Oakland, California, just across the bay from San Francisco, is unable to keep traffic signals functional. Thieves break into junction boxes and steal the copper wires for cash. There are two possible solutions. (1) Arrest thieves and send them to prison for significant sentences. (2) Do not repair the signals but replace them with simple stop signs. The city is governed by leftists. So of course they chose number two, in both senses.

There are multiple consequences, though they may not be unintended: Traffic is slowed even more. Vehicles cannot adjust their speed to match the signals, but must stop at every intersection, even at 3 am. So more and more will drive through the stop signs, which are already viewed as less important than red lights. How this affects emergency vehicle response times remains to be seen, but it won’t improve them.

The lesson would-be thieves will be taught is clear: Do what you want. We will capitulate. We will change a key component of modern cities to suit you.

But with fewer copper wires to steal, what will criminals do to make up the deficit in their illicit incomes? Stay tuned.