What will it take to get public officials to prioritize public safety — and the safety of our kids in particular?
asserted
officials → take → kids
To start, many schools need a stronger police presence, to deter and respond to campus crime.
asserted
schools → start → crime
In addition, the streets surrounding schools and homes need to be safe and clear of threats to children.
asserted
streets → surround → children
Of course, Jewish mothers have even more to worry about — beyond the usual anxieties that are the stuff of Woody Allen movies.
asserted
that → have → movies
On Oct. 12, Milken Community School in LA went into lockdown following a reported bomb threat.
asserted
School → go → threat
Police found no bomb, and LAPD described the incident as an apparent “swatting” call — an effort to summon the police to intimidate and endanger the target of the hoax.
asserted
LAPD → find → hoax
The word “hoax” does not erase the fear.
asserted
word → erase → fear
My children no longer attend a Jewish day school.
asserted
children → attend → school
But I have learned that the fear follows you when you change schools.
asserted
you → learn → schools
After all, every campus depends on the safety of the community surrounding it.
asserted
campus → depend → it
And too often, elected officials fail to prioritize safety on the streets surrounding homes and schools.
asserted
officials → elect → homes
On campus, I am grateful for the administrators, teachers, security professionals and police officers who protect our children.
asserted
who → protect → children
I appreciate emergency plans and clear communication.
asserted
I → appreciate → plans
But I also want consequences for the people who make those plans necessary.
asserted
plans → want → people
Prosecutors need to take threats seriously, investigate them thoroughly, and hold those responsible accountable.
asserted
those → need → them
Even a false threat can cause real harm.
asserted
threat → cause → harm
Some politicians claim they have easy answers.
uncertain
they → claim → answers
Sen. Adam Schiff, for example, blamed loose gun laws for the school shooting in Bend, Oregon, this week.
asserted
Schiff → blame → Bend
But it’s not so simple.
asserted
it → ’ → ?
What about the armed dad who rushed into the school and shot the killer, saving dozens of lives?
asserted
who → rush → lives
Taking responsibility means focusing on safety, by whatever method may be necessary.
uncertain
method → take → safety
Our children cannot fully concentrate, explore, or grow when they are frightened.
asserted
they → concentrate → ?
Working parents cannot focus on their jobs if they are constantly worried about their kids.
asserted
they → focus → kids
Moreover, the responsibility we demand of our leaders cannot end when the school bell rings.
asserted
bell → demand → leaders
Our children should be able to play in the parks our tax dollars maintain.
asserted
dollars → play → parks
Families should be able to walk along sidewalks and use playgrounds without stepping across homeless people.
asserted
Families → walk → people
My youngest daughter doesn’t have the luxury of walking into her basketball practice without adult supervision because of the overwhelming homeless encampments nearby.
asserted
daughter → have → encampments
Homeless people deserve help and treatment.
asserted
people → deserve → help
But that should not be at the expense of maintaining safe, accessible parks for families.
asserted
that → maintain → families
I expect city leaders to deliver both.
asserted
leaders → expect → both
That is why Councilwoman and mayoral candidate Nithya Raman’s approach to encampment restrictions concerns me.
asserted
approach → concern → me
She says the real solution is to invest in long-term solutions.
asserted
solution → say → solutions
But what protects children while families wait?
asserted
families → protect → children
A playground cannot become the place where government postpones difficult decisions.
asserted
government → become → decisions
This November, I am looking at all candidates through that practical lens.
asserted
I → look → lens
I will not entrust public safety to anyone committed to dismantling the institutions responsible for protecting us, including police and prisons.
asserted
I → entrust → police
If we get these choices wrong, families will pay the price in fear and lost freedom.
asserted
families → get → fear
Inside my home, I teach my daughters that responsibility comes with consequences.
asserted
responsibility → teach → consequences
Outside of it, I expect our leaders to understand the same thing.
asserted
leaders → expect → thing
I cannot investigate every threat at school or protect every playground myself.
asserted
I → investigate → playground
…and 7 more, not listed.
The Aporia
