In his second inaugural speech last week, Mayor Villaraigosa outlined his five goals for Los Angeles:
Here is the portion of the mayor's remarks devoted to Item No. 4:
Our fourth goal for the next four years is to keep L.A. on track as one of the safest big cities in America. As I've said many times before, public safety is the first obligation of government.
It's the foundation for everything we are trying to build, the context for economic growth, the setting for good jobs and a brighter future, the building blocks of a strong, thriving community.
Today, crime is down across the board in virtually every neighborhood.
It's important to remember that our security begins with our men and women in uniform. They confront danger every day so that we don't have to. They stand today on every corner in every community in our city in historic numbers approaching 10,000 strong.
Their sacrifice is the bedrock of our safety. Their service is the cornerstone of our security. Their commitment and courage are the foundation for our prosperity. And in the next four years, I will fight day and night to keep all 10,000 officers on the job. Keep our police force at its highest level in history!
Today, we are blessed to have some of the bravest Angelenos with us. They're ordinary men and women committed to an extraordinary task. As officers and firefighters, they live at the front lines of tragedy. They face danger daily with equal measures of courage and humility. They are the LAPD Medal of Valor winners and the firefighters who took charge in the Metrolink disaster and in the fires of last autumn. I couldn't be prouder to recognize these outstanding public servants!
Our commitment to these heroes will remain steady and unwavering. But in the long term, we know that law enforcement alone can't get the job done. We know investment in policing must be matched by our investment in the next generation. And in the next four years, we are going to get even tougher on the root causes of crime.
We are pleased the Mayor recognizes that our city's security begins with men and women of the LAPD. We agree with his summation that Los Angeles "can be safer and stronger than ever." That is why we accept his challenge to "roll up your sleeves with me, Los Angeles!" You can watch the mayor's speech by clicking here. It is recommended viewing for all LAPPL members.
