Steven Greenhut on What the Anaheim Riots Can Teach Other American Cities
After Tom Tait was sworn in as the mayor of Anaheim in November 2010, he issued a statement announcing the city's commitment to "kindness and freedom." Two years later, as Anaheim makes national news because of riots sparked by police shootings, Tait is in an unexpected situation of having to put his well-intentioned rhetoric into practice. How he and his city resolve the conflict—whether officials can restore civic order and erase images that look like they come from a war-torn nation rather than the home of the "Happiest Place on Earth"—might offer lessons for other cities throughout the country. For starters, writes Steven Greenhut, it's time to reform the police and cut bureaucratic red tape.