Federal Response Required in L.A. [OPINION]

We are seeing the total destruction of some of America's largest cities occurring right before our eyes, and no one seems to know what to do about it.

Liberal policies that have made cities a sanctuary for gangs, illegal aliens, drug addicts, and homeless individuals are rapidly taking their toll. How sad it is to see once glorious places such as San Francisco covered in human waste, dirty needles, and tent encampments.

In Los Angeles, street after street is buried under mounds of festering trash and food waste. Local media reports tell of rats the size of footballs that live in colonies not far from where food is sold and children play. Disease is rampant and concerns about an epidemic are real.

Internist Dr. Drew Pinsky told Fox News host Laura Ingraham the situation in LA is dire.

“We have a complete breakdown of the basic needs of civilization in Los Angeles right now. We have the three prongs of airborne disease, tuberculosis is exploding, (and) rodent-borne," Pinsky said. "We are one of the only cities in the country that doesn’t have a rodent control program, and sanitation has broken down.”

Pinsky tells Ingraham the worst may be yet to come.

"Los Angeles had a typhus outbreak last summer and will likely have another this summer," he said. "Meanwhile, bubonic plague—a pandemic that killed tens of millions of people during the 14th century —is 'likely' already present in Los Angeles."

California is unable to deal with what is currently on its plate and yet thousands of illegal immigrants, with no medical records and likely carriers of one disease or another, are pouring into the city. Pinsky says local and statewide politicians are “disgustingly negligent" in addressing the issue.

The crisis in Los Angeles requires a federal response. There are generally some tricky rules that govern when the federal government can step into the affairs of a state. We saw that in New Orleans following Hurricane Katrina. But what is happening in L.A.  is a public health and safety issue that could threaten the greater good of the entire nation.

The Trump Administration needs to consider what options it has to step in and take control. After all, protecting the safety of the American people is the primary concern of the federal government.

Barry Richard is the host of The Barry Richard Show on 1420 WBSM New Bedford. He can be heard weekdays from noon to 3 p.m. Contact him at barry@wbsm.com and follow him on Twitter @BarryJRichard58. The opinions expressed in this commentary are solely those of the author.