No one wants a police state, but all of us will agree that for any community to survive in a safe and welcoming manner that is conducive to growth, a strong police presence is absolutely necessary working hand in hand with a court system that protects the citizenry from those who choose to violate the law.
The rash of senseless murders in Youngstown, and make no mistake about it all murders are senseless, calls for a demand for a stronger police presence in spite of the contention that it would make for a police state by those who allegedly champion civil liberty.
Why should anyone have to hive in fear for their safety and the safety of their loved ones? Is this not a clear violation of their civil liberty?
By the same token, why should we feel sorry for criminals like some do-gooders suggest? We all make choices each and every day of our life ... no one puts a gun to our heads and forces us to make the choices we make, and if we are free to make those choices, we should be compelled to live with the consequences of those choices.
It's not enough to have compassion for the victims of wrong doers, for we are all victims in a very true sense when the criminal element preys on us.
We can hold vigils, and community marches all we want, but does that deter criminals from acting? If a person is bent on a criminal act, he's going to do it in spite of the good intentions of the community at large, because he thinks that he'll get away with it.
Public safety is neither a liberal or conservative issue it concerns the totality of the community, for criminals do not prey upon us because of our party affiliations.
All of us here know that Youngstown has a bad reputation nationally, and if we're honest with ourselves, we know that crime is at the heart of the problem, and to date nothing that the good people of the city has said or done will change that until facts and figures show the world a different Youngstown, and simply to point to some isolated cases simply won't do it.
Our city has been handed some really great opportunities for recovery, but until those opportunities are coupled with proof positive that this is a safe place for both families and businesses, we'll have gained nothing.
Maggy, a south side resident, was interviewed by TV-21 yesterday. She made some important points about the Youngstown police force. For example, the department is understaffed. More patrolmen will be added but not before another wave of retirements take place. Maggy seems to know quite a lot about the shortcomings of the YPD.
I believe Youngstown's crime rate has been dropping consistently for the last few years. Certainly, there is still a long way to go, but I think we should be looking at what has been working, and try to enhance that.
I realize that the YPD has problems, and I certainly don't blame them for the city's crime problem. This is a community wide problem that requires the fullest cooperation possable, and one way that should be considered is for better cooperation between the radio stations and Crime Stoppers.
Another if it isn't already in place is the creation of sub stations for YPD. There use to be sub stations here but are they still in place?
I realize that the population has shrunk dramatically, and as others have pointed out the revenue that the city brings in has also shrunk making it difficult to expand our police force, but until we bring the crime problem down, not only will more people flee the city, but job bringing businesses will go elsewhere.
I don't profess to have all the answers to this problem, but as someone who loves Youngstown, I want to see the day come when outsiders will look at our city in a better light, and we won't have to live with the stigma of being a dangerous place to live and work.
Wasn't there 65 homicides in 2000? And we're at 17 in September? Even if we doubled this year's rate by the end of the year we would still be half of what was the norm ten years ago.
Things are getting better, but everyone seems to be a pessimist.
Rick,
I can remember 2000, iwasthere. What is scary, was back then it was black on black crime and both the parties were in dispute over criminal activity. Lately, it is more random especially when innocent people are gunned down coming from church. My old rental company once had a house on Chalmers and I remember the young man and his girlfriend were executed gangland style, rumor was that my tenant started selling on someone else's turf. Point is, are these random assassinations a harbinger of wanton killing of whites in predominantly black neighborhoods. Recently, it was aired wherein a black panther member was recorded yelling in public for blacks to kill "whitey", is this an undercurrent mentality now?
Vindicator Murder Map
According to this map and articles there were 19 killings in Youngstown. A list is included with the map.
http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?f=q&source=s_q&hl=en&geocode=&vps=2&jsv=278a&ie=UTF8&hq=&hnear=700+N+Garland+Ave,+Youngstown,+Mahoning,+Ohio+44505&oe=UTF8&msa=0&msid=107147239441636336142.00049140f7ada1b417eca
I just finished listening to Councilwoman Tarpley on the radio. The councilwoman made it sound as though blighted vacant homes were the cause of crime and criminals.
:(
And this is coming from someone that we elected to govern us?
1. From this point onward, when arrests are made their photos should be posted here and preserved.
2. Do you notice that when these people are arrested they try to hide their faces like the cowards they are.
Vivian Martin Killers
Quote from: Towntalk on September 28, 2010, 06:26:45 PM
Vivian Martin Killers
I thought Paul Brooks wasn't involved in Mrs. Martin's murder?
All three photos came from the WYTV report. Was WYTV wrong? Paul Brooks was in on it so his photo is included. Remember what Mayor williams said about the other killing. If you're involved in any way, you're going to be charged with the murder.
From the Tribune
Cops: Search nets guns
http://www.tribtoday.com/page/content.detail/id/547567/Cops--Search-nets-guns.html?nav=5021
Quote from: Towntalk on September 28, 2010, 06:57:56 PM
All three photos came from the WYTV report. Was WYTV wrong? Paul Brooks was in on it so his photo is included. Remember what Mayor williams said about the other killing. If you're involved in any way, you're going to be charged with the murder.
From the Tribune
Cops: Search nets guns
http://www.tribtoday.com/page/content.detail/id/547567/Cops--Search-nets-guns.html?nav=5021
Per the Tribune article, Paul isn't currently connected with the murder, just the robbery of the the real estate agent in Boardman.
But he committed a crime ... does that make him a good guy... so what's the beef? Would you want him as a neighbor?
NEW CATAGORY - ROBBERY ARMED AND UNARMED.
Quote from: Towntalk on September 28, 2010, 07:40:39 PM
But he committed a crime ... does that make him a good guy... so what's the beef? Would you want him as a neighbor?
NEW CATAGORY - ROBBERY ARMED AND UNARMED.
No, I certainly would not want to be his neighbor. But, IMO, that doesn't make it right to lump him in with cold-blooded killers. If I had to choose, I'd rather live next to an armed robber than a murderer. For all we know, Paul Brooks kept Robert Brooks from killing the real estate agent in Boardman. (I know it's a stretch)
The trial will tell all.
In the meantime I have no sympathy for any of them.