Is the latest report on crime in San Diego County a sign of the times?
The annual crime report, compiled by the San Diego Association of Governments, or SANDAG for short, shows a trend here over the last few years that is also showing up elsewhere.
While overall crime in San Diego County was down in 2023, the number of hate crimes grew by a whopping 39 percent last year. And maybe the most disturbing thing is that it appears to be a trend not just happening here but is happening in other areas of the country as well.
The report says the local increase in hate crimes mirrors a similar rise in hate crimes reported nationally and a continuing upward trend that began in 2021.
Most hate crimes involved intimidation, vandalism, simple assault and aggravated assault. The report says close to half of the hate crimes were related to race or ethnicity, with about one third motivated by sexual orientation and about one quarter by religion.
The report does not try to answer the obvious question….as to why the increase in hate crimes and why the rising trend of hate crimes here and elsewhere.
Sadly, all you have to do is to read, hear or watch the news. There are hate crimes reported pretty much every week.
So is this latest report a sign of the times? And why is it happening? And what can we do about it?
Those are important questions that have to be wrestled with.
(Photo Getty Images)
Photo: Getty Images