Newark’s Tipping Point?
By: Murray Sabrin
The killing of three college students last week and the grave wounding of another young lady were horrific “hate crimes.” All criminals are “hateful” because they do not respect the lives of others and/or their property. If all human beings embraced the values of “Thou shalt not steal” and “Thou shalt not murder,” crime would disappear.
Until that glorious day arrives in Newark and other crime infested urban centers around the nation, I recommend that Mayor Booker initiate “Operation Take Back Our Streets.” The people of Newark deserve no less than a safe city where all children can grow up to realize their potential, where all workers are safe coming and going to work, and visitors are safe walking any street in the city. OTBOS has several components.
• Declare a crime emergency and flood the city’s high crime areas with local, county and state police. If necessary, request Governor Corzine call up a limited contingent of the National Guard to support local law enforcement.
• Install high intensity lights in high crime areas and key intersections.
• Organize massive citizen patrols throughout the city.
• Create education programs about the sanctity of life, respect for women and private property.
• Churches should mobilize their congregants to create programs to improve the skills of youngsters so they will become part the economic and social fabric of our society. In other words, Volunteers in Education could be launched at no cost to taxpayers.
• Create intensive rehabilitation programs in the community for juvenile offenders as well as first time convicted adult criminals so they can become productive members of society. Let them know in no uncertain terms that they will not get a second chance.
• If any released convict should commit a crime, the repeat offender will not be sent to prison where he learns how to become a better criminal and is a dehumanizing institution. Repeat offenders will lose their citizenship, even if they are native born Americans, and deported. Isn’t it better to rid our society of potential killers than risk the possibility they make kill any more youngsters or adults In short, “an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.”
• Decriminalize drug use. Drug use is enough punishment.
• Eliminate the drug gangs in Newark and other New Jersey cities by calling on Governor Corzine and President Bush to end drug prohibition. How many more young people have to die because of a failed social policy? You know it Mayor and so does the Governor, drug probation increases crime because of turf wars.
• Restore the Second Amendment in Newark, so law-abiding citizens can protect themselves and their families on the streets.
Some (many) people may find several of the above recommendations draconian, unrealistic, dumb or ridiculous. That’s to be expected. However, a very smart fellow who taught at Princeton, Albert Einstein, once said, 'Insanity is when you do the same thing over and over again and expect a different result'.......
The people of Newark and New Jersey are looking to Cory Booker for leadership. The people of Newark deserve to live in a city where everyone can walk the streets without fear of being assaulted or killed. Mr. Mayor the ball is in your court.
Murray Sabrin, Ph.D., is a finance professor in the Anisfield School of Business, Ramapo College of New Jersey, a columnist for www.usadaily.com and a blogger for www.njvoices.com.