Alameda County District Attorney Pamela Price, who was elected in 2022, spoke about the progress made in serving the victims of the county.
Alameda County District Attorney Pamela Price has conceded in her recall election, following the frustration expressed by Bay Area voters about crime and homelessness, leading to the removal of multiple progressive leaders.
A majority of 63.1 percent of voters on Nov. 5 voted to replace Price, who had been in office for less than two years.
In addition to Price, Oakland voters also recalled progressive Mayor Sheng Thao.
In San Francisco, Mayor London Breed lost her reelection bid to a centrist opponent who promised to address crime and support small businesses.
“In November 2022, Alameda County took a significant step forward in improving the criminal legal system,” Price said at the press conference on Monday, referring to her election victory two years ago. “Under my leadership as district attorney, we have made tremendous progress in serving the victims of this county.”
She mentioned that her office had diversified its workforce for the first time in decades by hiring individuals fluent in Cantonese, Mandarin, Hmong, and more African Americans.
Price also talked about the creation of a public accountability unit under her leadership that uncovered years of prosecutorial misconduct, excluding certain groups from juries. She also mentioned efforts to address gun violence, the fentanyl crisis, and human trafficking, prosecuting more cases than her predecessor.
She acknowledged leaving with a record grant portfolio of over $21 million received since January 2023, crediting Chief Assistant District Attorney Royl Roberts, who will serve as interim district attorney until a new one is appointed.
Price emphasized the importance of having an equitable justice system in Alameda County and the need for accountability among public officials and law enforcement officers.
Initially running on a platform of offender rehabilitation and police accountability, Price’s tenure saw increased law enforcement presence in Oakland, supported by Governor Gavin Newsom.
Newsom extended the presence of the California Highway Patrol in Oakland and provided additional resources such as state prosecutors and surveillance cameras.
