Alameda County District Attorney Pamela Price compared the new recall campaign against her to the January 6th insurrection at the U.S. Capitol during a recent interview with KTVU. Despite the outrage over her comments, Price remains defiant and is determined to stick to her progressive policies. The recall effort is primarily driven by Oakland's Chinatown community advocate, Carl Chan, who expressed dissatisfaction with Price's handling of the case involving two men accused of killing toddler Jasper Wu during an interstate shooting.
Six months after being elected @AlamedaCountyDA, Pamela Price doubles down on progressive platform, comparing new recall effort to Jan. 6 insurrection, @ZakSNews @KTVU reports pic.twitter.com/tpCzW6OBjR
— Henry K. Lee (@henrykleeKTVU) July 17, 2023
A CBS News article detailed Price's response to the recall effort and her critics, suggesting that the campaign is run by outside special-interest groups supported by the Republican Party. Exacerbating the situation is the city's recent surge in violence, including a 14% increase in robberies since last year.
Price's notable stand is that the role of a district attorney has little to no impact on crime rates, as she mentioned in the CBS News interview. She stated, "To create a safe community, we need to invest in alternatives to incarceration." However, her critics, such as Barry Donelan of the Oakland Police Officers' Association, believe that her policies have made their work more challenging.
Embattled Alameda County DA Pamela Price responds to recall effort, critics
— Betty Yu (@bett_yu) July 17, 2023
"The DA's role has really no impact on crime,” Price said.
Less than halfway into a 15-minute interview, Price's PR person Patti Lee pressed me to ask about her accomplishments. https://t.co/ryxcFxCbHI pic.twitter.com/5XmxqKYCUo
It's not just about her progressive policies, but also the decisions made in high-profile cases such as the murder of toddler Jasper Wu and Home Depot loss prevention employee Blake Mohs, that rub many the wrong way, and with her recent comments, the embattled DA seems to be digging herself deeper into controversy rather than seeking resolution with the community desperate for answers and a push towards safety.
Price's administration has faced several resignations of seasoned prosecutors, citing their inability to legally and ethically fulfill their duties to represent the rights of victims under her lead. This exodus of experienced legal professionals from her office raises further concerns about the public's confidence in the Alameda County District Attorney's Office's ability to handle cases effectively and support crime victims.
It's worth noting that despite the widespread outcry, Pamela Price is not backing down from her progressive stance and contentious statements. The recall effort, officially launched by the group "Save Alameda for Everyone" (S.A.F.E), signals the formal beginning of fundraising and signature collection; however, it remains to be seen what impact it will have on Price's overall approach to her role as the district attorney.