top of page

Project Diary: crowing muted by resurgent violence

James O'Brien



Just as Oakland politicians were set to crow about a 34% drop in homicides from 2023 to 2024, certain parts of the city have become a veritable bloodbath at the year’s turning. There were seven homicides between December 30th and January 3rd. There have been multiple shootings and killings since then, including one just this past Wednesday. I can’t help but think about something I read once, an authoritative source which showed that violence always increases in times of political instability, which the city and the nation are in surely in the midst of. The citizens of Oakland recalled their mayor in November and we are now in a rather chaotic transition, with multiple interim leaders running the city until we can elect a permanent new mayor. For now, we are on mayor #3 since the recall two months ago. This is not to say that the killers are paying attention to politics or city government. But more that there is a feeling that trickles down from City Hall to the streets, a feeling that no one is paying attention, that the leadership of the city is distracted by itself. This sense contributes to a kind of quasi-lawlessness, of permissiveness, perhaps, to a lack of hope, and an idea that, for now, anything goes. Certainly the transition taking place on the National level gives one a similar sense, given the character and background of the incoming president and his style of governing. I won’t say leading.


People need attention, they need to feel focused on in their struggles. Attention, attentiveness, that is where hope begins. When we feel neglected, dismissed, ignored, is when hope begins to dissipate and people -- individuals and whole communities -- feel deflated and lost. Bad things follow.

Σχόλια


bottom of page