It seems that some are trying to get some funding or publicity from the current wave of carnage in Allentown. The Morning Call newspaper went to bat for Promise Neighborhoods, and got some funding restored for that organization.
Promoter Ed White recommended supporting a new organization he started. By my standards, the most logical recommendation came from councilman Courtney Robinson...He recommends creating an inventory of existing activities available for young people. While little leagues for baseball and basketball have existed since my youth, there are also excellent existing facilities for after school activities. In addition to keeping school gyms open, there is the YMCA and Jewish Community Center. There are people like Pastor Jim Rivera, who has been engaging youth constructively for decades.
Realistically, those who engage in gangs and violence, resist partaking in such activities as enumerated above. While hopefully some kids will find alternatives to the street, we will also need beefed up police action.
Courtney is of course correct. The ASD should already have such information to share with the city, unless under current leadership they have misplaced it along with their truthfulness and common sense. It's troubling to note that Courtney will likely be replaced on council by Josh. So intelligence will be out the door to be replaced by utter cluelesness.
ReplyDeleteCourtney should contact communities and schools, an up and running organization, already doing great work in the city with and established reputation.
ReplyDelete