Oakland city officials refute Trump's claims, back up with data

OAKLAND, Calif. (KTVU) - A mention by presumptive Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump has thrust the City of Oakland into the national spotlight over the last 24 hours. 

Since then, city leaders have been lining up to tell ‘The Donald’ what they think of his comment. 

Their consensus is like any American city, Oakland has its good and bad spots. 

But it's the negatives that Trump is pointing out and upsetting city leaders.

"He's trying to be Commander-in-Chief of the largest military on the face of the Earth and he's scared of Oakland. I'm not scared of Oakland," says Oakland City Councilmember Rebecca Kaplan.

"We do have some serious challenges, but at the same time I do see Oakland moving in a different direction. I don't want to talk about the past but the future," says Oakland City Councilmember Noel Gallo. 

On Wednesday, Trump was reported as saying in a Time magazine article, "There are places in America that are among the most dangerous in the world. You go to places like Oakland, or Ferguson. The crime numbers are worse. Seriously."

"To make such a mean-spirited and ignorant statement about Oakland, I couldn't just let that stand," says Oakland Mayor Libby Schaaf.

Schaaf responded to Trump's statement by tweeting that Trump’s mouth was the most dangerous place in America.

In 2013 and 2014, the FBI ranked Oakland the second most dangerous city in America. But with new growth and construction, Schaaf says the city has made a change for the better.

"So far 2016 looks like it might be one of the safest years that this city has seen in recent memory," says the mayor.  

Police stats support that statement. Since 2012, violent crimes are down 14 percent. The number of homicides is down 43 percent, robberies are also down in the same time span, but the number of rapes is on the rise. 

So with the stats in her favor, KTVU asked the Mayor would she be willing to give Donald Trump a personal invitation.  "It's not my job to issue an invitation to any candidates," says Schaaf.    

Although, the mayor wouldn't give a direct answer, other local officials did.  When asked if Trump received an invite, Councilmember Gallo answered, “Yes, placed a call into the offices. So I would like to see him come visit Oakland."

"I would welcome anyone and I guess that would include him," was Kaplan’s answer.