By a recent poll, mayors in major American cities are calling for more federal assistance to address rising crime rates. The U.S. Conference of Mayors released the findings this past Wednesday, showing that nearly 60% of mayors consider juvenile crime a serious issue based on responses from 60 leaders across 28 states.
“Juvenile crime continues to be a challenge, with an increase in the severity of offenses committed by youth,” emphasized city officials in the survey.
Issues such as car theft, retail theft, and gun violence topped the list of concerns for these communities. The poll also indicated that 77% of mayors want additional assistance from the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) to combat drug trafficking in their areas, while 75% seek help from the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) for ongoing criminal cases.
Additionally, 73% of the respondents welcome support from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) to track illegal firearms.
Despite reports of reduced crime rates in the first half of the year, many mayors still feel a pressing need for federal support. Tom Cochran, the Conference’s CEO and executive director, noted, “While many cities have seen a significant reduction in violent crime, the challenge remains in our communities.” He added that the president is looking into further federal action to decrease violent crime, which may include deploying the National Guard in more cities.
Baltimore officials expressed optimism, stating, “Although we are pleased with a notable decrease in juveniles falling victim to gun violence, our officers are still making multiple arrests, only to see the same juveniles return to the streets.”
Mayors also requested federal aid in the form of grants to procure new police equipment and technology, highlighting a need for tools like drones for better surveillance and enforcement.
President Donald Trump, following a National Guard deployment in Washington, D.C., asserted that he is the one capable of creating “no crime miracles.” He emphasized that federal efforts, including those by the FBI, have been instrumental in reducing crime rates in cities like Memphis, Chicago, and Los Angeles.
“The only reason crime is somewhat down in Memphis is the efforts of the FBI and other federal agencies at my direction,” Trump mentioned on Truth Social earlier this month. “However, the real work has only just begun.”
A recent poll from Reuters/Ipsos found that 40% of respondents believe Republicans have a better strategy for dealing with crime compared to Democrats.
