The Los Angeles Police Department has recently increased its enforcement around MacArthur Park. According to LAPD Chief Jim McDonnell, the crime rate has been reduced by 42%. Before these measures, this area had seen many homelessness, drug use, and shootings.

“The LAPD has increased its enforcement efforts, expanded our outreach initiatives, and worked closely with our community partner to make the park and the area surrounding it safer, and these efforts are producing real results,” said Chief McDonnell 

Chief McDonell says the results are paying off. The enforcement efforts and outreach initiatives have made the park a much safer place. Mayor Bass also said how there have been fewer sales of drugs and weapons since December.

Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass also had fencing installed along the streets of the MacArthur Park area. This was to decrease the amount of vendors selling on the streets. Many vendors sold goods to people around the area. 

“Many of those vending stands provided an open-air market for illegal activity,” said Mayor Bass

Mayor Bass says that many vendors’ stands were an open-air market for illegal activity. Many of the items sold illegal products like drugs, guns, and stolen items along the streets.

Some members of the community disagree. Many neighbors say they see no progress and how that it looks exactly the same.