It’s worth noting, as we approach the fifth anniversary of Oakland’s Encampment Management Policy (EMP), that almost every element of that policy, which the City Council unanimously approved on Oct. 20, 2020, has never been implemented, or else has been interpreted by the City Council in such a way as to nullify it.

The entire premise for the existence of the woke left is that racism has indelibly scarred our country, and the business of politicians is to un-do it as quickly and radically as possible. Indeed, without this assumption, the left would have no agenda, no purpose or raison d’etre.

The recent crime wave in Oakland—multiple bank robberies, a smash-and-grab at a jewelry store, a double homicide in the Hills, a robbery at gunpoint by Lake Merritt, the ramrod burglary of two dispensaries, and seven shootings last weekend--prompted Barbara Lee’s dismal performance in front of the nightly news cameras, waving shiny objects and assuring everyone, “Nothing to see here, we’re making progress!”

I’m so proud of San Jose and Mayor Matt Mahan for dealing firmly with their encampment problem. I’m also jealous. If you compare San Jose to Oakland, the former has stepped up to the plate and behaved maturely and responsibly in cleaning up these awful slums that befoul streets and parks. Meanwhile, Oakland has done little to nothing concerning our own encampments and shanties because, as L. Schaaf once insanely babbled, “We love our unhoused brothers and sisters!”

Years ago (I think in the 1990s) there was a news story about a criminal who was trying to break into a store. He snuck up on the roof after hours and figured he could gain entry through a skylight and plunder the contents. He did gain entry, but not the way he wanted: he fell through the skylight down to the floor and was injured. Later, he sued the building owner for not making the skylight safe.