In last Saturday’s Park Record there was a letter decrying the use of ICE agents and National Guardsmen in dealing with an increase in crime in our major cities. Some prominent city mayors say that there is no such increase, and want administration officials to join them in walking the streets of cities like Washington, D.C., and Chicago.
Unfortunately, they would be strolling the streets of Georgetown and the Mall in D.C., and the Loop in Chicago. And crime in those areas is indeed low. But try walking the streets of southeast D.C. or the South Side of Chicago after dark — that’s the part of those cities where the crime is. Those mayors and would never go walking there without a security detail, especially not at night.
But talk to the people who actually live in those areas who are afraid to go out in the evening or let their children walk to school. Those are the Americans who want a strong police presence and want the criminals arrested and prosecuted, not repeatedly released “on their own recognizance” to commit more crimes.
Many of those criminals have outstanding federal warrants, or are in our country illegally, so federal law enforcement has clear jurisdiction.
No one is enamored with the performance of our Congress. But crime in our cities, even in the less public parts of town, is the responsibility of their mayors, city councils and local prosecutors. They should welcome federal assistance rather than pretending that there’s no problem and letting their own citizens be continually victimized.
Ken Miller
Park City