I told you, we would revisit this topic and the time is now. To the ire of some, they were not feeling my opinion on the matter. But in the nation’s capital the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) chose to do as my post is titled – Round ‘em up NOW.
“It was a warm afternoon in the District's Trinidad neighborhood, and a group of boys was walking shirtless in the streets, some with pants hanging down below their behinds.”
This is part of the problem – I didn’t say the origins of the problem, but problematic nonetheless.
“One of the boys had thrown a plastic soda bottle at a youth passing by on a moped, nearly causing a crash. "Unsupervised teenagers -- that's part of the problem,"... "Now, how they're getting a hold of all these guns and drugs, that's the other part."”
Just a neighborly observation as told to a columnist for the Washington Post.
Now, remember these quotes as I make my point ….
In a neighborhood that is in the backyard of the US Capitol, during the past two weeks there was a spike in homicides. So, the chief of police and the mayor’s chief legal counsel devised a plan Neighborhood Safety Zone to contain the number of homicides in this neighborhood. Over a 6-day period, they imposed a military-style ID checkpoint on a street in that neighborhood. In effect, stopping all motorists (however pedestrians could walk on by). The efficacy of the plan was criticized, considering that pedestrians were not stopped and if a motorist was denied entry at the checkpoint – they could enter the neighborhood via other streets, alleys, etc. Now some residents were peeved and others were relieved. During MPD presence, no homicides occurred.
I must admit the mayor and chief of police strong-armed residents of the embattled district. The mayor’s office didn’t inform the city council of his intentions let alone residents of that district. But then again, the mayor of café au lait has operated in this manner since the inception of his mayoral term. His claim would be: In the name of efficiency – I gots to do what I gots to do—and for the most part—his newly minted citizens (circa ‘90s +) don’t mind his style. They like when the job is done.
Lest I forget to mention, that the neighborhood is slowly being gentrified. A new train stop was added a few years ago. Residents built a new charter school – so a change is comin’
Remember the quotes above
The issue of civil rights vs. civil liberties is not new in this country. It is a crude idea for the government to intrude in your neighborhood while you pay taxes and such, however you better devise a plan of your own and become proactive 'cuz if not the government will adopt their own plan to the ire of many.
Now critics to my original post can twiddle their thumbs all they want, but the government ain’t waiting for ya to figure things out. So, either we round ‘em up NOW and salvage what’s left of our neighborhoods and rebuild or they will round ‘em up NOW.
It’s your call to make.
cheers,
Bellini
P.S. Congratulations to the Boston Celtics, stone-cold crushing LA!
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4 comments:
i despise gentrification
"Over a 6-day period, they imposed a military-style ID checkpoint on a street in that neighborhood."
That's all well and good, but unless it's done over a 365-day period, it's not going to matter. When the "occupation" is over, the teens are still going to be unsupervised and they're still going to be getting the guns and drugs.
"give a legitimate reason for being on the block"
What's a legitimate reason? Is it consistent each day? Who decides what's legitimate? Just seems like one big slippery slope.
I definitely don't think the road blocks are the most efficient way to deter crime in the neighborhood. Like Gangsta D said, it won't matter unless its done every day of the year. However, it is a start. My family is from that neighborhood; for years they have watched the neighborhood deteriorate before their very eyes. My aunt and her neighbors have been to countless meetings with the police and city council and have yet to find a solution to permanently reduce and stop the violence in the community. Now that more & more "lait" is pouring into the "cafe", po-pos wanna resort to special ops and shit.
I feel what you're saying about our need to proactive and devise our own plan. But the sad truth is no one takes those plans serious until the "lait" shows up.
Mentally stuck on the plantation...
@torrance: interesting response...i'm going to explore that sentiment and create a post on just that...stay tuned
@gangsta d: you're right, but the mayor and MPD weren't gonna let that slide--there sole objective was shortsighted, but it worked for them; imo there are folks in the neighborhood who are aiders and abetters or culprits there damn selves; we've become desensitized to the status quo--this is problematic
@dark'n'stormy: you and torrance are on to something--a kneejerk reaction for us is to blame others, but that's too easy even if others are complicit in the problem
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