Federal drug raid near downtown Los Angeles spotlights public safety concerns during mayor’s race

LOS ANGELES (AP) — A major federal raid around a park near downtown Los Angeles long known for rampant drug use and homeless encampments came just as voting kicked off for mayor in a city where public safety concerns continue to vex residents.

During a difficult first term framed by the most destructive wildfire in city history and its aftermath, Democratic Mayor Karen Bass has been trying to convince the city council to accelerate police hiring as she seeks a second, four-year term. The primary election ends June 2.

Wednesday’s raid resulted in 18 arrests and targeted fentanyl and methamphetamine distribution in and around MacArthur Park, located in a densely populated immigrant neighborhood west of downtown. It came after years of complaints from residents about crime, drug use and gang activity in the area.

City Hall has been under pressure to suspend a needle giveaway program at the park that has been blamed by some for sustaining the neighborhood’s problems, not solving them. Such programs provide drug users with clean needles with the goal of preventing transmiss...