Ideas on Ending the Violence


By DIA, Section News
Posted on Sun Jun 22, 2008 at 05:32:42 AM EST

Some ideas on what has worked elsewhere. It is all basic stuff. Fix vacant buildings, clean up neighborhoods, give kids stuff to do. It isn't that easy of course, but it all helps. So, when I advocate for keeping the community centers open on nights and weekends, that is one thing we could do. We take care of the suburban golfers but can't keep the centers open. And when I advocated for changes in the assessment process for vacant buildings to force the owners to fix the buildings or sell them, that is one more part of the process.

The main problem is that this city adminstration has abandoned certain neighborhoods. Denied there was a problem. The result is violence.
The calls for action came quickly after the death of Kathina Thomas, the 10-year-old girl killed by a stray bullet May 29 in her West Hill neighborhood of Albany: Stop the violence, take back the neighborhood, drive out the drug dealers and gang members.

< Heard it Here First | Waiting for Jennings...15 years and counting >

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Ideas on Ending the Violence | 9 comments (9 topical, 0 hidden)
Ideas on ending the violence (none / 0) (#1)
by alfrednewman on Sun Jun 22, 2008 at 08:15:29 AM EST
Does anyone here really believe that the "main problem is that this city administration has abandoned certain neighborhoods."

 Seriously, anyone?  

Can you explain to me why, if the problem is "this city's administration" why there are higher murder rates in Schenectady, Troy, Syracuse, Rochester and Buffalo?  

Is it because "this city's administration" has abandoned them as well?  Rochester has over 14 murders so far.  Obviously the problem is Jennings and APD not doing their jobs. Right?

After school programs and leaving the community centers open until the wee hours isn't going to do a damn thing. Why? Because the little darlings with the guns aren't going to be there. They don't go now. They wont go then.  

Want to stop this nonsense?  Instead of Soars making statements equating the loss the murdered girl's mother suffered with a murdering little bastard going to jail he (one mother lost her child, another mother is about to) he should be taking steps to make this whole affair an example and shame the people solely responsible for this- Timmon's parents.

Instead of trying to make us all feel sorry Soares should be putting Timmon's mothers face on every bus stop in the West Hill with the caption that she raised a child so indifferent to life that a little girl- whose only crime was playing in front of her house- is dead.

That is when this will end.  When we as a society decree that it is a shameful act to kill and demand that those responsible for bringing these kids into the world be responsible for raising them.

Shame on Timmons. Shame on his mother.
"What? Me worry? " "whatmeworry.alfred@gmail.com"

Tell you what (none / 0) (#2)
by albany layman on Mon Jun 23, 2008 at 08:32:43 AM EST
You start, Al.  Hang a poster with a picture of this kid's mother and the word "shame" outside your house/place of residence.  Let us know what kind of reaction you get.

Layman (none / 0) (#3)
by alfrednewman on Mon Jun 23, 2008 at 10:32:30 AM EST
Just what good would that do?  

My neighbors do not allow their children to shoot at people and the children in my neighborhood are not roaming the streets at all hours of the night or joining gangs.

Why do you think that is?

Because there are expectations of conduct.
"What? Me worry? " "whatmeworry.alfred@gmail.com"
[ Parent ]

You are calling for an action (none / 0) (#4)
by albany layman on Mon Jun 23, 2008 at 11:24:23 AM EST
Are you willing to do that action yourself?

Apparently not.

Layman (none / 0) (#5)
by alfrednewman on Mon Jun 23, 2008 at 11:40:52 AM EST
I have done my part to make sure that my neighborhood is safe. Can you say the same?
"What? Me worry? " "whatmeworry.alfred@gmail.com"
Stop dodging, Al (none / 0) (#6)
by albany layman on Mon Jun 23, 2008 at 12:54:39 PM EST
You want to see this woman publicly shamed.  That's what you said.

Are you willing to do it yourself?

Layman (none / 0) (#7)
by alfrednewman on Mon Jun 23, 2008 at 02:20:25 PM EST
Read what I wrote. These senseless murders will end *only* when we are a society demand that people be held accountable and part of accountability is shaming those who violate what should be the common and accepted norms.

"Thou shall not kill."  That has been part of the accepted norm since the Code of Hammurabi.

Little Timmons shoots a gun up a public street and kills a little girl.  Shame on his parents for not teaching her son what is acceptable behavior.

Would you like to explain why you think his parents are NOT responsible for how he was raised?  Would explain to us all why you think that the parents share no blaim?
"What? Me worry? " "whatmeworry.alfred@gmail.com"

I'm done with this (none / 0) (#8)
by albany layman on Mon Jun 23, 2008 at 07:38:03 PM EST
You said you wanted this woman publicly shamed.  Since that statement, you have changed the subject whenever I have asked if you would be the first to act.

Let me know if and when you put that poster up.  I am interested to see how the community reacts.

Layman (none / 0) (#9)
by alfrednewman on Tue Jun 24, 2008 at 05:55:38 AM EST
Glad your done with it. Sit back and wait for someone else to do something.  Thats what you seem to be best at.
"What? Me worry? " "whatmeworry.alfred@gmail.com"
Ideas on Ending the Violence | 9 comments (9 topical, 0 hidden)
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