Last year reports showed that the Southern California crime-rate had decreased an average of 15%.  This drop had continued a trend that began in 1993, even though budgetary restrains had prevented most South Bay cities, and Inglewood in particular, from addressing their growing population by hiring more police. 

Most analysts felt that the decrease in crime we experienced during the last several years was a result of the robust economy we enjoyed during the tail-end of the Clinton administration. The general crime-economy-correlation among knowedgeable observers was that people were less likely to commit crimes when they are gainfully employed.

But the September 11th attack on our country brought our economy to a near standstill. Unemployment rose and predictably, so did the crime-rate. However, as the economy appears to be bouncing back, a more disturbing crime-economy-correlation appears to have hit our city.

.During 2001, on an average of once every eight days, someone in Inglewood was killed on Inglewood’s streets for a total of 40 deaths for the year! For the first month of 2002, there was a 300% increase. February remained equal to that of last year.

While overall crime is said to have decreased by four tenths of one percent, Inglewood residents should be alarmed as to why City officials have failed to inform them that the worse of all crimes— homicides—are on an upswing, As with most issues that concern city government, an informed citizenry can be a major motivator to eradicating the problems that befall us.

Further inquiries can be forwarded to:
Councilwoman Judy Dunlap
(310) 677-5040 - Fax (310) 677-4870
Email: judy@judydunlap.org