mellow itself, just like the stock market is going to battle itself out. That’s just the resilience.