That was the good news reported in The New Orleans Advocate of Jan. 1 and 3rd. It reported a 27% decrease in the murder rate compared to 2022. There were 193 murders in 2023 compared to 265 in 2022. The article's chart that list the historical murder rates in New Orleans shows the highest total took place in 1994 when there were 424 murders.
And as usual no one really has a reason for the reduction in the numbers. Certainly most people know that the Mayor was blamed for the increase in the rates early on but don't look for those same people to give the Mayor some credit for the fallen rates. The numbers have been so far on a steady decline for months and if the proper steps continue to be taken, the good reports should continue into 2024.
This writer believes one of the major factors in the decline results from the City and NOPD working with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, plus the FBI that helped remove the dangerous elements off the streets and also hundreds of guns off the street, especially those felons who never turned their weapons in as required by law. It is very elementary to understand if you remove the guns off the streets there will be less crime and less murders.
The City also has a new Police Chief who has the support of the Mayor and the City Council who have committed to support the Chief's and the City needs to get the job done and keep it going. Recent reforms have already been in effect and the new Chief promises more to come to address the situation. Hopefully, the people of the city will remember that the crime rates started to come down long before Governor elect Jeff Landry was elected and took office and before his appointed New Orleans Crime Commission ever took any action. I say this because the Republicans have a history of trying to take credit for the good things that take place on the democratic watch. PolitiDose will be watching.
Food for thought: President Kennedy said in one of his many speeches that "our problems are man made, therefore they can be solved by man." President Kennedy knew politics plays a role in everyday life but this writer believes Kennedy knew that man himself had the ability to solve problems and that problems were never solved by a political ideology which is why the GOP is a failed party. All one has to do is to look at the party now.
This commentary written by Joe Lorio
