Politicians who want to avoid taking necessary but politically unpopular actions almost always form Task Forces, Blue Ribbon Panels, and committees of Monkeys to waste time until past the next election cycle. Rather than actually attempting to fix a problem.

Such is the case of Los Angeles, which is beset by retail theft gangs (and murders, rampant sales of illegal drugs, assaults, car jackings, etc). Retailers are starting to simply close stores or locking up all the goods (even shampoo and vaseline!). Suburbanites now eat at the Olive Garden rather than risking life, limb, and their Teslas driving downtown.

The mayor, a left winger believing in the over incarceration trope and defunding the police department there, is responding to the crisis (now in its third year-don’t want to react too quickly to widespread deaths by violence!) by… you guessed it, appointing a Task Force.

Members of LA Retail Theft Gang Task Force Announced

https://mayor.lacity.gov/news/mayor-karen-bass-los-angeles-police-department-and-regional-law-enforcement-leaders-announce

Many cynics such as yours truly believe that Task Forces are as useless as Joe Biden. Ok, maybe not THAT useless, but pretty bad you know.

Many people might remember that criminals who are not punished for their crimes will go on to commit MANY MORE crimes. There is a history of this known criminal behavior dating from the age of the Neandertals, there are no recorded instances of allowing criminals to commit crime without consequences being an effective way to deter crime. The obverse is, of course, patently obvious and true.

What most major cities in the US now have is a legalization of crime. Particularly retail theft. There were some vague discussions as to addressing the root causes of crime, which apparently is caused by racism, UFO’s, and swamp gas inhalation. Importantly, California voters are the ones that voted for decriminalizing retail theft. Way to go, stoner dudes!

I wonder if anyone the mayor puts on her task force suggests that possibly, maybe, you know, arresting and prosecuting violent criminals and retail theft ring members, could be a solution. Of course, that person would be pelted with empty starbucks cups and summarily thrown out the window. (No one would be prosecuted for the subsequent murder).

There you have it, the solution that everyone knows will work, putting the criminals in jail, will not be recommended. Its even against the law to do so. So the problem will continue unabated until there are no retailers left but the ones whose clerks work behind bullet proof glass. This type of retail already exists in low income areas in stores selling booze, and even many bodegas.

I wish I was on the task force. Its probably a lucrative gig into which no serious thought or effort will be necessary to participate. And nothing will be until the stoned and idiotic California voter sobers up and reverses their ill considered proposition. Free money and coffee, get to hang with your progressive buddies, and do exactly what Her Honor wants…Nothing.

Reminds me of the Dire Straits lick. Money for Nothing. Unlimited stuff for free.