CRIMINAL REALITY

Two examples of the criminal culture in the streets of Youngstown. What can we do about it?

Posted by a West Side resident last week on Mahoning Valley.info:

"Last night the police were called about a group of youths on our street. This isn't the first time they've acted like hoodlums. Vandalism - no one can keep yard ornaments now, trash everywhere, open displays of SEXUAL behavior among very young people, blocking the road purposefully to stop drivers. Just for us personally - they smashed copper solar yard lights to pieces, ripped out flowers that were planted, broke the head from a statue in my yard that was anchored with fishing line. They STOMPED across the roof of my van leaving dents and threw rocks at it as well leaving dings in the sides. They regularly have rock throwing fights across the street as cars drive by.

When I told the mother that the kids were out of control, one of the daughter's visiting friend began to behave in a threatening manner toward me. An incident this month has resulted in criminal charges against a neighbor who had enough when they broke his windshield and his tires were slashed. He threatened the father who has been asked numerous times to do something about the crowds of 20 or more that gather at his house and menace neighbors and drivers. These kids are out of control. They move as HUGE gang and frighten smaller children and the adults. One stood ON MY SIDEWALK today dribbling a basketball and VERBALLY threatened small children as they tried to pass. They went into the other side of the street. People can't even get in and out of their driveways.

This week I was trying to pull into my drive and a teenage girl tried to SHOVE a smaller girl into the path of my vehicle, looking DIRECTLY INTO MY EYES THE ENTIRE TIME. I rolled down the window and told her that it would have ruined all of our lives if I had hit that little girl and she should be ashamed of herself. She called me a few names. The only peace on our street is early in the AM and while school is in session, which is over now. The police came too late to see anything last night but did listen intently as another concerned neighbor screamed at the group about the constant chaos and the inappropriate "touching" of a teenager on a younger child. They had all ganged up on her porch threateningly and she wasn't backing down. The kids THEN HAD THE NERVE TO WALK UP TO THE POLICE and say the WOMAN WAS SCARING THEM.

The police told the kids it was time to go home. It was about 10:30 when they arrived. At this very moment a large group is congregated in the yard of a neighbor that is out for the day. They are completely trashing his yard by stomping his plantings, sitting on his porch as if it is their own, leaving trash everywhere. Is this trespassing? I know they do the same thing in my yard when I leave. There is always a pile of trash when I return. People are moving out in large numbers. "

Then, there is this from the Vindicator today:

YOUNGSTOWN — A Hubbard couple said they were attacked and robbed by five men at the intersection of Logan Avenue and Gypsy Lane after they honked their horn at a car that refused to move.The 32-year-old male victim told police that he and his girlfriend left a bar on Logan Avenue around 1:30 a.m. today and were driving north on Logan Avenue when they came up behind a car stopped for a red light at Gypsy Lane.

The male victim said the light turned green, but the car, described as a 1980s or 1990s black Oldsmobile, didn’t move.He said he blew his horn and the car still didn’t move, but five young men who appeared to be in their 20s jumped out of the car and ran back to his vehicle, beating on the windows until they broke the driver’s side window.The victims said two or three of the assailants began punching him in the face through the broken window, then dragged him from the car and knocked him down in the street, punching and kicking him.

The attackers took a $20 bill from his pocket, he told police. His girlfriend was dragged from the car and also thrown into the street, he said, adding that her purse was stolen.The five attackers, all described as men wearing all black clothing, jumped back into the Oldsmobile which then fled the scene, the male victim said. Neither he nor his girlfriend were able to get a license plate number, police said.They were able to drive themselves to Forum Health Northside Medical Center for treatment. Police said the male victim had two black and swollen eyes, a laceration on his nose and the left side of his face was swollen. There was no report on the girlfriend’s injuries.

Youngstown is a city and in cities there is violent crime. This, however, is lawlessness.

There are many economic and social reasons as to why a sense of lawlessness exists in areas of the city but "why" doesn't concern the good citizens of the city who become the victims of such thuggery. "Why" is left to our leadership, academia and our activists. Good citizens deserve protection, period.

It has been said that Youngstown is a racist city that tolerates violent crime as long as victims are other criminals. That is ignorance. Ignorance is the seed in the garden social decay. Crime (among many others things) is a product of such a garden. Sadly, that is the history lesson Youngstown has taught the nation for the past 30 years. Regardless, revitalization is moot if we can't control our crime problem.

I know of no short term solution. Youngstown's version of zero tolerance is a start but a meaningful, long-term approach (such as NYC's version, for example) is needed. Here is a suggestion for a long-term approach:

1. Redistrict the City Wards and Decentralize YPD:

Youngstown currently has 7 wards which were districted during a time when the city had double the population we have now. Not only have we lost population, but the concentrations have shifted. Youngstown 2010 has a much more sensible breakdown:

This leaves us with 5 Wards (p.s. redistricting the wards will be another blog). From here, YPD is decentralized, with "Ward Commands" set up in each respective ward. Each ward has a ward commander and is responsible for assignment of their officer to various communities (again, broken down by Youngstown 2010) in their area of operation. However, wards commands report to central command, headed by the Police Chief and his command staff. We decentralize YPD this way in order to...

