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Selling Sunset star Jason Oppenheim has blasted officials in California for cutting the amount of police officers in the Los Angeles area after his friends were robbed and there weren’t enough cops to investigate.
The realtor called out Gov. Gavin Newsom and L.A. Mayor Karen Bass in a lengthy video, which he captioned: “The primary responsibility of our politicians is to keep us safe. Whether it’s from fires or criminals, our leaders have failed to protect us.”
Following the robbery, in which his best friends lost their possessions and Oppenheim’s puppy was found in the middle of the street during the chaos, Oppenheim revealed how they called 911 but police were unable to come to the property because they were too busy.
Oppenheim points out that it’s not the police force’s fault that it is overwhelmed, noting that there is expected to be only 8,600 officers by the end of this year.
“That’s the lowest level of police officers in the Los Angeles Police Department in 30 years despite unbelievably high crime right now,” he said.
“And I just wish the governor and the mayor would address this by funding our police and also our fire department,” the reality star continued.
“We’ve defunded both of those and yet we spend tens of billions of dollars — actually over $100 billion — on bullet trains from Merced to Bakersfield that are $60, $70 billion over budget and probably 15 years away and will be completely obsolete by the time they finish.”
Oppenheim then calmly pleaded for the state’s politicians to have a more “common sense” approach.
“Your first priority is to keep the citizens safe, and we’re not safe,” the property mogul said.
“I’ve got friends leaving Los Angeles every day because they don’t feel safe, because of crime, because of homelessness,” he continued, noting that while the city has the money and tax revenue, it’s being spent on “saving the smelt fish or bullet trains to nowhere.”
He asked: “Can we please, if we’re going to do that stuff, can we double the budget of the Los Angeles Fire Department and the Los Angeles Police Department? Can we have 15,000 police officers instead of 8,000 police officers?”
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Oppenheim also acknowledged how people are punished for their crimes in the state.
“Of course people are going to rob people because they know there’s no consequences.”
The TV personality went on to attack Newsom and Bass for their lack of leadership.
“Newsom, I voted for you, I regret that now because you’re just worried about getting reelected and placating your base and you’re not worried about your most important responsibility and same with you, Karen Bass, and that is protecting the people of this city and this state.”