“There was this narrative after the pandemic – and it carries into today – that things [in Oakland] are worse than they’ve ever been,” said Nicole Lee, the founder and executive director of Urban Peace Movement (UPM), a local non-profit. “And sometimes these narratives get hijacked so people can use fear to control others. People sell products using fear, they win elections using fear. So it’s important to acknowledge when we see improvements.”

Local leaders each credit different trends when discussing the decline. Lee and other non-profit leaders emphasize the city’s strong community networks and investments in historically neglected neighborhoods. The police chief says new technology and better coordination with departments in neighboring cities has helped to solve crimes. They all agree, though, that there’s no one magic solution to stopping shootings, car break-ins and burglaries. Rather, they say, cooperation among city leaders, community organizations and law enforcement has helped steer the people police have identified as driving the violence down a different path.