If you have something to say...
Say it on the Huffington Post
If you have something to say...
Say it on the Huffington Post
After being subjected to a national financial crime wave with no meaningful consequences for white collar criminals, the middle class, the core of many cities and communities, is being subjected to a physical crime wave.
Imagine a program that saves Cook County at least $20 million per year while reducing crime, incarceration, and unemployment. This is no fantasy -- it's called diversion court.
Among the future consequences of not fixing our national problems will likely be an increase in social unrest and crime. A look at Chicago's problems may serve as a call to action for America's middle class.
The justices may want to keep this in mind as they weigh Chicago's handgun ban. If illegal handguns are being bought legally, then what really is the ban accomplishing?
Who in their right mind thought it would be a good educational decision to move black kids from 95% black North Lawndale to Little Village High School in a 95% Latino community? Racial violence was predictable if not guaranteed.
The differences between crime rates for different areas of the city have deep social roots. You cannot expect communities that have been all but written off to not struggle with violence.
I've seen nothing to suggest that we accomplish much by brutalizing the small and troubled people who commit atrocities. Killing these four gang bangers who murdered Nequiel Fowler does nothing to honor or memorialize this beautiful child.
If we as Chicagoans truly want reduced levels of violence in our low-income high-crime neighborhoods then we must be prepared to face the unvarnished truth.
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