America woke up shocked this week to video scenes of a terrorist mowing down New Year’s Eve revelers on Bourbon Street.
While law enforcement looks for possible connections to international groups, there is a domestic factor closer to home that may also be a contributing factor: the post-George Floyd, "Defund the Police" movement which has stripped cities of much-needed on-duty police officers.
More than four years after the "defund the police" movement took hold, New Orleans has been suffering from a police shortage crisis.
In 2023, the New Orleans police force was operating just above 50% capacity — at just 900 officers on a force that once had 1,600 officers.
In fact, the city of New Orleans became so concerned about the shortage of police officers that in the last two years it has recruited civilians to serve as officers to respond to things such as non-injury car accidents.
This disgraceful drawdown of law enforcement officers in Democratic-run cities like New Orleans is undoubtedly a contributing factor for terrorists choosing where to make their mark.
As the city of New Orleans struggles daily with an adequate number of police officers for mundane tasks, such as traffic and parking tickets, there is no doubt that high-capacity events such as New Year’s Eve, the Sugar Bowl, and the upcoming Super Bowl are even more difficult to manage in order to ensure the public’s safety.
This crisis of law enforcement isn’t just happening in New Orleans.
In cities like New York, the drawdown of police has increased violent crime levels.
Even though city leaders are boasting that overall crime is finally starting to recede, violent crimes such as murder and rape are still spiking.
Violent attacks such as a migrant lighting a woman on fire on the subway, perpetrators shoving human beings onto train tracks, violent attacks on the street, murder and rape have all increased in New York City and show no signs of slowing.
Even in George Floyd’s own city of Minneapolis, murder rose 50% in the wake of his death and ensuing protests.
Rape spiked 22%.
Los Angeles cut its police budget $150 million, and also experienced a crime spike.
Austin, Texas cut $150 million from its police budget and saw a murder increase of 200%.
Washington, D.C. cut its police budget $22 million with the same results: exorbitant crime.
These crime rates are bad enough on their own; however, add to this boiling pot our dangerous open border crisis and radical jihadists looking to attack freedom-loving Americans, and you have a recipe for disaster.
If Democratic Party leaders in these liberal-run cities truly cared about the people they serve, they would take a fresh look at their budgets and ensure that their police departments are fully staffed and their citizens are protected.
Until then, as radical terrorists look for places to strike, you can bet your bottom taxpayer dollar that cities suffering from a shortage of first responders will be among the first places evildoers strike for maximum impact.
Jennifer Kelly is the author of the forthcoming book, "The Real War on Women: Time’s Up for Radical Feminism and the Democrats' Liberal, Progressive, Socialist Agenda," and is host of the new nationally-syndicated show, ''All-American Radio with Jennifer Kelly.'' Read Jennifer Kelly's Reports — More Here.