… on NewsNight with Jim Braude, opposite conservative lawyer Dan Kelly. We talked SJC/legislature/SSM, John Edwards, Deval Patrick’s budget restorations. After I watch it myself, I may have further comment. I hope I didn’t mis-paraphrase any of the commenters here.
Watch it yourself, and let loose with the Braude-predicted hate mail here.
UPDATE: Do give the segment with Rev. Culpepper a look. I agree 100% with Braude that the issue of 72 homicides in Boston, mostly in minority neighborhoods, is criminally under-appreciated by our leaders. There’s absolutely no sense of urgency from the Governor; urban crime wasn’t really an issue in the last campaign. There’s a subtext of racism or classism to the lack of urgency, both in press coverage and in political action and appreciation: These people aren’t like you. They’re different. They don’t feel pain like you. That’s just got to stop, especially in a city that once led the way in pointing out that you can do something about it.
Let’s all wake up. These are our kids, our families, our problem.
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From the BMG Archives: Hub Killing Spree, What To Do? A veritable paint by number.
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a. I realize first we need to build some gazebos, but after that, can’t we, you know, establish with 100% street cred that witnesses will get all-out protection, including relocation?
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b. 1,000 more cops for a campaign, fine. You can’t do real policy in a campaign.
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The reality is that we need CHANGE, not just more $$$ to hire people, not summer jobs programs, not midnight basketball. Urgent CHANGE not just in witness protection, in how homicides are investigated, prosecuted, and deterred. Boston’s success in all these areas is lower than in other cities!
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c. To be fair, this leadership should come from the Mayor. And it’s not. He’s busy sketching a new City Hall on Dunkin Donut napkins. The City Council Prez seems obsessed with crime, at least in talking about crime, but he’s got no juice.
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And these shootings aren’t happening in Trav’s eastie or DiMasi’s north end….
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Since Muni and Lege leadership isn’t there, a Governor COULD push an urban agenda, could link city aid, some $ for new city cops, to tough but needed CHANGE.
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d. You think Trav’s ill-advised speech was tough on Deval? If the Gov calmly but urgently tried to lay out a plan, Menino would go absolutely and publicly foaming BONKERS.
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So I’m not sure that’s on Joan Wallace-Benjamin’s to do list. It’s Menino and his new Commish or nothing. Hey, the guy needs a new primary care doc. Maybe he can get this guy and pick his brain on crime-fighting ideas.
it spreads to other urban cities? (Um…it already has…just on smaller scale).
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Today in Worcester, a neighborhood group, The Main South Alliance for Public Safety, held an all inclusive forum, to discuss this very subject and work to find solutions from outside the government also. Feedback from all of the City’s 40 neighborhood (crime) watches was one suggestion. We know where all the problem areas are,so listen when we tell you! The city’s “infamous PIP shelter” is in SM
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In attendance were City Councilors, clergy, local business owners, reps. from YWCA & YMCA also similar organizations, residents from the neighborhood, representatives from several divisions of the police dept., including the chief’s office.
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One important idea, which will be sent to our local State delegation, in the House and Senate, a program called “Follow the Weapon”. Where the weapon used n of a crime is tracked, traced, monitored, etc, all the way back to the manufacturer. How many hands did it touch along the way.
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For example: A weapon, is used in a shooting. The weapon is recovered, it is then traced back, (and recorded) to find out if, it was purchased legitimately. (which is already done by police), however,if it can not be traced, it goes into a statewide database, to see, if it was part of an illegal smuggling, purchased or received as part of deal with drugs, etc.
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I am the moderator of one of those 40 neighborhood watches. We (here) have a large youth population,also. I have contacted the City Councilor from that district, Barbara Haller. She was interviewed on our NECN affiliate, WCTR ch.3, earlier this evening. Sorry, no link for the show, OR the station), not Savoy, but unbelievable in 2006).
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They have asked the citizens of Worcester, to become part of the solution, rather than part of the problem. Eyes and ears and dialing fingers to assist the police. Including a toll-free anonymous tip line. This group wants to do everything it can to get the Guns off the streets of Worcester. and I’m sure since they want it to be a STATEWIDE database, other cities will participate, too.
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I’ve asked Councilor Haller, to send me material, or connect me to the program. When I get an update, I will let you know, so the word can be spread everywhere.
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**SIDE NOTE: Before anyone asks! – All of our watches are part of the WPD community policing unit here in Worcester, so all of this would be closely monitored by them, to assure that nothing done, would violate any rights….or jeopardize any court case or ongoing investigations…
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It’s a start and more discussion I’m sure will bring other ideas from the residents on building a better/or other program…..
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Civic engagement is alive and well in Worcester…..stay tuned!
There’s absolutely no sense of urgency from the Governor; urban crime wasn’t really an issue in the last campaign.
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It seems to me that the first sense of “urgency” should come from the mayors of the cities in which urban crime is rampant, not necessarily from the governor or candidates for governor. If the mayors believe that they need help in controlling urban crime in their cities, of course they should be expected to ask for help from the governor. Have they? If they have, I haven’t heard much of it.
..or Daniel Kelly, for that matter.
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Here’s what I would have asked you –
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You say the reason Deval isn’t weighing in on the gay marriage vote, just days before he takes an oath to uphold the Consitution, is that “the matter isn’t in his hands yet”.
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Yet you support his stated intention to rescind the agreement with the Federal government to arrest illegal immigrants, to restore tax cuts, etc. Those matters aren’t in his hands yet either.
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So why one and not the other? Why does he get a free pass on gay marriage?
I guess I should make a distinction between what I think Patrick will do and what he should do. I thought Braude asked me the will question.
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On “will”: The amendment will never be in his hands the way the others are. It’s a legislative issue. “Upholding the Constitution” has nothing to do with what Patrick says at this point.
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As for “should”: Perhaps I should have said that Patrick should say that if the legislature decides to vote, they should vote “no”. That’s certainly an appropriate use of the bully pulpit.