Theory Not Reality
After dubbing themselves “sanctuary “cities or states, so many Blue State politicians believed that with the border so far away, they wouldn’t have to follow through on those promises. California is an exception but neither Newsom or the big city mayors anticipated the numbers that would actually attempt the journey. Even Newsom assumed that it would just be Mexican illegals not “asylum seekers” aka economic migrants from everywhere.
New York and other cities passed laws guaranteeing support for illegals at taxpayer expense (with no input from taxpayers.). I really have no problem with people agreeing to support people/families with their own money but why should the rest of us fund this if we don’t agree?
It should surprise no one that those same mayors and governors are now begging Biden for help in delivering on their promises. Note that they still refuse to demand that Biden shut the border and begin mass deportation. In reality, if a city provides very little help to illegals, they move on. Many might even return home if their lives are worse off here.
Wokeism
Wokeism means claiming great compassion and higher moral values until you have to actually do something. I believe some are beginning to realize how ridiculous the politicians have been. A perfect example is the big city poor who see illegals given far more largesse than they are. Realizing that public funds are finite, they understand that the influx of illegals is robbing them of benefits they expect as citizens.
Everyone has seen the huge increase in crime in cities with rogue DAs who won’t prosecute. Not only do we see stores abandon high crime areas which adversely impacts the poor. Everyone sees price increases. Companies have to pass on their increased costs that are due to theft and vandalism. Everything then costs more. Clerks who feel threatened want to find safer jobs so those willing to work in those stores want hazard pay. Even increasing minimum wage won’t help. In most cases, prices go up faster than wages so people’s options become limited.
Store Owners Fight Back
On September 26th, more than 200 stores in Oakland, CA shut their doors in protest over Leftist policies on crime that are bankrupting them and causing the city to be unsafe for residents. The woke policies are finally getting businesses to demand action. Robberies happen daily in gas stations, convenience stores and other small businesses as well in the high profile stores you read about. Margins are small for these businesses; they can’t afford the criminality. Recently, hordes of teens have left schools to ransack local businesses. It’s important to note that many of the owners are Democrats, but they are beginning to be aware that their elected officials have made Oakland unsafe.
They are encouraging voters to look at how they vote and how the failed progressive policies have hurt them. This means waking up from Woke. They’ve made a good point. The solution is to vote out those who think protecting criminals is good policy. To some of us, all this was obvious before the “soft on crime “policies began but now many of the rest are seeing the folly of Leftist policies.
Oakland business owners aren’t done. They will raise their voices and take action until solutions are implemented.
Once upon a time, crooks were shot. Knowing your life is on the line would shut this down. But don’t expect Progressives to understand. At least, they won’t till crime starts hurting them. Lori light-in-the-head Lightfoot demanded enhanced police protection when Chicago was under siege. Good luck to the new mayor; there aren’t enough cops left for that.
