Leading business visionary, real estate developer and philanthropist Rick Caruso has some strong opinions about the rocketing crime wave and anti-police sentiment in Los Angeles. Speaking Friday with KABC’s Frank Mottek (hear the interview here: https://omny.fm/shows/kabc-podcasts/mottek-on-money-12-03-21) Caruso says first, you can’t fight crime when you have 600 fewer police on the streets.
“The cops can’t even cover the city to protect its residents. If you compare it from 2019, this is what’s really horrifying. Homicides in LA City are up almost 50%. Aggravated assaults since 2019 up 16% and motor vehicle theft up over 50%.” Caruso says most people he talks to don’t feel safe taking a walk or going shopping and out to eat and that’s wrong.
“We’re basically empowering the criminals. We’re sending them a message. You can go break the law and you can get arrested and we’re going to let you back on the street.”
He’s referring to the recent arrests of 14 people, most of who made bail either because it was so low or because of the zero bail policies. One of Caruso’s properties is the Grove. The Nordstrom there was recently hit by a flash-mob, smash and grab robbers.
Caruso went on to say the decisions of a lot of elected officials from a year or two ago are coming to roost.
“What’s predictable is preventable and a lot of people saw this coming. Now that it’s here, we need to reverse course.”
Rick Caruso was a guest on Mottek on Money, heard weeknights at 6 on 790 KABC.
Hear the Mottek on Money pocast here: https://omny.fm/shows/kabc-podcasts/mottek-on-money-12-03-21