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When I used to drop my eldest daughter off at school, I worried about friendships, homework, and whether she had remembered her lunch.
Now, when I drop off my youngest daughter, different questions follow me home.
How safe will she be?
What will it take to get public officials to prioritize public safety — and the safety of our kids in particular?
To start, many schools need a stronger police presence, to deter and respond to campus crime. In addition, the streets surrounding schools and homes need to be safe and clear of threats to children.
Of course, Jewish mothers have even more to worry about — beyond the usual anxieties that are the stuff of Woody Allen movies. Lately, our fears are deadly serious.
On Oct. 12, Milken Community School in LA went into lockdown following a reported bomb threat. Police found no bomb, and LAPD described the incident as an apparent “swatting” call — an effort to summon the police to intimidate and endanger the target of the hoax.
The word “hoax” does not erase the fear.
My children no longer attend a Jewish day school. But I have learned that the fear follows you when you change schools.
After all, every campus depends on the safety of the community surrounding it.
And too often, elected officials fail to prioritize safety on the streets surrounding homes and schools.
On campus, I am grateful for the administrators, teachers, security professionals and police officers who protect our children. I appreciate emergency plans and clear communication.
But I also want consequences for the people who make those plans necessary.
Prosecutors need to take threats seriously, investigate them thoroughly, and hold those responsible accountable. Even a false threat can cause real harm.
Some politicians claim they have easy answers. Sen. Adam Schiff, for example, blamed loose gun laws for the school shooting in Bend, Oregon, this week.
But it’s not so simple. What about the armed dad who rushed into the school and shot the killer, saving dozens of lives?
Taking responsibility means focusing on safety, by whatever method may be necessary.
Safety is the foundation of education. Our children cannot fully concentrate, explore, or grow when they are frightened. Working parents cannot focus on their jobs if they are constantly worried about their kids.
Moreover, the responsibility we demand of our leaders cannot end when the school bell rings.
Our children should be able to play in the parks our tax dollars maintain. Families should be able to walk along sidewalks and use playgrounds without stepping across homeless people.
My youngest daughter doesn’t have the luxury of walking into her basketball practice without adult supervision because of the overwhelming homeless encampments nearby.
Homeless people deserve help and treatment. But that should not be at the expense of maintaining safe, accessible parks for families. I expect city leaders to deliver both.
That is why Councilwoman and mayoral candidate Nithya Raman’s approach to encampment restrictions concerns me. She says the real solution is to invest in long-term solutions.
But what protects children while families wait?
A playground cannot become the place where government postpones difficult decisions.
This November, I am looking at all candidates through that practical lens.
I will not entrust public safety to anyone committed to dismantling the institutions responsible for protecting us, including police and prisons.
If we get these choices wrong, families will pay the price in fear and lost freedom.
Inside my home, I teach my daughters that responsibility comes with consequences. Outside of it, I expect our leaders to understand the same thing.
I cannot investigate every threat at school or protect every playground myself. But I can examine records, demand concrete answers, and vote.
I want to watch my youngest daughter walk into school and feel the confidence I once had. I want her to leave school and play safely in a park.
That doesn’t need to await some national gun control law or another homeless program.
Mothers cannot wait. Our children need safety now. And responsibility starts with elected officials.
Shirin Yadegar is the founder of www.lamommagazine.com and a political commentator and podcast host.