Jason Oppenheim criticizes California leaders for public safety failures
"Selling Sunset" star Jason Oppenheim has voiced his frustrations regarding the California government’s handling of public safety, particularly in light of a recent burglary incident involving his friend and co-star, Mary Fitzgerald Bonnet, and her husband Romain. Oppenheim reported that, following the burglary, their dog was found abandoned in the street.
In a social media video, he shared, "Luckily, he's OK, and we called 911." However, Oppenheim is critical of the response from local authorities, claiming that Governor Gavin Newsom and Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass have not appropriately funded the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD), which is currently overwhelmed with high crime rates.
According to Oppenheim, the police told Bonnet and her husband they would take several days to respond to the burglary because of their busy schedule. He stated, "That's not the fault of the police...the police department has 8,600 police officers. That's the expectation by the end of this year—the lowest level in 30 years amid rising crime."
He also expressed his concerns about the budget being allocated to projects he deemed unnecessary, such as the high-speed rail project, which he argues detracts from essential services. "We’ve defunded both of those, and yet we spend tens of billions...on bullet trains that are over budget and far from completion," he added.
Oppenheim's call for action includes doubling the budget for both the LAPD and the Los Angeles Fire Department. He highlighted the struggles people face daily in Los Angeles due to safety concerns, homelessness, and crime. "I've got friends leaving Los Angeles every day because they don't feel safe—because of crime, because of homelessness," he said.
Addressing both Governor Newsom and Mayor Bass directly, he urged them to prioritize the safety of citizens over other political commitments. Oppenheim recently donated $100,000 to both the LAPD and LAFD, while lamenting the bureaucratic mishaps that hinder effective safety measures.
