It's a very basic concept of journalism: Cover the stories that impact your viewers and readers most, the stories they most care about. But for one very big story, there's been relative silence from our national media, just passing mentions. It is the skyrocketing violent crime that is paralyzing many major American cities while prompting record numbers of police officers either resigning or retiring.
Here's a look around the country at what many cities are dealing with:
New York City: Despite having the country's largest police force, the city’s murder rate is up 48 percent over 2019 (pre-pandemic), while shootings have increased by 107 percent in two years. Two weekends ago, 22 people were shot, leaving five dead. Record numbers of residents are leaving the city as a result, because living in impossibly expensive places that aren't safe tends to be a great reason to pack it up and move somewhere cheaper and safer.
Atlanta: Murders are up 58 percent compared to 2020 at this time. The city's mayor, Keisha Lance Bottoms (D), blames Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp (R) for reopening the state before.....................
