7online.com: Harlem gunfire kills boy, 13 9/05/08
A 13 year old child loses his life and no one knows anything? When will the gun violence end? What is the answer? How do you save people from themselves? Perhaps these are rhetorical questions, but perhaps they actually have answers.
Interesting thing was the people just walking around the scene completely desensitized to the violence. I saw Jim Nolan, the reporter, in the news van enjoying a stogy as he looked out upon the community. Will it get worst before it gets better? Can Harlem rise up from the ashes of hopelessness?
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D. Bell
Dee Bell is a freelance writer and the founder of Uptownflavor, Harlem's premier online lifestyle destination since 2006.
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James…All very valid questions…IMHO, there is no totally “right” answer where there is no destruction. In prohibition, decriminalization, or legalization scenarios there are victims both those who choose to destroy themselves and those who are harmed by another’s abuse.
That being said, prohibition is by far the most destructive option. It just doesn’t work and it makes violent criminals more violent and very rich. Making alcohol illegal is what allowed the italian mafia to gain control over organized crime across the US. Additionally, prohibition is not only creating harm here but also hamstringing foreign nations such as Colombia, Bolivia, and more recently Mexico in perpetual wars against well armed gangs.
IMHO, policy should be steered first towards decriminalization to stop the arrest and jailing of “small time” users and dealers whose arrests have no real impact on the “war on drugs” and end up filing correctional facilities with their lives ruined. Needle programs, free rehabilitation instead of incarceration, and other harm reduction programs would seek to lower overall demand for drugs.
Eventually, I do think legalization of most drugs is the answer. I know it may sound crazy but now we are engaged in a policy which amounts to cutting off our nose to spite our face.
But why do the public officials have to bear responsibility? This is an issue that starts at home. One issue is that for poor people, they have literally been left out in the cold. People complained about welfare but I would like to compare the violent crimes stats to the stats once “hand outs” were taken away. They have no safety nets. About the only thing left are the projects and across the country those have been removed. NY is a progressive city but in some ways very very antiquated. That is part of the charm but also part of the problem. Are these just project kids killing each other? Nope. Can’t make that argument. Should a 13 year old boy be that far from home that time of night? No. But, it was his parent’s responsibility to make sure he was at home by the time the street lights came on. Didn’t happen and more than likely he would have been out until after 10 at night like the rest of Harlem — hanging out with the rats. Harlem doesn’t understand that it is time for a change. In order to get better you have to do better. That starts at home. There is no need for people to live in the living condition they live and die in without doing something other paying lip service. I know I am all over the place but in my mind it is all connected. Many people in Harlem feel that they have no responsibility to the community. They drop something in the grocery store and leave it on the floor. They don’t want something perishable — they leave it on a dry goods shelf. Then they complain they don’t have decent grocery stores in the community and the prices are too high. HELLO! You park your car where they’ve decided to have an impromptu picnic and they sit on it. No regard. The elevator in our lobby has had a hole in the button for God knows how long. Think anyone has asked when it will be fixed. Of course not. They are used to much worst. They move into some place “nice” and then blow out your eardrums with their loud music. No regard. Hell, we all enjoy music but we also pay rent and want a peaceful place to live. After sirens and helicopters all night the last thing I want to hear is your music the next day. All of it is connected. I also notice that people don’t talk to each other they yell at each other. Lower your volume, look the person in the eye and have a conversation for Christs sake. I’m even noticing it with my friends who moved from other places now. We can’t have a conversation because before you can even make your point they are talking you down and proving that they are right. That is so Harlem and part of the reason that child is dead today.
What I don’t understand is why is gun violence seem to be only in black communities in the city? Poverty is not an excuse brother. There are plenty of chinese in chinatown and flushing who are much poorer than families in harlem. How about eastern european familes who live in sheephead bay or brighton beach? These families are also very poor – economics have nothing to do with this.
This is a cultural thing that african americans need to take responsibility for or we as a people will perish our young people either killed or jailed. Who will stand up to this as a priority? Rep Wright? Nope. Congr Rangel? Nope. They give speeches, etc. but there are no community leaders dedicated to ending this violence.
I challenge some of our “politicians” to really, I mean really focus on this epidemic.
Who said this was drug related? It was a 13 year old…maybe it was lack of commonsense related.
This incident didn’t take place in front of the projects though. It was on the east end of 144th Street. There are no projects on that end of the street.
Definitely some valid points d. santos…in the legalized drug scenario, who would be in charge of dispensing them? who would be allowed to get it? would it be regulated like tobacco or alcohol?
OTOH…If we had sensible drug policy in this country instead of a zero sum stance on prohibition, such violence would be greatly decreased.
The current policy raises the profit margins for dealing drugs which promulgates a violent and self governing black market ruled by criminals. The presence of these profit motivated organizations decimate communities to a far greater extent than drugs themselves.
Policy should be aimed at decriminalization and reducing demand for drugs via harm reduction strategies. Its the only sensible way to drive down the price.
Too bad no politician in their right mind would even mention any of the above facts. Its political suicide.
Very sad indeed. Unfortunately this corner, in front of the Drew Hamilton Projects, has seen more than its fair share of gun violence in the past. Unless they clean out the drug gangs there, this will happen again.