When Streets Turn Abyss: A Tale of London and LA
Cities evolve, they always have. But, if we don’t give it a cold, hard stare, how can we tell if they’re evolving or devolving?
Take a gander at cities like London and Los Angeles – illustrious names, grand narratives, vibrant cultures, and colossal monetary potential. But, as we zoom in, the gloss fades. What once were the grand capitals of dreams, serenade us now with somber sonnets of degeneration.
The spectacular townhouses of London, the glitz and glamour of LA’s boulevards – all rapidly turning into a facade. Behind that guise, there are streets so lawless, it’s easier to file an insurance claim than to find a policeman. The cityscape is morphing from a mecca of opportunity into a freak show of crime.
A typical day in the life of a Londoner or Angeleno? Muggings on the doorstep, thieves boldly seizing what’s not theirs, an outcry for help getting swallowed by the city’s abyss. And where’s the swift hand of justice?
Here’s the pinch line – it’s near non-existent.
The system we once believed in, the skeletal structure of our cities, seems to have abandoned us into this cauldron where survival of the fittest is the only dictum. Penal structures, law enforcement, everything’s hit a lull while crime performs a sickening crescendo.
Contrast this with a place like Dubai. Wish to know why crime rates in Dubai are dwarfed against these Western juggernauts? Because in Dubai, the philosophy is simple – Crime isn’t tolerated. They don’t dance around misdemeanors or felonies. It’s cut and dried – keep crime low, keep citizens happy.
So what’s happening, London, LA? Why are the streets turning into open bazaars of crime? Is it the socio-economic factors, or rising unemployment, or god forbid, failed governance? Whatever it might be, it’s high time we all wake up and sniff the putrid scent wafting up from the underbelly of our cities.
Our beloved cites aren’t supposed to be hell holes, they’re supposed to be sanctuaries. If there’s a time to tighten the noose around crime and launch meaningful, effective policies, it’s now. Else, we’re just bystanders, watching how the grand illusions of ‘global cities’ crumble into dystopian realities.
To the powers that be, here’s a wake-up call. The flames are at your doorstep. London, Los Angeles – save your cities, save yourselves.
as we zoom in, the gloss fades. What once were the grand capitals of dreams, serenade us now with somber sonnets of degeneration.
