Don't California my Ohio: Cincinnati mob attack shows state is heading in a dangerous direction
The viral footage from Cincinnati's Fourth and Elm is chilling as four victims attacked by a mob while 100 bystanders watched, some filming, and only one calling 911. Holly, celebrating a friend's birthday stepped in to help someone being assaulted and was knocked unconscious. Her life has changed forever. And instead of leadership, Councilwoman Victoria Parks shamelessly claimed online that the victims "begged for that beat down."
This kind of victim-shaming is pulled straight from California's soft-on-crime script where leaders deflect blame instead of jailing violent offenders. Parks' words aren't only heartless but represent a complete collapse of moral and civic responsibility.
The Cincinnati crisis is a direct result of the Democrat-led policy failures that began in 2020. Soft on crime policies emboldened criminals and endangered communities. Cities like Los Angeles, Minneapolis and now Cincinnati are paying the price. And even in Republican-led states like Ohio, Texas and Florida, we're not immune when local leaders import this failed ideology.
Cincinnati's police force has been gutted by nearly 200 officers due to the "defund the police" movement. Democrat Mayor Aftab Pureval was vacationing in Canada as the attack went viral, issuing a weak response only after immense public pressure and outrage days later. His inaction mirrors California's Proposition 47, which downgraded retail thefts to misdemeanors and fueled a wave of retail crime.
Now Ohio is experiencing the same pattern of complacency from weak budgets, and understaffed police departments to a justice system that coddles criminals. As Republican Ohio Senator Bernie Moreno and Republican Ohio gubernatorial candidate Vivek Ramaswamy recently warned, Democrat policies are turning our cities into war zones.
Beyond the leadership failures, the silence of nearly 100 bystanders with only one calling 911 reveals a total breakdown of public trust. Weak leadership has left citizens feeling powerless. In California, lax enforcement normalized shoplifting; in Cincinnati, it's normalized mob violence.
Mayor Pureval's delayed response and Parks' shameful victim-blaming send a dangerous message: criminals won't face consequences. Even in a red state like Ohio, local Democrat leaders are importing this "Californication" and abandoning the safety and justice we once took for granted.
This isn't just about pointing fingers, it's a call to action. Cities like Philadelphia, Minneapolis, Denver and New York saw homicides decline in 2025 after local lawmakers voted to increase police budgets despite pressure from local activists. Ohio must follow suit by fully funding law enforcement, empowering prosecutors to lock up violent offenders, and rejecting leaders who excuse crime.
The six suspects in the Cincinnati attack facing charges of felonious assault and aggravated rioting must face real justice and not leniency. And Parks' disgraceful remarks demand accountability; she should either resign or be removed. Any elected official who mocks and shames victims of violent crime has failed the very people they were elected to serve and does not belong in public office.
As an attorney and proud Ohioan, I'm done with the excuses. Holly's brain trauma is a direct result of failed leadership. We deserve safe streets, where moms can celebrate and businesses don't fear the next mob. We're not California yet but without action, Cincinnati's chaos will become America's new norm. Holly's story and the silence of 99 bystanders should serve as America's wake-up call.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
CBS News
27 minutes ago
- CBS News
Huntington Beach Police Department set to launch drone program
The Huntington Beach Police Department says it's improving response time and public safety with its new drone program, set to go live on September 13. The program comes with an annual $120,000 budget, and so far, the department has three drones placed on rooftops, ready to launch at various locations throughout the city. Huntington Beach Police Chief Eric Parra said it's disaster preparedness, helping to locate lost seniors and children, "It's off the charts in terms of how much better public safety becomes because of this," he said. Drone-trained detectives pilot the unmanned aerial vehicles from the police station, allowing for a two-minute response time. At a Tuesday program demonstration, HBPD showed a video of how a drone assisted in detecting a vehicle burglary suspect in an outdoor parking lot. Police said other agencies that have adopted Drone First Responder Programs have reported that drones handled between 20 and 25% of their patrol calls. "The officers that are responding will be able to know what they're going into," Huntington Beach PD Lt. Chris Nesmith said. "They'll know what the suspect is doing while officers are on the way. They can gauge their response and their tactics on the way to the call instead of getting to the call and deciding what they'll be facing when they get there." Nesmith added that the drone program will keep officers safer and allow the department to maximize its manpower. The department assured residents that officers will not use the drones to spy on people's backyards.
CBS News
27 minutes ago
- CBS News
California could save $225 million yearly by ditching return-to-office mandate, audit Finds
A new audit found that the State of California could save $225 million a year by not enforcing return-to-office orders for state workers. The audit comes amid the saga for state workers and the political debate between remote versus in-person work. It found that Gov. Gavin Newsom's office "did not gather some important information about space needs and costs" before ordering employees back to the office four days a week. Assemblymember Josh Hoover requested the audit and said the findings dispute Newsom's calls for a one-size-fits-all hybrid work order. "One of the big problems is that the governor's office was not prepared for a return-to-work order," Hoover said. "I really don't think this should be a partisan issue. I think we should be doing what makes the most sense from a policy standpoint." The audit also showed that some state departments don't have the space for all their employees to return to the office four days a week after ending office leases during the pandemic. The audit shows the Department of Health Care Services would need 541 more workspaces, and the Department of Resources, Recycling and Recovery needs 123 more workspaces. "He told state agencies you need to prepare for telework and implement telework, and that led to decisions where in some cases they're not set up to get employees back," Hoover said. Newsom's office issued a response disagreeing with the study, saying: "This audit on state telework is not a scientific study, nor does it paint a complete picture of the state workforce or the benefits of working in person. While we appreciate the auditor's time in collecting this information, we respectfully disagree with the auditor's findings, which are based on estimates and, as noted throughout the audit, hypothetical theories and incomplete information. However, we will take their recommendations into account as we move forward with managing the state workforce and facilities." State worker unions have protested the governor's four-day return to office orders, which are currently set to take effect in July 2026. Now, this audit is adding to the dispute. "For me, it has been a reminder that we cannot rest," Neto said. The audit recommends that the state legislature jump into this debate and create laws requiring every state department to decide which positions should be remote and in person. Assemblymember Hoover said that he hopes to introduce that legislation next year.
Bloomberg
an hour ago
- Bloomberg
Police in Southern California Find $30,000 Worth of Labubus Stolen From Warehouse
CHINO, Calif. (AP) — A police department in Southern California recovered about $30,000 worth of Labubu dolls that were stolen from a warehouse, the agency announced this week. The collectible items have recently surged in popularity. The Labubus were stolen in a series of trips that spanned multiple days, the Chino Police Department said in a social media post. Two suspects, both minors, were later identified as workers at the warehouse, the department said.