2. Implement Order Maintenance Policing:

Due to limited personnel, authority does not own the bad neighborhoods in Youngstown. The criminals do and citizens of neighborhoods know this. Often times, they know who commits the crimes but are reluctant to come forward out of fear of retaliation when the police move on to other matters. Until citizens feel that that police own the streets, we will continue to be plugging holes in a leaking dam.

Order Maintenance policing (or Community policing) is a shift in our current policing strategy. Due to our limited number of officers and resources, YPD is a reactionary force meaning that when a crime is committed, someone calls 911 and the police appear after the fact. Order Maintenance is proactive and community based. Put very briefly, in New York City, police are assigned to and "embedded" into specific communities. Police know their communities inside and out and relationships are formed with the good citizens. The bad apples are then identified and targeted. Crime reduces. In time, police-citizen-neighborhood relations strengthen, mentality changes, and residents regain trust in authority. The environment changes to one in which does not foster thuggery or - lawlessness. The result - specifically in New York's case - is true and sustainable zero tolerance policy in which a community is left with a feeling of empowerment.

3. Community Activism, Innovative Prosecution, and Harsh Judicial Punishment:

Community activism is important as it helps to bring people together in an organized fashion to stand up to lawlessness. In addition, it assists police as extra "eyes and ears" willing to help.

Perhaps the best example of community activism regarding crime in Youngstown is ACTION. Here is a recent example of their efforts: ACTION takes lead to reclaim South Side areas.

On the other end of the spectrum is punishment for crimes committed. Criminals must know that they will face stern sentencing in Mahoning County. They also need to know they will actually go to jail (which hasn't been fully operational for nearly a year and a half due to a Federal mandate ...but will be this August). Adequate funding for our jail and proper operational procedure from our Sheriff's department is incredibly important. Lack thereof could immobilize our efforts indefinitely. We won't go there.

In addition, proactive and innovative prosecution can play an important role. For instance, take today's Vindicator article regarding Jude Kobly's parental responsibility ordinance.

4. Continue aggressive demolition.

A virtual "do-nothing" attitude regarding land use planning prevailed in the city for 30 years. This translated to 30 years of blight accumulation. That means we have more houses than we do residents, more land mass than we can manage or control. This is where a majority of the crime takes place. The city has quadrupled its demolition budget since Mayor Williams has taken office. City Prosecutor Jay Macejko has worked closely with city officials to target known drug or gang houses. The city has moved those houses to the top of the list. A total 400 residential units will be taken down each year for a total of 1,600 by the time Williams's first term ends.

Keep in mind that this is a very basic overview of this new zero tolerance approach. The point is, as we shrink the trouble and blighted spots in the city and can find a way to hire more patrol officers who can be assigned to specific neighborhoods w/in the city, we have a more logical approach to combatting real crime.

However, this isn't possible without the Mahoning Valley working together to assist revitalization within its central city.

And with that said, we expose the second front of the war..the resistance from within....a war we, in no way, should be fighting but do. Below is an example of just what I talking about:


Y'town isn't my town (Vindicator "Letter to the Editor")

EDITOR:
"I've heard enough. It's time for the people of the areas surrounding Youngstown to get involved and do something. There is no logical reason why the surrounding suburbs should support the failing city of Youngstown.

Youngstown can save $90,000 being spent on a study that would show how much Youngstown could get if it were to be able to reach into the pocketbooks of people who do not live in city. This study should begin with "Once upon a time," because this will be the biggest fairy tale Youngstown has ever read.


Regardless of what the laws might dictate, I will not pay taxes to Youngstown because I do not live in Youngstown, Austintown and Boardman residents should join me in a boycott of everything Youngstown to show the power that we can exert. We need to declare a week or more of a total boycott of everything in Youngstown. Then if we continue to hear bellicose talk from the Y'town city administration we should continue the boycott until our message is heard.

Struthers, Campbell and Canfield residents should also join in this effort to get a message out to Robin Hood, because if this is tolerated you will be next in line for the pickpocket Mayor of Youngstown.

We in the suburbs do not need Youngstown. Youngstown is not providing any free water or any other services to you — they are selling it to you and you are paying for it. You owe nothing to Youngstown.

