How Progressive Government Set the Stage for the L.A. Riots

The city’s failed policies on crime, economics and schools hurt immigrants more than anyone else

By Allysia Finley. Excerpts:

"The Los Angeles Police Department has about 1,300 fewer officers than a decade ago—and about half as many per capita and nearly 90% fewer per square mile than New York City."

"he mayor this spring proposed eliminating another 400 police positions to close the city’s $800 million budget hole, caused by ballooning pension costs and lawsuit payouts. The LAPD has also struggled with low morale and recruitment owing to lax enforcement policies that let lawbreakers run free. Crimes such as shoplifting, vandalism, disorderly conduct and trespassing are rarely prosecuted."

"Los Angeles County has lost some 1.4 million people due to domestic out-migration since 2010, which has been offset in part by an influx of 530,000 immigrants."

"many of those immigrants lack the qualifications . . . to serve in the city’s police force."

"high minimum wages are pricing unskilled workers out of jobs, to the detriment of immigrants, young people and public safety."

"The minimum wage in L.A. is $17.28, and the state requires fast-food restaurants to pay $20 an hour. The Employment Policies Institute’s Michael Saltsman calculates that California’s unemployment rate for teens was 21.2% in April—about double the nationwide figure—and 9.7% for adults 20 to 24, vs. 7.2% on average in the rest of the country."

"Only 21% of the city’s eighth-graders scored proficient or higher in reading last year on the Nation’s Report Card, and 19% in math."