This past summer has shown what DTLA can be at its finest. Public space activations across our city center — Grand Performances at California Plaza and KCRW Summer Nights at Jerry Moss Plaza to name a few — joined together hundreds of multi-cultural, multi-generational Angelenos by their love of music and culture. On those nights, DTLA was as alive as ever, harkening to pre-pandemic days.

“DTLA Movie Night” with Street Food Cinema. Source: DTLA Alliance

But we are still working to make this liveliness and activation a day-to-day reality for Downtown. The truth is, while we wait for foot traffic to return to pre-pandemic levels, DTLA doesn’t feel as safe as it should.

Your selection as LAPD Chief comes at a critical inflection point for DTLA. A string of recent high-profile incidents — including the Metro bus hijacking, street takeovers, smash-and-grab burglaries, and senseless violent murders — has weakened already fragile perceptions of safety. These crimes foster an environment of fear and distrust that reverberates throughout our city and beyond. That reverberation is meaningful because it creates a cyclical problem: the less Downtown is perceived as safe, the fewer people come, further eroding perceptions of our city center and hampering its ability to reach full economic recovery.

Street takeover at the intersection of 18th and Main streets in June. Source: KTLA

As soon as you are confirmed as LAPD Chief, we implore you to significantly increase foot patrols in DTLA to address our growing public safety concerns. Pre-pandemic, Central Division had a record high 400 officers. Today, those numbers have been slashed in half. The shift is palpable. Consistent, visible, on-foot police presence is critical to improving perceptions of safety in DTLA.

You have a partner in CCA, and we stand firm in our commitment to advocate for all aspects of public safety — paramount to our mission of increasing the vibrancy of Downtown. This year we helped secure $3.9 million for LAPD overtime, supported the task force to curb copper wire theft, and called for expanding unarmed response programs that divert non-violent calls away from LAPD.  We will continue to build on that advocacy to ensure LAPD has the resources it needs to keep our communities safe. You have our backing and that of the many Downtown stakeholders dedicated to making the heart of the city thrive.

We look forward to our continued partnership and achieving a thriving Downtown LA with well-lit, activated public spaces, filled with residents, workers, and visitors. We can do this together.