MERLE E. LEE
Boardman



Response to Vindicator:

EDITOR:

This letter is a response to a letter written last week titled "Ytown Isn't My Town" which suggests that a boycott of the city of Youngstown is viable solution for township residents who oppose discussions of regional cooperation. A response indicates dignification of an original thought, therefore, I have reservations in writing this letter. However, I must admit that, as someone who has moved to this Valley and seeks change, it continues to amaze me as to how resistant to progressive thinking a certain element of this community remains. For what reason and at what point in this Valley's history did the passion for seeking ideas to improve ourselves, civilly, subdue to fighting, lying and finger pointing? Why we continue to further the insanity is not only frustrating, it's embarrassing. Is the fact that we tolerate this behavior a indication that we aren't smart enough? Or is it that we just don't care? Does it matter? In my opinion, the past 30 years is a clear enough example that blaming others or running from our troubles leads only to economic decline, crime, and corruption. Obviously, that mentality didn't build this Valley. It will not be what ends it.


Youngstown is in a position to be a great example of what post-industrial, mid-sized city revitalization can be about. We have the planning, good leadership, and are politically aligned in Columbus and D.C to make real changes in this regard. The New York Times Magazine, Wall Street Journal, USA Today, American Planning Association and the Brookings Institute would agree. Yet, while report after report and expert after expert articulate to us over and over again what we already know about what we must do, we continue to fight over who broke the window while the house continues to falls down around us.


Being a strong devil's advocate is one thing. Outright condemnation of ideas, threats of boycotts, and chastising leadership that is simply attempting to move this area forward with ideas consistent with that of objective, expert opinion is just as detrimental as a poor economy, high crime rate, or any other social ill. In fact, such things are only the rancid products of areas riddled with complacency and ignorance. If we could agree on one thing it should be this: the insanity of our status quo mentality, here, in the Valley, must end. The only thing holding and will continue to hold us back is ourselves. Defend Youngstown. Defend this Valley.


Phil Kidd

Founder, DefendYoungstown.com


The bottomline is, my fellow defenders, the battle is long and hard and there is going to a lot of highs and tremendous lows. Youngstown was built by tough, innovative individuals whose ingenuity and grittiness, in turn, built the backbone of this nation. We are simply the next wave of scrappers. With this said, those who choose to fight then must fight hard and fight intelligently...but we must fight so let's get to it.


IN THE NEWS:

• 40 Under 40 Nominations Accepted
• Business Reclaims Riverbend District
• Smith Lands at Business Incubator
• WHAT'S DONE Youngstown City Schools
• Pooches back on patrol in Youngstown
• Chevy Centre tickets just got a little cheaper
• Follow up: Chevy Centre tickets: New rates explained
• Small's resignation has board seeking new Stambaugh director
• Canfield woman vies for Miss Ohio
• Follow up: 2 from area fare well in Miss Ohio contest
• Hagan bill penalizes corrupt officeholders

AROUND THE BLOGS:

Shout Youngstown:

• "350 show up for streetscape, post-event coverage absent by the vindicator"
• "Great Storm of 2007"


• "youngstown, come on down . . . "

Youngstown Renaissance:

• "Doing Local Right"

Tales From The Rust Belt:

• "Around the Blogs"
• "Homicide Map Updated"

New Y-Town:

• "Politics as Usual"

Mighty Mahoning:

• "The Curse of Youngstown Sports"

The Stage @ The Oakland:

• "Cupcake Shoppe"
• "Red Hook"

Youngstown Seminarian:

• "St. Columba Cathedral"

DOWNTOWN EVENT CALENDAR:

Tues., Jun 19 2007
11:00A
Job Fair 2007
@ Stambaugh Auditorium

Tues., Jun 19 2007
5:30P
Mahoning Valley Historical Society Annual Meeting
@ DeYor Performing Arts Center

Tues., Jun 19 2007
7:00P
Celebrity Story Time w/ the MV Thunder Football Team
@ Main Library

Wed., Jun 20 2007
7:00P
Youngstown Area Community Concert Band
@ Jude Morley Pavallion (Mill Creek Park)

Wed., Jun 20 2007
8:00P
Oral
@ B&O Station

Thurs., Jun 21 2007
8:00P
John Reese Project
@ Avalon Gardens

Thurs., Jun 21 2007
8:00P
Sara Michelle Kalico
@ B&O Station

Thurs., Jun 21 2007
9:00P
Latin Night
@ The Core

Friday, Jun 22 2007
5:00P
Anthony's On The River: "Sounds of Summer"
@ Anthony's on the River

Friday, Jun 22 2007
8:00P
CONCERT: Donnie Iris (Outdoor Concert)
@ B&O Station

Friday, Jun 22 2007
8:00P
Davis and McKay
@ Avalon Gardens

Friday, Jun 22 2007
9:00P
Favorite Action Hero
@ Cedars

Saturday, Jun 23 2007
6:00P
Murder Mystery Dinner Theater
@ B&O Station

Saturday, Jun 23 2007
9:00P
First in Space, The Jay Wiley Band
@ Cedars

Sunday, Jun 24 2007
8:00P
Frank Castellano
@ Avalon Gardens