Friday, January 04, 2008
And I’m not the only one
The paper beat me to it yesterday (or rather Wednesday, since that’s when the following was written):
Clay should admit Gary has crime woes
January 3, 2008
A mayor should be the top cheerleader for his or her city, whether it’s Olga Velazquez pitching a lakeshore park in Portage or Jon Costas backing bus service in Valparaiso.
In Gary, Mayor Rudy Clay needs to put down the rose-colored glasses and make the reduction of crime and violence his No. 1 priority. That can’t happen until Clay admits Gary is infested with thugs and gangbangers who find it easy to kill.
In comments about Gary’s homicide rate in today’s Post-Tribune, Clay dismisses Gary’s ills and blames domestic disputes as the main source of violent deaths in his city. That’s an irresponsible comment.
Take a close look at the names of the 71 people who died violent deaths in Gary last year. Most are young men in their 20s whose killers acquired guns too easily.
Meanwhile, homicides are dropping in the nation’s largest cities. New York City recorded 484 slayings as of Dec. 25—down 17 percent from last year and the lowest since record-keeping began in 1963.
Chicago marked its lowest total since 1965 with 435 killings through Dec. 26. A Chicago official hailed its tough stance on gangs, guns and drugs.
Yet, in Gary, the mayor doesn’t even recognize there’s a crime problem. It’s all domestics, family disputes, says his honor.
So, while other cities take hard looks at crime and make strides forward, Gary struts out a bunch of politically connected auxiliary police officers with no policing expertise. They should be assigned to parades.
There is real science that exists to analyze and fight crime. Other cities do have a clue; they are stopping the violence. Gary—again—is getting left behind on its far-too-deadly streets. Before change can occur, there must be an awareness, not an excuse.
Meanwhile, I take Mother to the brain garage today. Let’s hope the doc can come up with the right cocktail so that maybe, just maybe, I can leave County of Lake for a little r and r every so often.
[UPDATE: I now have in my hot little hands a scrip for Seroquel, which happens to be an ANTI-PSYCHOTIC. No, not for me, for Mother—Doc said it should “take the edge off” while helping her to gain weight, which is currently an issue since she’s down to 98 pounds. She’ll start taking it next week after she gets used to a higher dose of the other med she’s on. So, how bad is it that the fact that the med is an anti-psychotic is making me laugh just a little? Keep in mind that I’m going to hell for many other offenses.]
