Thoughts on Upholding Our Laws and Preparing for LA’s 2028 Olympic Games

The race has begun to prepare LA and surrounding cities for the 2028 Olympics. LAX is undergoing a $14 billion renovation while the rush is on to expand and enhance the Metro rail and bus transit systems throughout the region. 

Facilities are being built in and around LA to accommodate the anticipated crowds who will converge on Southern California to witness the Games. Stadium improvements and construction of new facilities are currently underway, and the busy development activity will continue leading up to and concluding in 2028. If you are in the construction field, there is and will be plenty of work for you in the coming years. 

Having worked the 1984 World Olympics as an LAPD Motorcycle Sergeant along with thousands of others, I saw the games come off without any major incidents. There were a couple of unusual situations that engaged the resources of law enforcement. Other than that, Los Angeles lived up to its image as the City of the Angels for the most part. There were no mass shootings or terrorist activities as we have seen in other regions of the world.   

Keeping that excellent public safety record in mind, we can plan for a great Olympics in 2028.   

Since the Olympics are nine years away, time does race when we think about it. Due to term limits, there will be many new elected officials in office and that will impact the political scene. I truly hope that we can all enjoy the festivities of the 2028 Los Angeles World Olympics.   

I still remember the Olympic Pin Trading Frenzy at various locations around the 1984 Olympics venues. There were many good times then and I look forward to equally fun and exciting Olympic events again.   

When is the term ILLEGAL going to mean something in America…and Los Angeles in particular? 

Usually, when someone commits a crime in America, there are consequences. When a robbery, burglary, murder or other crime takes place in any part of the country, the law calls for an investigation by the local police or Sheriff and hopeful apprehension of the suspect and recovery of any stolen property. When the suspect is in custody, the criminal justice system takes over with the detective, prosecutor, defense attorney and judge involved to assure that justice is served. Innocent or guilty, the system is in place to assure a fair and impartial process for the accused. I will admit that the system is not always perfect; mistakes and errors occur at times. While they are not common, they happen on occasion and it has been proven that innocent people have gone to prison for crimes they did not commit. Nevertheless, this is the system we live under in America.  

Having that as a base truth, why are there so many people screaming about the immigration laws in America?  We are a nation of laws and that is what makes this a country where people want to live, prosper and achieve success.   

There are rules and procedures in place that welcome people from other countries to come to here to live the American dream. Many of you are immigrants or have relatives who came here as immigrants and look at you now – successful, working hard and living the American dream. Unless your true linage is Native American, you or your family came to America from another land following the rule of law. My family came from the middle east by ship and arrived in New York. They settled in Inglewood and opened a chicken ranch. They sold eggs and farmed the land. The area was not populated with homes and apartments.   

The immigration protests that have been taking place and the sanctuary city status of many American cities, including Los Angeles, undermine the immigration laws of America and put all of us in jeopardy. We are either a land of laws or not. We can’t have it both ways. When people come to America in an illegal fashion and that action is condoned by elected officials and others, that discrepancy brings conflict and pits one American against another.   

In checking the record, many former elected officials including both Democrat and Republican presidents have supported immigration enforcement and a path to citizenship. Both Presidents Clinton and Obama supported immigration enforcement and the Border Patrol and I.C.E. The current Immigration protests should not be about President Trump and his enforcement of the existing laws.  The immigration laws are in place for a reason. They are not in place to harm or torture people including children.     

For the record, I must mention that I am not Republican nor Democrat. I am part of what is the second-ranking political party in California that is spreading across America: N.P.P. That stands for No Party Preference. I vote for the person and not any specific political party. When you think about Immigration in America, count your blessings and be thankful that you are enjoying what so many others desire. Remember, there is a process to achieve that dream and it is not by breaking the law and pitting one American against another with protests and other acts that drain the resources of our law enforcement agencies and disrupt traffic and communities. 

If we, as a society, don’t like the law, we can change it. That is why we elect people to Federal, State and Local political offices. Look at what the voters did with the marijuana laws in California as well as many other states. What was once a felony is now legal with restrictions on the use of cannabis or pot or a joint. Working within the law is the only real way to find success in our Democracy.       

Who should you vote for on August 13 to represent the 12th Council District, located in the San Fernando Valley, on the Los Angeles City Council? 

I recently met with both final candidates, Lorraine Lundquist and John Lee, and will share my observations and personal endorsement with you soon.   

National Decathlon Champion El Camino Real Charter High School is opening a new school at 7401 Shoup Ave in West Hills. A Grand Opening will take place on August 6 at 10:00 a.m. for the new El Camino College and Career Independent Study Program, open to students from grades 9 through 12. The “Green School” will offer programs to students who want an alternative to traditional high school for a variety of reasons. This might include illness, emotional needs, sports or entertainment commitments. Students will be provided real world skills to prepare them for life after high school. The student body population will be limited to 400. All are invited to the Grand Opening and should contact Sheryl Kolker at [email protected] for additional information.   

Los Angeles Police Department ARREST Crime Stats (COMPSTAT) as of June, 22, 2019 

The LAPD and law enforcement agencies in general have been promoting De-Escalation Skills with officers. The skills have had a direct impact on patrol officers and their involvement with the community and suspects. The interactive skills include the following areas: Verbal, Non-Verbal, Listening, Deflecting, Defusing, Redirecting and Persuasion. For Los Angeles, the De-Escalation tactics in coordination with body cameras, have had a direct impact on officers and their field actions.  The following statistics reflect the current trends in Los Angeles:   

Arrests Categories: 

Homicide -26.3%

Rape -4.2%

Robbery -0.8%

Aggravated Assault +0.2%

Burglary -5.9%

Larceny -7.4%

Motor Vehicle Theft -11.9% 

Total Violent -1.0% 

Total Part 1 -4.5% 

Total All Arrests -12.8%

You may draw your own conclusions.     

See, I told you I was done with endless articles on the issue of homelessness!  

Don’t forget…when there is a pursuit in Los Angeles, turn to Channel 11. I will be commenting on the pursuit as the FOX News Police Specialist.  

(Dennis P. Zine is a former and retired LAPD Supervisor, former and retired 12-year Los Angeles City Councilman and current General Manager at Bell Canyon in Ventura County. Edited for CityWatch by Linda Abrams.)