According to statistics released by the State Police, crime rates have decreased in Allentown. If this makes you feel safer, please stop reading this blog now, because you are a moron. However, there are other local blogs you may well enjoy, among others, I suggest Allentown Good News or Lehigh Valley Somebody. If your interested in seeing a powerpoint presentation of the actual statistics and charts, attend an upcoming campaign meeting with Mayor Pawlowski. Many of his presentations can be seen at suburban churches, comfortably away from the "safety" of Allentown. Although this report may be of little consolation to the 85 year old west Allentown woman, recently punched three times in the face in her own garage, these numbers are music for those who design election brochures. This city has degenerated into the frightening realm of home invasions, what can it matter that vehicle thefts have decreased from 553 to 492?
Photo, courtesy of William Weber from the Herman L. Weber Collection
Many of those "home invasions" are being perpetuated by Allentown Housing inspectors, who have designated the area between the Lehigh River & 8th (East and West) & Tilghman & Hamilton (North & South) as a free search zone. The 4th Amendement shall not apply there.
ReplyDeleteYeah, MM, I have to agree with you on this. I LOVE A-town and will continue to stand up for it, but if the crime is down, then maybe the crimes being committed have just become MORE violent. WE realy need to start going into the neighborhoods on a consistent basis and knock on doors and see WHAT the problem is. We, actually, need some City leadership that will inspire EVERYONE in the North, South, East, and West side of A-town and stop depending on non-profits and community organizations that may or may not be around next year, due to NEEDED funding. Crime may NEVER go away, but if you create "real life alternatives" then perhaps you can prevent the thought process from, at least, beginning with many who would have gone down that road.
ReplyDeleteAlfonso Todd
We need to find a way to instill a sense of pride in Allentown by the youth of Allentown.
ReplyDeleteThere needs to be some type of movement that enlists a large number of youth to wake up to the truth about violence, crime and gangs.
People need to understand that that there is no way to audit crime numbers. In other words the mayor/any mayor can claim what they want and get away with it. I have this on good authority from the inside.
ReplyDeleteAdd to this the fact that for a variety of reasons fewer city residents report crimes now, I know people who just haven’t bothered. A Latino friend who was assaulted and robbed in the downtown told me “why should I call the police?” In other words “what’s the point”? He wasn’t interested in stats and filling out reports, he had two black eyes and no wallet, right or wrong that was the extent of his concern. He too wants out of the downtown.
Scott Armstrong
it seems clear to me that there is a direct correlation between the number of cops employed and the crime rate. The less cops, the less crime. Perhaps if we abolish cops all together, we will eradicate crime. It seems a simple thing to do. There is an added corollary, the less money the city has and the higher the taxes and costs for services, the less crime. Let's advocate increases in service costs and taxes, and less money in the general fund, as a way of further decreasing the crime statistics. Coupled with the elimination of cops, I am certain that the state report will show us having no crime at all. With no crime, real estate values will soar, and the taxes collected will increase, and so in order to preserve the lack of crime, we will have to hire many middle managers to dissapate the overage. This is so simple, I wonder why Ed didn't think of it.
ReplyDeleteSquirrel,
ReplyDeleteIt's easier said than done. Some kids don't have the option to participate in youth-aimed programs. As the economy worsens, low-income communities will continue to struggle.
Not only that AJC, but people will continue to go down the negative paths that are seemingly better and easier to navigate. I KNOW from first hand experience that many Allentown residents do not have ANY faith in the CITY or its' officials. So, their thought process is "Why should we even get involved" or "Why should I even care if I go commit this crime" The previous blogger was right, Allentown needs a movement.....
ReplyDeleteAlfonso Todd
allentown's embarking upon a plan to spend millions redesigning cedar beach park, including a mega playground which isn't needed for west end kids and a pavilion at the rose gardens. this money instead should go into youth sport and other programs designed to provide an alternative to street life.
ReplyDeleteMM -
ReplyDeleteRegarding your comment about youth programs, I am told that registration for city-sponsored recreation programs is down over the past four years - to the point that some groups are unable to field teams due to lack of participation.
I find this appalling, particularly since our schools seem to be bursting at the seams with kids.
This isn't my line but it seems to ring true: If the city isn't reaching these kids, the gangs will.
i recall last spring there was a grant proposal procedure for youth programs, but perhaps the process was too bureaucratic. when successful programs or mentors surface, there must be flexibility to allow immediate expansion. perhaps Weed and Seed should concentrate on this goal, instead of home inspections.
ReplyDeleteThe problem is that the individuals running and leading the programs have good intentions but lack the UNDERSTANDING of today's youth. They go after them with religious and educational tactics without realizing that many of these young people have different values. They see images of young men and women who entertain and "hustle" and have made millions before they were 25 years old. They see college educated people struggling just like everyone else. Today's young people can't be reached with yesterday's answers. Unfortunately, we keep saying REACH ONE, TEACH ONE, but what happens to those who still aren't being reached ? I guess those are the ones we ARE leaving behind.
ReplyDeleteAlfonso Todd
A-town youth sports is in a shambles. I've seen it first hand. Membership has dropped dramatically over the past 5 years. There are lots of reasons for this.
ReplyDeleteMy grandson is playing basketball in a city league tonight. i am almost positive at least one of the teams scheduled to play will forfeit.
It's very sad.
although bashed by educators, the philosophy behind no child left behind was to avoid the excuses, likewise the schools have free breakfast and lunch programs. it's apparent that the community must become more aggressive with the youth programs.
ReplyDeleteWell. I have an idea. Want to discuss let me know.
ReplyDeleteLike the idiot once said. How do you eat an elephant? One bite at a time.
BTW - It is always easier said than done.
Squirrel,
ReplyDeleteI'd love to discuss ideas with you. Drop me an e-mail or something.
Program this, program that....
ReplyDeleteYa know what my youth program was a couple decades ago? It was mom, dad, brother and sister, and friends and neighbors. It is time to hold young unwed mothers...and THEIR own parents....responsible for raising their kids. And yes, grab every buck you can from the deadbeat 'dads.' A few years ago Allentown School District complained that her high schools couldn't compete in athletics because her poor students had to 'work' after school. Yeah, right.