Mayor Says We Have To Do Better

Contacted in Los Angeles at another conference, Mayor Matt Tuerk said that We Have To Do Better in response to the recent shooting. Actually, he has to do better. Needless to say, enough with the conferences already. I was just complaining about him going to one in Madrid, Spain. Give us a break!

As for the police chief, if he's standing down on quality of life issues under the mayor's direction, maybe he's OK. If he's standing down on his own, time for a new chief. On my weekly cruise down Tilghman to Front, I noticed the usual disregard for traffic rules. A large group of motorcycles and motorized bikes pulled out of an alley onto Tilghman. 

I understand that the city has a Latino majority, and Tuerk has played that card well. But unless he hopes to be mayor forever, he has to also play the other cards. He should remind himself that even Victor Martinez couldn't get his preferred candidate elected in the 22nd District. 

There is more violence than is being reported. Recently there was a drive-by shooting in deep Hamilton Park. It's past time to think that Promise Neighborhoods, or any other profitable non-profit, can control the deteriorating situation. It is time for a beefed up police department. Who should lead it, and the city itself for that matter, are the questions?