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Is crime ‘exploding’ only in cities led by Democrats?

Tuesday, June 29, 2021
By Gus Fisher
NO

Many U.S. cities are reporting year-on-year rises in murders—fueling headlines and rhetoric—and at the same time declines in other crimes. Patterns do not appear related to the political party in charge, or to recent policy or budget changes.

In the three biggest U.S. cities, all led by Democrats, so far in 2021:

  • New York homicides are up 12%. The overall crime rate is down by 1% (as of June 27).
  • Los Angeles homicides are up 26%. Property crime is down 9%.
  • Chicago homicides are up 4%. The overall crime rate is down 7%.

Meanwhile, smaller Republican-led cities show similar trends:

  • Oklahoma City homicides are up 25%. The overall crime rate is down 6%.
  • Fresno hasn’t published 2021 figures; homicides were up in 2020 while overall crime fell slightly.

Crime variations reflect long-standing problems and are “not related to which party is ruling,” a Boston criminologist told The Associated Press.

This fact brief is responsive to conversations such as this one.
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