I think it's far more likely that the citizenry are thoroughly inculcated with wokeness. I think many of them eagerly swallowed the incredibly stupid argument that the police, "over-policing," were responsible for whatever violence occurred in their cities.
Along with the idea that the homeless ....er.....excuse me, unhoused (the new woke term) should be allowed to do whatever they wanted. What bad things could possibly happen if people are allowed to relieve themselves on public streets and sidewalks and use dangerous drugs in public?
I would guess that a modicum of insight might have finally seeped into their tiny brains that unrestrained liberalism leads to disaster. But I'm not holding my breath waiting for them to get an epiphany.
I have a distant relative who is a police officer in Portland. He loves it, because they never go out on minor stuff. Every call is a 'major' crime, (murder, arson, armed robbery, etc.) No traffic duty there, unless it is to direct, not write citations.
That said, prosperity and civility can be buried under the swarming multitude of (relatively) minor violations of the law. Maybe the locals are sold on the more Libertine aspects of their city, but even those have wide ranging consequences far beyond legal ones.
