Victor Davis Hanson discussed the state of lawlessness in Oakland, a city he is familiar with. He expressed concern about the high crime rate, which is significantly higher than the national average. According to a recent government report, the city is struggling to enforce laws against illegal activities such as dumping, burglary, and squatting.
As a result, the city is overwhelmed with trash, collecting millions of pounds of debris. Hanson attributed the city's problems to its approach to law enforcement, which has been influenced by leftist and socialist ideologies. He noted that the city's government has effectively stopped enforcing laws protecting public space and private property.
This has led to a surge in property crime, with the city solving only a tiny fraction of these crimes. The situation in Oakland has become so dire that a shadow industry of squatter removal services has emerged. These services, including one that uses sword-wielding operators, help landlords reclaim homes from unauthorized occupants.
Hanson argued that this is the result of a deliberate policy choice, and that voters will have to decide whether to continue down this path. Hanson's comments suggest that Oakland's experience serves as a test case for the consequences of certain policy approaches.
He warned that the city's problems are not unique and that similar policies could lead to similar outcomes in other cities.