Democrat mayors’ answers to rising crime in big cities like New York City, Chicago, and Philadelphia have raised questions. US homicide rates increased 30% between 2019 and 2020, per FBI data, the most significant annual growth rate on record.
At least 12 large cities, including New York City, have set new homicide records in 2021. Rogue thefts and attacks are on the rise, as are planned smash-and-grab invasions during the hectic holiday shopping season.
Blaming Business Owners
Last week, Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot was criticized, due to her blaming businesses for not protecting their inventory adequately.
Remember how Democrat mayors were shutting down small businesses then allowed BLM to run around burning them down with no punishment… I do.
— Christian Walker (@ChristianWalk1r) December 9, 2021
Lightfoot said business owners must also pressure merchants. She is frustrated they are not doing more to prioritize safety by hiring security guards, installing working cameras, and locking their stock at night.
Retailers slammed Lightfoot’s remarks as ignorant. In the city of New York, Mayor Bill de Blasio requires private enterprises to get the COVID-19 vaccine, stating they must safeguard New Yorkers.
Mayor de Blasio will impose a first-in-the-nation vaccine mandate for all PRIVATE sector workers in NYC.
Bill de Blasio isn't a mayor, he is a tyrant.
— Rep Andy Biggs (@RepAndyBiggsAZ) December 6, 2021
The deadline for firms to comply is Dec. 27, four days before de Blasio leaves office. Even though murders increased last year and stayed high so far in 2021, de Blasio supported the mandate on “Fox News Sunday” over the weekend.
He boasted that as mayor, index crimes and significant crimes decreased 11% in New York City during his eight years. They supposedly accomplished this by bringing the two together. The final lie is that the city of New York is now much safer than eight years ago.
Bill de Blasio said he and the NYPD are confident they will soon return to pre-pandemic levels, surpass them, and become even safer…and the numbers show it throughout most of the city, with a few exceptions.
No Crime Problems?
After claiming the city has no problem with crime, Philadelphia District Attorney Larry Krasner prompted a reaction this week. The district attorney told reporters Monday there is no anarchy, crime, or violence crisis.
He also said they don’t let things get mushy or seep into the idea of a massive surge in crime. Krasner eventually apologized, but did not change his words.
Krasner recognized Thursday some of his previous inarticulate remarks angered people. The media’s image is not what he intended it to be. That means data-driven remedies for gun violence will be reduced to sound bites.
Krasner’s job is to watch even those sound snippets. His great support is because he does not speak or make choices like a professional politician.
District Attorney George Gascon of Los Angeles has recently come under fire over the rise in violent smash-and-grab thefts. Critics say Gascon’s zero-bail practices led to the release of 14 suspects in 11 smash-and-grab assaults last month.
The Los Angeles Times reported Gascon defended himself last week, denouncing fearmongering and falsehoods about violence in Los Angeles County.
