Private Security Fills State Gaps

After prolonged fires and water‑system failures left hydrants dry, Malibu contracted $260,000 per month for private guards and co‑hosted a 'protect your property' workshop with the sheriff. An 'Uber‑for‑guards' app (Protector) launched armed escorts and later off‑duty police patrols in wealthy L.A. neighborhoods, while residents on Nextdoor organize community‑funded patrols. Public safety is shifting from a tax‑funded monopoly to pay‑to‑protect stopgaps. — Marketized safety risks a two‑tier system and weakens democratic accountability for core public goods as state capacity falters.