Is Boston Becoming the New San Francisco?
Boston Mayor Michelle Wu is eager to emulate the failing policies of liberal cities like San Francisco, Philadelphia, and New York, where property crimes have surged alarmingly. It’s clear she’s taken a page from a playbook that’s more about virtue signaling than safeguarding the citizens of Boston.
Under Wu’s administration, an array of offenses, including shoplifting, disorderly conduct, breaking and entering, property destruction, larceny under $250, and trespassing, would be virtually ignored by law enforcement. These are not merely ‘low-level’ crimes as they are often portrayed; they are the seeds of chaos that undermine public safety and erode community trust.
The policy proposal follows in the dubious footsteps of former Suffolk County District Attorney Rachael Rollins, who not only promoted this ‘do-not-prosecute’ list but also found her way into the Biden administration before resigning under an ethical cloud. Rollins’ legacy, which Wu embraces wholeheartedly, aims to decriminalize what they consider minor offenses but in reality, invites lawlessness into the heart of Boston.
Moreover, Wu’s radical agenda includes stripping the Boston Police Department of essential resources. Her plans to ‘demilitarize’ law enforcement—banning tear gas, rubber bullets, and police dogs—coupled with her intent to publicize police use-of-force records, could potentially endanger the lives of police officers and further cripple their ability to maintain order.
Woke Policies on Crime Destroy Cities
Wu’s policy proposals do not just represent a soft approach to crime; they signal a profound misunderstanding of the nature of public safety. Her approach—de-funding the police, making the job of law enforcement more dangerous, and turning a blind eye to criminal activities—will inevitably lead to a less safe Boston. This reckless roadmap will likely transform Boston into another exhibit of urban decay, mirroring the crime spikes and quality-of-life deterioration seen in other cities that have experimented with similar policies.
Woke leadership is a regressive march toward chaos. Bostonians need to understand that these policies do not lead to a more equitable or safer city. Instead, they set the stage for a breakdown in the social order, where the rights of the law-abiding are sacrificed at the altar of ideological extremism.