Let’s talk election results. I guess we’re even MORE progressive now in the face of rising crime.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I am very responsive to some of the arguments made on this thread about the ways that Racine's approach to crime, and the general progressive insistence on "addressing root causes" instead of prosecuting, have contributed to an increase in crime rates, especially among juveniles. I'm in -- I agree that what we have been doing is NOT working.

But (and I get how naive this makes me sound -- I am naive! that's why I'm asking here) I just watched We Own This City and I also found the argument in that show that the war on drugs and the criminal justice system is essentially designed to lock up young black men, destroying black families and communities in the process. You can't ignore that history and how it got us to the point we are in now.

So I find myself at a loss. How do we reject the "school to prison pipeline" that relies on aggressive prosecution of juvenile crime in order to effectively lock poor black men into extremely limited options before they even hit 18, while also actually addressing crime and recidivism in the city so that it's a safer and better place to live for all citizens, including black men and women and children?

I agree that "violence interruptors" are not the answer (lol Charles Allen, please) but I also don't think locking up all these kids is the answer either. I was on another thread talking about how I think school closures had a real negative impact, and following that logic, I think increased programming and engagement for kids in the city starting from a young age is part of the solution. I recently heard about a program in I think Philadelphia where local high schools started staying open until midnight and providing a place for kids to come play, study, hang out, etc. with the caveat that of course drugs, alcohol, and weapons were not allowed and screened for. And it offered a real benefit -- a place for kids who don't always have safe homes or neighborhoods to go every day, where they could spend time with friends and just be kids, but where drugs and guns could be kept out. I'm sure it wasn't perfect but it was something.

That doesn't mean I don't think these crimes should be prosecuted. They should. But there's got to be an option between locking up a generation of young black men and simply not prosecuting them at all. There do need to be consequences for actions, but also those consequences can't simply be effectively ending these kids' chances of ever being a functional, contributing member of society, by getting them in the system early and destroying future chances of regular employment and a functional relationship with their community.

We need better supports for children with special needs and trauma. I've been beating this drum for years. Our prisons are filled with people with undiagnosed special needs and obviously almost all prisoners all have unresolved trauma. And of course closing schools sent thousands of DC's children even further into the abyss. That's the problem with DC's progressive leaders. They won't lift a finger unless it somehow benefits the interests who endorse them. They had such a wasted opportunity to do things for DCPS students, but instead they focused solely on teacher employment benefits because they're backed by the union. The children paid the price with the school closures that the progressive council members advocated for. Now some are so far behind that they're sure to drop out, and they've already turned to crime.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Not my money. That’s the beauty of it. Maybe DFER has some?

DFER doesn't care about crime, only charter schools. They really don't care if crime increases.

[Anonymous]

People complain about crime but then they elect the people who are least likely to do anything useful about it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am very responsive to some of the arguments made on this thread about the ways that Racine's approach to crime, and the general progressive insistence on "addressing root causes" instead of prosecuting, have contributed to an increase in crime rates, especially among juveniles. I'm in -- I agree that what we have been doing is NOT working.

But (and I get how naive this makes me sound -- I am naive! that's why I'm asking here) I just watched We Own This City and I also found the argument in that show that the war on drugs and the criminal justice system is essentially designed to lock up young black men, destroying black families and communities in the process. You can't ignore that history and how it got us to the point we are in now.

So I find myself at a loss. How do we reject the "school to prison pipeline" that relies on aggressive prosecution of juvenile crime in order to effectively lock poor black men into extremely limited options before they even hit 18, while also actually addressing crime and recidivism in the city so that it's a safer and better place to live for all citizens, including black men and women and children?

I agree that "violence interruptors" are not the answer (lol Charles Allen, please) but I also don't think locking up all these kids is the answer either. I was on another thread talking about how I think school closures had a real negative impact, and following that logic, I think increased programming and engagement for kids in the city starting from a young age is part of the solution. I recently heard about a program in I think Philadelphia where local high schools started staying open until midnight and providing a place for kids to come play, study, hang out, etc. with the caveat that of course drugs, alcohol, and weapons were not allowed and screened for. And it offered a real benefit -- a place for kids who don't always have safe homes or neighborhoods to go every day, where they could spend time with friends and just be kids, but where drugs and guns could be kept out. I'm sure it wasn't perfect but it was something.

