When asked how they feel about crime in their city, many Fremont residents say it’s lower on their list of concerns.
“I’ve always felt safe, I’ve never been a victim of crime here,” said 40-year resident Bob Greever. “But I do wish they’d expand Central Park like they promised, I guess that’s something that needs work,” he jokingly added.
A number of studies support the idea that Fremont is safe. A 2023 WalletHub report ranked Fremont the 19th safest city in the U.S. out of 200 cities analyzed, considering factors like community safety, home security and natural disaster risk. In 2022, it was the highest ranking California city on the list.
Still, some wish the city would do more to improve public safety. A five-year comparative dataset published in the Fremont Police Department 2023 Annual Report shows that incidences of property crimes were on a steady increase from 2019 through 2022, then dropped only by 2% in 2023. Incidences of violent crimes remained relatively steady. Many residents feel the homelessness crisis in the city overlaps with public safety issues, saying they feel less safe as encampments continue to pop up throughout the city.
Wendy Locher reflected on her experience as a newly divorced single woman, saying she feels less safe now. As she sat on a park bench in the shade, she explained that she enjoys spending time in Fremont’s nature because it’s a safe place for her to meditate and process her feelings about her recent split. But once the moon rises from behind the Mission Peak Hills and nightfall descends upon the city, she knows it’s time to head home.
“I don’t feel like being out at night, I’m afraid I could get mugged,” Locher said.
Locher’s feelings of unease mirror her experience in nearby city Hayward, where she lived for seven years before moving to Fremont in June. In her time as a resident there, she experienced multiple break-ins and car thefts. While the going narrative, she said, seems to be that the unhoused cause the majority of public safety issues in the city, Locher has been victimized by “all kinds of people.” She believes it’s important for the city to penalize all criminals equally.
“Everybody blames the homeless people,” she said, “but really it’s the punks and people who want free stuff in life.”
Locher believes in supporting law enforcement to increase safety, saying the job is tough and she has respect for people who choose to pursue it. With a nephew about to graduate from a police academy in Wisconsin, policing has been at the forefront of her mind as she thinks about how her city could feel safer. She feels comforted by a robust police presence, and said the next mayor should be committed to supporting those in uniform.
“It’s a tough job, and they’re trying to make a difference,” she said.
“I don’t care about the party. The big deal for me is change.”
Vijay Kumar, Fremont resident
Vijay Kumar, another 40-year resident, believes the issue is complex. Like other residents, he understands that the homelessness problem contributes to people feeling unsafe in the city. Kumar spends a lot of time with unhoused individuals in his free time, delivering food and other essential services to those on the streets. He believes that making sure everyone has access to the resources they need can solve crime before it happens by helping people avoid desperate situations. Kumar believes a mayor committed to service can help the city thrive.
“I don’t care about the party,” Kumar said. “The big deal for me is change.”
