Are Democrat, progressive policies to blame for rising crime? Opinion – Deseret News

The reforms, championed by Black Lives Matter activists, grew out of a progressive ideology that views criminals as victims victims of a justice system steeped in white supremacy. The effects have been disastrous, particularly on the West Coast, where a culture of lawlessness has taken hold as police departments have lost funding.

Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti followed through on his pledge to cut $150 million from the Los Angeles Police Department budget. Violent crime especially murders soared. And the department was short some 500 officers in 2021, with the city now experiencing a 2022 recruitment crisis.

In San Francisco, Mayor London Breed cut $120 million from the city s police department. Homicides increased by 17% in 2021 compared to 2020. Rape, larceny, assault and motor vehicle theft are also up according to the SFPD crime dashboard. It s the worst possible time to have a staffing shortage

Traditionally safe cities have been hit the hardest in the Pacific Northwest. Homicide rates in and around Seattle and Portland hit historic highs after their police departments were defunded.

The Seattle Police Department experienced a mass exodus, leaving the city short at least 500 officers. Staffing is so low that detectives were pulled from sexual assault cases so they could work patrol, as precincts routinely fail to reach staffing minimums.

via www.deseret.com

So far, San Diego has not seen the worst of this, but that could change.