Oakland businesses banded together on Tuesday to protest the rising crime levels and the city’s inadequate response to their public safety concerns. ⁠ ⁠ Many business owners closed their establishments to demand increased support from local, state and federal leaders in addressing the crime wave that has plagued Oakland. A conference was held outside Le Cheval, a beloved Vietnamese restaurant, that will close on Saturday after nearly 40 years of operation due to crime.⁠ ⁠ During the strike, business owners called for greater resources, including the addition of 1,000 Oakland police officers, increased support from various levels of government and a declaration of a state of emergency in Oakland. The strike also came in the wake of Oakland missing the deadline to apply for state funds to combat retail theft, further exacerbating the problem. ⁠ ⁠ While Oakland Mayor Sheng Thao did not respond to the strike directly, she previously expressed a willingness to work with business owners on s...