State Gov. Gavin Newsom announced he will flood Oakland, California, with high-tech surveillance cameras to combat crime across the city.
Problem, reaction, solution?
In a press release, the Democrat said the California Highway Patrol has contracted with Flock Safety to install 480 cameras across the city.
The cameras will be able to identify and track vehicles by license plate, type, color, decals, and bumper stickers.
AP reports that the cameras will give the authorities real-time alerts of suspect vehicles.
However, Newsom dismissed the move as an infringement on privacy, saying that surveillance networks will give law enforcement new tools.
It will “effectively combat criminal activity and hold perpetrators accountable — building safer, stronger communities for all Californians,” Newsom said.
Oakland nonprofit Anti Police-Terror Project released a statement slamming the installation of the cameras.
“For every dollar we spend on surveillance cameras, that’s a dollar not spent on proven public safety strategies,” the group said in a statement.
“When we decide to deploy 480 new cameras we should be asking how many people could be housed with the money we spend on this, how many people could be trained to do living wage jobs.”
The city has seen crime explode over the past 12 months, and there is no sign of it letting up anytime soon.
According to a 2023 report, murders are up 37 percent compared to four years earlier, while robberies jumped 30 percent.
Meanwhile, car break-ins exploded by 40 percent, and car thefts “more than doubled.”
The news comes after n-N-Out Burger closed its only restaurant in Oakland due to car break-ins, property damage, theft, and robberies, Breitbart reported.
Over in San Francisco, a similar crime trend continues.
As we reported last month, Macy’s in San Francisco is set to shutter this month following an announcement by Democratic San Francisco Board of Supervisors President Aaron Peskin.
Peskin released a statement on X, noting Macy’s would be downsizing by 150 locations, including the city’s downtown store in Union Square.
Peskin stated:
“Macy’s was one of the last holdouts against the national trend of retail closures and consolidations, but as with every seeming blow to our downtown recovery, I see a potential opportunity.”
“This site is an opportunity development site, with potential for mixed-use, food & beverage and residential on the upper floors, even before the pandemic.”
READ: Alex Soros Hit with Community Notes for Claiming ‘Low Crime’ in Progressive Cities
Cool. Newsome is pushing for the day when a felon caught on camera can be virtually arrested, released, ignore his court date, and re-offend all without police or judicial involvement.
The efficiency is breathtaking!
Surveillance cameras need to be installed in Newsom’s office and home, so that the PEOPLE who pay his salary, the PEOPLE he works for, can see what he’s up to at all times because he is a criminal committing crimes against the PEOPLE HE WORKS FOR and cannot be trusted! He really belongs in a prison cell!!! The sooner the better!