Alameda County District Attorney Pamela Price could be getting the boot in November. The prosecutor, known for her lenient approach to violent crime, is set to face a recall vote later this month.
The recall effort has gained momentum over the past year due to her policies, which seem to prioritize protecting violent criminals instead of the people they harm. The outcry from the community has been fierce, which could spell trouble for the embattled DA.
The Alameda County Board of Supervisors selected the November general election for the date when voters will decide whether to recall Democratic District Attorney Pamela Price.
The board of supervisors voted 3-0 during a meeting on Tuesday to set the recall vote for Nov. 5 rather than a special election after the recall effort was confirmed during a previous meeting.
Supporters of Price had pushed for the recall vote to be held on the same day as the general election, hoping high voter turnout could help her survive the bid to oust her. Those supporting the recall had advocated that the vote be held sooner, separate from the general election.
The November election will also see residents of Alameda County, which includes Oakland, vote in the presidential, Senate, and House elections, among other contests. Alameda County Registrar of Voters Tim Dupuis had pushed for the recall vote to occur alongside the general election, noting a separate special election could cost roughly $15 million to $20 million.
Alameda County has had serious issues with crime – especially property crime. This has become a significant issue for many residents who argue that Price’s office should be doing more to get criminals off the streets instead of allowing them to continue victimizing the public.
Alameda County in California has higher than average rates of both violent and property crime. The violent crime rate in the county stands at 21.4, which is slightly lower than the US average of 22.7. However, the property crime rate in Alameda County is significantly higher at 41.2, compared to the national average of 35.4. This suggests that while violent crime in the area may not be much of a concern, property-related crimes are more frequent and should be taken seriously by local authorities and residents alike.
One prominent case fueling the recall effort is that of Florence McRary, whose son Terrence McRary Jr. was gunned down by a stray bullet when he was attending a party in 2016. In a recent appearance on Fox News, she expressed frustration with the DA office’s decision to drop murder charges against her son’s killer in favor of a more lenient plea deal.
During an appearance on Fox News, Florence McRary recounted what it felt like to learn that her son would not receive justice.
“I was in total shock. I mean, it was unbelievable to realize that for the fight that took over six years to get to, that it was diminished to nothing. And while sitting there in court, learning even from the judge, Well, this is the best we can do. What is the best when your child goes out one evening and does not come home, does not return, and yet you have got to now bury your child? And the sentiment from those in the administration that work to help fight for the people did nothing. They diminished his life to absolutely nothing. So very traumatizing.”
Price also came under fire last year for going easy on those who killed 23-month-old Jasper Wu, who was caught in the crossfire in a shootout between two San Francisco gangs on the freeway in 2021. Instead of pursuing the maximum penalties for the murderers, she removed special circumstances that could have led to the death penalty or life without parole.
Price has consistently defended her destructive policies, arguing that they somehow promote racial justice while addressing systemic biases in the criminal justice system. She lashed out at her critics, accusing them of racism. “That’s racism. I’m calling it for what it is,” she said.
However, even the NAACP has taken Price to task for her refusal to punish criminals. In a letter, the organization noted that “Oakland residents are sick and tired of our intolerable public safety crisis that overwhelmingly impacts minority communities” and said that Price’s “failed leadership” has “created a heyday for Oakland criminals.”
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