That doesn't mean I don't think these crimes should be prosecuted. They should. But there's got to be an option between locking up a generation of young black men and simply not prosecuting them at all. There do need to be consequences for actions, but also those consequences can't simply be effectively ending these kids' chances of ever being a functional, contributing member of society, by getting them in the system early and destroying future chances of regular employment and a functional relationship with their community.

We need better supports for children with special needs and trauma. I've been beating this drum for years. Our prisons are filled with people with undiagnosed special needs and obviously almost all prisoners all have unresolved trauma. And of course closing schools sent thousands of DC's children even further into the abyss. That's the problem with DC's progressive leaders. They won't lift a finger unless it somehow benefits the interests who endorse them. They had such a wasted opportunity to do things for DCPS students, but instead they focused solely on teacher employment benefits because they're backed by the union. The children paid the price with the school closures that the progressive council members advocated for. Now some are so far behind that they're sure to drop out, and they've already turned to crime.

All true.

But so the fact that if you bludgeon someone for their phone, you should go to jail.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Can we run a home-grown Independent in Ward 1 in November? Why do we need to be tied up by the 2-party system?

the "home grown" thing in DC makes me insane. It's the literal same thing that the folks in my tiny home town tout as amazing. I've lived here forever and never left - is that actually a good thing?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am very responsive to some of the arguments made on this thread about the ways that Racine's approach to crime, and the general progressive insistence on "addressing root causes" instead of prosecuting, have contributed to an increase in crime rates, especially among juveniles. I'm in -- I agree that what we have been doing is NOT working.

But (and I get how naive this makes me sound -- I am naive! that's why I'm asking here) I just watched We Own This City and I also found the argument in that show that the war on drugs and the criminal justice system is essentially designed to lock up young black men, destroying black families and communities in the process. You can't ignore that history and how it got us to the point we are in now.

So I find myself at a loss. How do we reject the "school to prison pipeline" that relies on aggressive prosecution of juvenile crime in order to effectively lock poor black men into extremely limited options before they even hit 18, while also actually addressing crime and recidivism in the city so that it's a safer and better place to live for all citizens, including black men and women and children?

I agree that "violence interruptors" are not the answer (lol Charles Allen, please) but I also don't think locking up all these kids is the answer either. I was on another thread talking about how I think school closures had a real negative impact, and following that logic, I think increased programming and engagement for kids in the city starting from a young age is part of the solution. I recently heard about a program in I think Philadelphia where local high schools started staying open until midnight and providing a place for kids to come play, study, hang out, etc. with the caveat that of course drugs, alcohol, and weapons were not allowed and screened for. And it offered a real benefit -- a place for kids who don't always have safe homes or neighborhoods to go every day, where they could spend time with friends and just be kids, but where drugs and guns could be kept out. I'm sure it wasn't perfect but it was something.

That doesn't mean I don't think these crimes should be prosecuted. They should. But there's got to be an option between locking up a generation of young black men and simply not prosecuting them at all. There do need to be consequences for actions, but also those consequences can't simply be effectively ending these kids' chances of ever being a functional, contributing member of society, by getting them in the system early and destroying future chances of regular employment and a functional relationship with their community.

We need better supports for children with special needs and trauma. I've been beating this drum for years. Our prisons are filled with people with undiagnosed special needs and obviously almost all prisoners all have unresolved trauma. And of course closing schools sent thousands of DC's children even further into the abyss. That's the problem with DC's progressive leaders. They won't lift a finger unless it somehow benefits the interests who endorse them. They had such a wasted opportunity to do things for DCPS students, but instead they focused solely on teacher employment benefits because they're backed by the union. The children paid the price with the school closures that the progressive council members advocated for. Now some are so far behind that they're sure to drop out, and they've already turned to crime.

All true.

But so the fact that if you bludgeon someone for their phone, you should go to jail.

PP you're responding to here. My apologies for not being more clear. I completely agree with you.