Third Way: Pamela Price’s Recall: The Discrepancy Between Voting Intentions and its Consequences

 Pamela Price was elected District Attorney in Alameda County in January of 2023 and is already facing a recall campaign with thousands of signatures. This comes as a shock to many as she won the election with 53% of the vote, running a progressive campaign that focused on reformed criminal sentencing.

Despite this, several high-profile and violent cases have hit Alameda County. These cases have led many to fear for their safety and criticize Price for failing to take strict punishments against those accused. The population at the front of the recall movement is diverse, representing vulnerable populations who already fear for their safety.

It is clear this movement stems from a fear regarding public safety and a desire to protect vulnerable people. The people of Alameda County believe they deserve a better District Attorney.

High Profile Cases

The discontent surrounding Price’s position is the result of several high-profile cases that have received lenient sentencing, despite the severity of the crimes committed. Last year, an unlicensed driver drove 70 mph on the highway and sideswept a car, before abandoning his own vehicle and attempting to report it as stolen. His actions resulted in several injuries and the death of a 7-month fetus. The former DA charged him with felony reckless driving and felony leaving the scene of an accident.

However, Price charged him with vandalism, leading to a short one year spent in jail. Price’s office did not inform the woman who lost her baby about the change in charges until after the plea deal took place, which is against the law. Additionally, this year, a 2-year-old was killed by stray bullets on a highway during a gang shootout. His family worries Price will throw out gang enhancements, which increases time potentially served. Finally, a man accused of murdering three people, a sentence which gives 75 years to life, has accepted a plea from Price for a single involuntary manslaughter charge, dropping his sentence down to 15 years.

Price’s Approach as DA

These specific cases demonstrate her approach to criminal reform. She has advised her office not to use enhancements for gang association or prior crimes committed. Many people argue she does not care for the victims or their families and that no real justice is being served. Furthermore, her failure to inform victims of changes in sentencing reflects poorly on her ability to serve in her role. This year, violent crime, including homicides, shootings, and robberies is up 15% in the county. Therefore, the people of Alameda County are fed up with a lack of public safety and a feeling that justice is not being served.

The Recall Movement

The recall movement has been led by a group called SAFE, which stands for Safe Alameda For Everyone. This group has been going around the county collecting signatures to recall Price. The movement needs 75,000 signatures by March 5 and currently only has a few thousand.

While this seems unlikely to succeed, it is an echo of the recall movement successfully executed in San Francisco against Chesa Boudin. 55% of San Francisco citizens supported the recall which reflected voter frustration with quality of life. Including, street conditions such as homelessness, substance abuse, property crime, violence against Asian Americans, and mental illness. There was also significant media coverage of organized theft in the area, another issue of concern in Alameda County.

Similar to Price, Boudin ran on a progressive platform, campaigning for the elimination of cash bail, establishing a unit to re-evaluate wrongful convictions, and refusing to assist Immigration and Customs Enforcement with raids and arrests. While voters supported the recall, it was right-wing businesses that funded this campaign to successfully recall Boudin.

Voter Shifts Occurring

Therefore, while the circumstances between Boudin and Price are very similar, it seems that Boudin faced a much more organized coalition that ousted him. However, both recall campaigns reflect the apparent contradiction of progressive voting intentions and real safety concerns.

Additionally, the media has played a big role in both campaigns, favoring the recall campaigns’ side and demonstrating the lack of safety and justice being served. It seems Price’s recall campaign reflects a change in public sentiment which was first shown through Boudin’s successful recall.

The Population of Alameda County

Another important aspect of the recall movement is understanding the population that is most affected by Price’s actions. The faces of the recall movement are people who either know a victim or can relate to the family of a victim. Lori Mohs, a leader of SAFE is at the forefront because her son was killed several months prior. She fears under Price, the killer will get a more lenient sentence.

Overall, Alameda is a racially diverse county, with Asians making up 31.4%, and White people being 29.9%. People of Hispanic descent make up 11.3% of the population, and African Americans 9.92%. Moreover, the people at the forefront of the recall campaign are poor and working-class people. Therefore, the issue of recall and public safety becomes much more complicated.

These people know they are inherently more vulnerable to violent crimes and see the police and the DA’s office as letting them down in terms of protection. They truly fear for their safety. While politically, they may have supported Price in the election and wanted more progressive change, they currently fear the consequences of shortened sentences and plea deals.

It is clear that while ideally, these more vulnerable groups of people want criminal justice reform, they practically want continued strict sentencing in order to feel safe and feel that justice is being served to the victim and their family.

Overall, it is clear Pamela Price has failed to strictly enforce extreme criminal sentencing. While she was elected on that promise, several high-profile and violent cases have led victims and their families to beg for justice to be served. The recall movement has continuously gained traction and reflects a move away from more progressive policies in favor of public safety concerns.

The people of Alameda County are done being pawns for political purposes. They need a new DA who will serve justice and protect the most vulnerable populations. Price can no longer hide behind her progressive policies; she needs to face the electorate she has let down.