Another California District Attorney is facing a recall following her “soft-on-crime” approach following the removal of San Francisco’s Chesa Boudin in 2022. This time, Alameda County’s Pamela Price could be on her way out.
A signature gathering effort officially took off last weekend with a large push to seek out the 73,195 signatures needed to force a recall election for the progressive DA. This, 10 months after she took office.
Save Alameda for Everyone (SAFE) initiated the recall just six months after Price assumed the role, citing lenient sentencing for convicted criminals. The group is aiming for 90,000 signatures for a healthy buffer.
"D.A. Price is failing us in her responsibility to enforce the law, prosecute criminals and keep violent offenders off our streets,” the SAFE website reads.
The necessary signatures are needed by March 5, 2024 in order to get the recall on the following election cycle ballot. The San Francisco Chronicle noted that the effort has gained over 1,900 volunteers, while other reports have noted that some signature gatherers are being paid.
"We will hope to engage DA Price with open debates, talk to community members, and take an active role in rallies for victims’ rights," SAFE said.
Price, the first black women DA to be elected in Alameda County, won her race with 53% of the vote on a progressive campaign. She began getting backlash for her policies just three months after she took office, but has continued to defend her decisions.
She claims that she is focused on restorative justice, which has led to controversial plea bargains, ending sentencing enhancements (which she said are “racially biased”), refusing to charge minors as adults, and the handling of several high-profile cases.
"I came to Alameda County 40 years ago," Price said in April. "I was embraced by the people of this county and I have a great legal career here. What I expect is for the public to trust my judgment. They elected me, not some critic that has an opinion. That person can't do this job. I can."
Families of multiple homicide victims have rallied to support the recall of Price after being angered at plea deals for the murderers of their loved ones. CBS News reported that seven families said “Price should work for the public defender's office, claiming she fights for the criminals rather than the victims.”
This August, Price was slammed in the media and by critics for an instance of alleged nepotism when she hired her boyfriend, Antwon Cloird, as a senior program specialist.
Cloird was awarded the position despite an accusation of extortion from nearby Richmond business owners amounting to “tens of thousands of dollars.” His new position pays six figures.
In September of this year, Price told ABC 7 News that she was being “targeted” by the recall. She said during an interview, "I know that I am being targeted. Progressive prosecutors across the country have been targeted by right-wing folks. We know that the people who lost the election didn't want us to be here. We challenged and defeated the status quo. So yes, I am very much a target."
Price has said that most criticism against her is coming from supporters of her opponent and those who “don’t want to see change” in the justice system.
SAFE is looking for more volunteers for signature gathering.
A signature gathering effort officially took off last weekend with a large push to seek out the 73,195 signatures needed to force a recall election for the progressive DA. This, 10 months after she took office.
Save Alameda for Everyone (SAFE) initiated the recall just six months after Price assumed the role, citing lenient sentencing for convicted criminals. The group is aiming for 90,000 signatures for a healthy buffer.
"D.A. Price is failing us in her responsibility to enforce the law, prosecute criminals and keep violent offenders off our streets,” the SAFE website reads.
The necessary signatures are needed by March 5, 2024 in order to get the recall on the following election cycle ballot. The San Francisco Chronicle noted that the effort has gained over 1,900 volunteers, while other reports have noted that some signature gatherers are being paid.
"We will hope to engage DA Price with open debates, talk to community members, and take an active role in rallies for victims’ rights," SAFE said.
Price, the first black women DA to be elected in Alameda County, won her race with 53% of the vote on a progressive campaign. She began getting backlash for her policies just three months after she took office, but has continued to defend her decisions.
She claims that she is focused on restorative justice, which has led to controversial plea bargains, ending sentencing enhancements (which she said are “racially biased”), refusing to charge minors as adults, and the handling of several high-profile cases.
"I came to Alameda County 40 years ago," Price said in April. "I was embraced by the people of this county and I have a great legal career here. What I expect is for the public to trust my judgment. They elected me, not some critic that has an opinion. That person can't do this job. I can."
Families of multiple homicide victims have rallied to support the recall of Price after being angered at plea deals for the murderers of their loved ones. CBS News reported that seven families said “Price should work for the public defender's office, claiming she fights for the criminals rather than the victims.”
This August, Price was slammed in the media and by critics for an instance of alleged nepotism when she hired her boyfriend, Antwon Cloird, as a senior program specialist.
Cloird was awarded the position despite an accusation of extortion from nearby Richmond business owners amounting to “tens of thousands of dollars.” His new position pays six figures.
In September of this year, Price told ABC 7 News that she was being “targeted” by the recall. She said during an interview, "I know that I am being targeted. Progressive prosecutors across the country have been targeted by right-wing folks. We know that the people who lost the election didn't want us to be here. We challenged and defeated the status quo. So yes, I am very much a target."
Price has said that most criticism against her is coming from supporters of her opponent and those who “don’t want to see change” in the justice system.
SAFE is looking for more volunteers for signature gathering.
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