As Joe Biden and his Democrat allies continue to promote soft-on-crime and anti-police policies that clearly have served to enable criminals, crime is surging in Democrat-controlled cities across America. Although crime is increasing nationwide, this trend is even more evident in America’s ten most populous cities that are led by Democrats: New York City, Los Angeles, Chicago, Houston, Phoenix, Philadelphia, San Diego, Dallas, San Jose, and Austin.
In New York City, New York, total crime is up 22% compared to this time last year. This surge is driven by a 46.7% increase in robberies, a 35.6% increase in grand larceny, a 20.5% increase in felony assaults, and a 73% increase in shootings. These unsettling crime statistics come less than a year after New York City defunded the New York City Police Department by nearly $1 billion, a decrease of over 15% in overall NYPD funding. This cut in funding resulted in a layoff of over 1,100 NYPD officers. New York City is currently controlled by Democrat Mayor Bill de Blasio and the Democrat-dominated New York City Council, in which Democrats hold 46 of 51 seats.
In Los Angeles, California, violence is growing rampant. The city of Los Angeles has seen a 4.1% increase in violent crime since 2020. This trend has been led by a staggering 24.8% increase in homicides and a 9.3% rise in aggravated assaults. Despite this upswing in violent crime, citywide arrests are down since 2020. However, instead of arrests being down due to less crime, this trend is due to a lack of support for officers from the city of Los Angeles following cuts in the LAPD budget that exceeded $150 million–a decrease of nearly 10% in overall LAPD funding.
Furthermore, Los Angeles’s decrease in arrests but upswing in crime can be traced to radical Democrat Los Angeles County District Attorney George Gascón, who recently announced both the abolition of the cash bail system and a halt on the prosecution of a wide range of crimes. Crimes that are no longer being prosecuted by the Los Angeles County District Attorney include resisting arrest, trespassing, disturbing the peace, making criminal threats, and drug possession. Today, the city of Los Angeles is run by Democrat Mayor Eric Garcetti and the Democrat-led Los Angeles City Council, where Democrats control 14 of 15 seats.
In Chicago, Illinois, murder is on the rise as over 300 people have been murdered in the city so far in 2021. Chicago has seen at least 336 homicides for the first six months of the year, just two more than at this point in 2020 but 33 percent more than 2019’s 252 homicides, according to an analysis by the Sun-Times. The city has recorded at least 1,892 shootings through June 28, the most recently available statistics, an increase of almost 12 percent compared to 2020’s 1,692 and a 53 percent increase over 2019’s 1,234 shootings during the same time. This significant increase in shootings has occurred despite the fact that Chicago has some of the strictest gun-control laws in America. In Chicago, there is a 72-hour waiting period on all gun purchases, a background check requirement to purchase all firearms, an “assault weapons” ban, and a red flag law that allows police and family members to petition for the removal of firearms from those they deem dangerous.
The surge in murders also comes after Chicago recently cut over $35 million from the Chicago Police Department budget. Chicago is governed by Democrat Mayor Lori Lightfoot and the Democrat-controlled Chicago City Council that Democrats maintain 46 of 50 seats on. Chicago has been tormented by the leadership of Democrat mayors for nearly a century, with every Chicago mayor since 1931 being a Democrat.
In Houston, Texas, homicides are rising at a quicker rate than any other major city in America, with over 200 people murdered in the city so far in 2021. This represents an astronomical 91% upsurge in murders since 2019. If the trend continues, Houston will have one of the highest murder rates in America in 2021. Houston is presently led by Democrat Mayor Sylvester Turner and the Democrat-run Houston City Council, wherein Democrats occupy 11 of 16 seats. Despite being located in the conservative state of Texas, the city of Houston has been plagued by Democrat mayors since 1982, with all of the last six Houston mayors being Democrats.
In Phoenix, Arizona, residents fear for their well-being as violent crime has skyrocketed 15.7% since 2019. This increase has been propelled by a shocking 43.9% rise in homicides, a 24.2% swell in aggravated assaults, and a 2.6% growth in robberies. While Phoenix is located in the historically conservative state of Arizona, the city is now run by radical Democrat Mayor Kate Gallego and the Phoenix City Council, in which Democrats enjoy a 4-3 advantage over Republicans.
In Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, homicides are soaring at a rate that far exceeds the national average. Over 275 people have been murdered in Philadelphia so far in 2021, a 37% increase since 2020. As is the case in other Democrat cities, Philadelphia’s exponential rise in homicides comes after the city slashed $14 million from the Philadelphia Police Department budget last year. Philadelphia is currently dominated by Democrat Mayor Jim Kenney and the Democrat-commanded Philadelphia City Council, where Democrats hold 14 of 17 seats. Philadelphia has been tortured by Democrat mayors since 1952, with every one of the last ten Philadelphia mayors being Democrats.
In San Diego, California, violent crime is up 1.7% since 2019, led by a 10% rise in murders and an 8% upswing in aggravated assaults. While these increases are lower than many other Democrat-controlled cities, San Diego is unique in that they are the only city on this list that increased overall police funding by over 3.5% in 2020. In fact, San Diego has steadily increased police funding every year since 2011, as the city was previously controlled by Republican mayors Jerry Sanders and Kevin Faulconer.
Now, however, the city is governed by Democrat Mayor Todd Gloria and the Democrat-dominated San Diego City Council, wherein Democrats occupy 8 out of 9 seats. It should come as no surprise that the major city that recently experienced conservative leadership and continuously funded the police is seeing lower increases in violent crime.
In Dallas, Texas, homicides are becoming a growing concern for residents. Over 100 people have been murdered in Dallas so far in 2021, a 6.25% rise since 2020. Perhaps even more disturbing, human trafficking has increased an astounding 25% in Dallas since 2020. Dallas’s upswing in human trafficking can be attributed to a surge in illegal immigration at America’s southern border, which recently hit the highest levels in 21 years as a result of Biden’s disastrous border policies. Today, Dallas is commanded by Democrat Mayor Eric Johnson.
In San Jose, California, total crime has climbed 4.6% since 2020, with violent crime shooting up 16.8%. This increase has been piloted by a shocking 75% jump in homicides and a 27.7% rise in aggravated assaults. San Jose is presently controlled by Democrat Mayor Sam Liccardo and the Democrat-led San Jose City Council that Democrats maintain 10 of 11 seats on. San Jose has been afflicted by an array of Democrat mayors since 1967, with all of the last eight San Jose mayors consecutively being Democrats.
In Austin, Texas, safety is now sadly uncertain for many residents as murders have exploded 79% since 2020, kidnappings have risen 4%, and aggravated assaults have increased 15%. Austin’s rapid growth in crime should shock nobody, since the city cut $150 million from the Austin Police Department budget back in 2020–a staggering 33% decrease in overall APD funding. Austin is currently commanded by Democrat Mayor Steve Adler and the Democrat-ruled Austin City Council, where Democrats control 9 out of 10 seats.
As a result of these troubling statistics and Biden’s lack of action against crime, a significant plurality of Americans now disapprove of the way Biden is handling the issue of crime. According to a recent ABC News/Washington Post poll released on Friday, 48% of Americans disapprove of how Biden is handling crime, whereas just 38% approve. Furthermore, the poll shows that a clear majority of Americans–55%–believe that increasing police funding will reduce crime. While this belief is held by most Americans, it starkly contrasts Biden’s comments made back in July of 2020, when he claimed “some” funding should “absolutely” be redirected away from the police.
Biden and the Democrats can attempt to ignore the facts all they want, but the facts are clear: radical Democrat policies support criminals and foster the growth of crime, and Biden and his Democrat allies are dodging the issue.