Progressives – Where’s the Progress?

We recently suffered a breakdown of civil society in major American cities. First, a string of civilian killings by police, notably in Minneapolis, Louisville, and Atlanta. Second, violent protests, looting, arson and attacks on police as a response to the civilian killings.

One aspect of all this is mostly ignored – American cities for the last several decades have largely been governed by the left. Start with the three cities where the police killings occurred. Chronologically:

• Louisville, where Breonna Taylor died on 3/13/2020. 100% Democrat mayors since 1969. 50-plus years of governance by Democrats, without interruption.
• Minneapolis, where George Floyd died on 5/25/2020. 100% Democrat mayors since 1977. 23 years, more or less, of governance by Democrats. No interruption.
• Atlanta, where Rayshard Brooks died on 6/12/2020. 100% Democrat mayors since 1879. 120 years, approximately, of unbroken governance by Democrats.

Let’s broaden the focus, and look at the ten largest US cities. How did they fare in the Black Lives Matter uprising, and what role did Democrats play in their governance?

• 1. New York City — Uninterrupted Democrat mayors since 1/1/14.
  NYC stores destroyed by looters, riots during George Floyd protests
  “Looters stormed Lower Manhattan on Saturday night — destroying store windows and lighting fires in another night of violent George Floyd protests.”
• 2. Los Angeles — Uninterrupted Democrat mayors since 7/1/2001.
  L.A. reels from looting and arrests not seen in decades
  “Parts of the crowd rampaged through the Grove shopping center before moving toward West Hollywood. The demonstrators faced off with police, who responded in some cases by firing rubber bullets as police helicopters hovered overhead. Protesters defaced or destroyed about a dozen squad cars…Later Saturday evening, Garcetti asked Gov. Gavin Newsom to call out the National Guard, a rare step that reflected the gravity of the situation.”
• 3. Chicago — Uninterrupted Democrat mayors since 1931.
  Protesters Cause Massive Damage During Violent Demonstrations After The Death Of George Floyd
  “An overnight curfew has now ended as Chicagoans wake up to a damaged and unrecognizable city following a chaotic night of violence and looting.”
• 4. Houston — Uninterrupted Democrat mayors since 1981.
  Houston rally over George Floyd’s death leads to damage, injuries
  “hundreds of protesters blocked roads and hurled objects, injuring police officers and damaging patrol cars.”
• 5. Phoenix — Full-time mayors since 1/2/04 are all Democrat.
  Phoenix march to protest George Floyd’s death turns violent
  “protesters in Arizona’s largest city threw rocks and bottles at officers, broke windows at police headquarters, and damaged businesses and vehicles, officials said.”
• 6. Philadelphia — Uninterrupted Democrat mayors since 1952.
  Center City retailers endure epic looting on top of coronavirus closures
  “Few if any police were in the retail section as the throngs arrived and some people began breaking into dozens of stores. Officers began slowly advancing from the east, securing blocks one-by-one as looting continued along streets where police were not yet — or were no longer — present.”
• 7. San Antonio — Uninterrupted Democrat mayors from 2001 through 2017. Current mayor is an Independent.
  Peaceful protest over George Floyd’s death erupts into violence in downtown San Antonio
  “3 SAPD officers injured, windows broken at Rivercenter Mall, police launch tear gas at crowds”
• 8. San Diego — The most-recent 4 mayors are split evenly, 2 Republican, 2 Democrat.
  Banks Ablaze, Stores Looted Amid Unrest in La Mesa
  “Windows were smashed at many businesses, including a Goodwill store, a Sotheby’s real estate office and a popular bar. Around 11:30 p.m., the Chase Bank and the Union Bank on Spring Street were broken into and set on fire.”
• 9. Dallas — Uninterrupted Democrat mayors since 2011. Of the last six mayors, one is Republican, five Democrat.
  Protesters Clash With Police During March for George Floyd in Downtown Dallas
  “looted businesses like Sneaker Politics and the Point Skate Shop. They also broke the windows and slashed the tires of four Dallas police cruisers.”
• 10. San Jose — Uninterrupted Democrat mayors since 1967.
  George Floyd death: 38 people arrested, several officers injured in violent San Jose protests
  “The San Jose Police Department announced 38 people were arrested during Friday night’s violent protests over the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis, Minnesota.”

Governance by Democrats has been a disaster for American cities. Protestors are destroying their own communities, cities governed by officials they chose. I’d like those voters to consider their choices, and where those choices have led their cities.

What’s in the future? I’m afraid that police will retreat, crime rates will go up, communities will become more unlivable, and the press will avoid honest reporting. As a final note, not completely on topic but related, I encourage you to view the KOMO TV documentary Seattle is Dying.

The Bottom Line
This is a result of decades of one-party rule. Democrats have had a pretty free hand. Things do not seem better to me.