ONE BIG THING: CRIME STATS IN LA
What Happened
This week, LAPD released its 2024 crime stats. Here’s what it found:
✔️Homicides fell 14% compared to last year.
✔️Homicides decreased by 40% in GRYD (Gang Reduction and Youth Development) Zones, where youth programs provide alternatives to gang involvement.
✔️Shootings, aggravated assaults, rapes, and robberies all decreased.
✔️Property crime down 6.7%,
Why it Matters
If you only listened to certain media sources, you’d think crime was skyrocketing and LA was spiraling into chaos. But the data shows crime is actually going down across the city.
Why is there such a disconnect between perception and reality?
Public safety is an incredibly important and sensitive subject – yet the media’s profit model and social media algorithms are designed to promote one-sided, fearmongering stories that scare us.
Then, right-wing media and corporations spend millions amplifying these stories to distract from far more pervasive issues hurting working families – like wage theft – which costs workers in the LA Metro area over $1.6 billion every year.
At the same time, LAPD’s officer count has been declining since 2019, and since the pandemic, crime has dropped alongside it. This doesn’t tell us that the police are doing a good or bad job of stopping crime – it tells us that public safety is about much more than just policing.
What’s Next
LA is facing a serious budget deficit, and we have to grapple with the fact that nearly half of our unrestricted funds go to the LAPD, when only around 8% of LAPD calls are for violent crime.
This challenge can be an opportunity to think bigger when it comes to public safety – investing in unarmed crisis response teams, mental health/addiction treatment, and other solutions that will work better and cost less. When you call 911 – you should receive the resources that best prioritize your safety – not a one-size-fits-all approach.
Two More Quick Hits
- LA Civil Rights Women of Impact Awards
This year at LA Civil Rights’ annual Women of Impact Awards, we were proud to recognize Dunia Perich as our district’s honoree!
As Associate Executive Director of The Bresee Foundation, Dunia has spent her career fighting for working-class and immigrant communities – helping families access resources, break cycles of poverty, and build brighter futures.
Whenever a family in need reaches out, Dunia and the Bresee team step up. Her leadership and dedication have made a lasting impact on the next generation of Angelenos, and we are so grateful for her work.
Congratulations, Dunia! 🎉
- Council Advances Measure to Reduce Illegal AirBnb’s
This week, the City Council approved a measure from Councilmembers Nithya Raman and Bob Blumenfield to improve enforcement against illegal short-term rentals. The measure would allow individuals harmed by illegal homesharing (like neighbors of disruptive party houses) to directly sue violators and recover monetary damages if successful.
Currently, LA’s short-term rental laws are rarely enforced due to limitations on city resources. By empowering community members to take legal action, this proposal seeks to address the gaps in enforcement and hold violators accountable.
Illegal Airbnbs are wreaking havoc on our neighborhoods and driving up housing costs for everyday Angelenos. After years of underenforcement, we’re committed to exploring innovative solutions to protect our communities and preserve affordable housing.
CD13 Pet of the Week
This newsletter we are naming Leila the Pet of the Week!
Known for being very sweet & affectionate, Leila does not simply go on walks…she struts. Visit the North Central Animal Shelter to meet this diva today!
