As protests diminish, Bass reduces curfew hours in downtown L.A.

Mayor Karen Bass reduced the hours that a nightly curfew in downtown Los Angeles is in effect on Monday, allowing struggling businesses to remain open later into the evening.

The curfew, which has begun every night since last Tuesday at 8 p.m., will now begin at 10 p.m., the mayor announced. The curfew will continue to lift at 6 a.m.

“The curfew, coupled with ongoing crime prevention efforts, have been largely successful in protecting stores, restaurants, businesses and residential communities from bad actors who do not care about the immigrant community,” Bass said in a press release.

Bass enacted the curfew last week after five days of chaotic and sporadically violent protests that came in response to President Trump’s immigration crackdown in Southern California. The curfew also came in response to the ransacking of stores downtown as well as the vandalism of buildings including City Hall.

The curfew applies to the area of downtown from the 5 Freeway to the 110 Freeway and from the 10 Freeway to where the 110 Freeway and the 5 Freeway merge, Bass said.

Bass’ announcement of the reduced hours of curfew comes as arrests have dropped downtown over the last few days. Bass said reduced crime is part of why she curtailed the curfew hours.

“This adjusted curfew reflects the progress we’ve made in reducing crime and vandalism within the curfew zone. That said, we’re not letting our guard down. The LAPD will maintain a strong presence in the downtown area to ensure the safety of residents, businesses, and demonstrators alike,” L.A. Police Chief Jim McDonnell said.

The LAPD has arrested 575 people in total since protests began on June 7, including 14 people for looting, the LAPD said in a press release.

Last Tuesday, the first day the curfew was enacted, 203 people were arrested for failure to disperse and 17 were arrested for violating the curfew.

On Saturday, 35 were arrested for violating curfew, while just one person was arrested for failure to disperse, police said.

Since protests began, 10 police officers have been injured, the LAPD said.

The curfew has been difficult for businesses within its perimeter.

“The curfew has been effective in curtailing isolated incidents of violent, destructive behavior; however it’s not a viable tool for an extended period of time — especially for businesses who rely on evening patronage to stay afloat,” said Nella McOsker, the president of the Central City Assn., an advocacy organization for downtown Los Angeles.