Some singular events reveal much larger, much more significant themes.
I live in Los Angeles, and I've witnessed this city unravel for almost a decade, decaying from the inside out. This isn't some abstract political statement or distant observation. It's right here, in our streets, communities, and daily lives.
Like so many major urban areas in America, Los Angeles has abandoned any sane, fundamental way of governing a city. It's not just mismanagement — it's outright negligence.
The incident I recently read about — where a man hijacked a city bus, holding the driver and passengers hostage for an hour as they were terrorized across the city — seems like the plot of a bad action movie. Except this wasn't fiction. This happened in broad daylight in my hometown.
A passenger died. And for what? For being in the wrong place at the wrong time in a city that no longer values the safety of its people. One passenger was shot and killed, another traumatized, and an entire town left to wonder: How did we get here?
Los Angeles used to be a symbol of ambition, of hope, of opportunity. Today, it's become a symbol of failure. We've lost control. We've handed over our streets to criminals, our neighborhoods to chaos, and our governance to incompetence.
The bus driver that day, flashing a desperate "Call 911" sign, wasn't just signaling for help — he was sending a message on behalf of everyone who live here. We need help. This city needs help.
It's easy to dismiss this as an isolated incident. "Oh, it's just one hijacker," some might say. But that's the problem. This isn't isolated anymore. Crime, disorder, and lawlessness have become a daily reality for Angelenos.
Public transit, once a vital lifeline for so many working people, is now a source of anxiety and fear. You can't step onto a bus or train without wondering if today will be the day something happens to you.
But this isn't just about public safety. This is about leadership, or the lack thereof. Los Angeles has been in free fall because those in power have turned a blind eye to the city's fundamental needs.
They're too busy playing politics to focus on real solutions. They think that by ignoring the problem, it will go away. Well, newsflash: It's not going away. It's getting worse. Every year, every month, every day.
The police, who managed to stop the bus after a terrifying hour-long chase through downtown, did their jobs. But it's not enough for law enforcement to be the last line of defense. We need proactive measures, a return to order, and a return to common sense.
The decay we're witnessing is systemic. It's everywhere — homeless encampments sprawling across parks, businesses shuttered due to crime, and an overall feeling that nobody in charge cares anymore.
This bus hijacking reminded me of how far we've fallen and how much we've lost. It's not just one bus, one driver, or one passenger. It's an entire city. A city that was once great but is now on the brink of collapse.
We can either wake up and demand change, or we can continue to watch it all burn from the comfort of our homes — until one day, we realize that the fire is at our door.
Michael Levine is an American writer and public relations expert. He is the author of books on public relations including Guerrilla P.R. He has represented 58 Academy Award winners, 34 Grammy Award winners, and 43 New York Times best-sellers, including Michael Jackson, Barbra Streisand, and George Carlin among many others. Levine also appeared in POM Wonderful Presents: The Greatest Movie Ever Sold, the 2011 documentary by Morgan Spurlock. Levine has provided commentary including Variety, Forbes, Fox News, The New York Times, and the USA Today. Levine has been referred to in different publications as the "Michael Jordan of entertainment P.R." Read More of Michael Levine's Reports — Here.