Oakland Crime Trends Show Mixed Results Amidst "Progressive" Policy Debate

Oakland, CA – A recent social media post by Seneca Scott has reignited debate over the impact of "progressive" policies on American cities, specifically citing Oakland as an example of urban decline. Scott's tweet, shared on November 18, 2025, claims cities like Oakland are "failing the EXACT same way" due to "police abolitionist policies," high retail theft, and collapsing economies.

"We really need to talk more about the damage the 'progressive' movement has done to Oakland, CA and every other American city captured by this insidious movement," Seneca Scott stated in his tweet. He further alleged that cities "all push cookie cutter police abolitionist policies, have high retail theft, collapsing economies, shocking illegal dumping issues, graffiti everywhere, they encourage open air drug markets, eliminate math from schools and literacy rates plummet and truancy rates climb once they capture the school board."

Recent crime statistics for Oakland present a complex picture. While state data from the California Department of Justice indicates a decrease in overall violent and property crime rates across California in 2024, with a 5.5% drop in violent crime and a 10% fall in property crime, retail theft remains a concern. Shoplifting increased by 13.8% in 2024, marking a 47.5% rise compared to 2019 levels.

In Oakland specifically, the Police Department reported a 33% drop in overall crime in 2024 compared to the previous year, with decreases across various categories including homicide, aggravated assault, burglary, and auto theft. This reported reduction follows significant state interventions, including a California Highway Patrol (CHP) surge operation and the installation of 480 high-tech cameras to aid law enforcement. However, some reports, including analyses by The Center Square and the San Francisco Chronicle, suggest that Oakland's crime data may have been subject to underreporting, particularly for incidents like car break-ins.

The city has faced challenges, with businesses like In-N-Out and Denny's closing locations in 2023 citing public safety concerns and increases in robberies and motor vehicle thefts. In 2023, Oakland saw a 38% increase in robberies and a 44% rise in motor vehicle theft. The state of California has responded with substantial investments, allocating $1.7 billion since 2019 to combat crime and organized retail theft, alongside new legislation like Proposition 36 aimed at strengthening penalties for certain crimes.

Claims regarding Oakland's educational system also draw scrutiny. While specific data on "eliminating math" or plummeting literacy rates directly linked to "progressive" policies is not immediately available, Oakland Unified School District has faced ongoing challenges. The district has seen declining enrollment and has grappled with budget deficits, leading to school closures and restructuring efforts in recent years. These changes have often been met with community protests and concerns about their impact on students and neighborhoods.

The tweet also touches on allegations of "massive NGO grifts," connections to the CCP and WEF, and mayors who "never held a real job." These broader claims about political influence and corruption require specific evidence to substantiate and are often subjects of intense political debate rather than factual reporting without further investigation. The media's role, as questioned by Scott, is a continuous point of discussion in public discourse.