The reported location of this shooting was squarely in the East End, proving that no neighborhood is exempt from shootings. Perhaps the majority of 2010's 45 shootings were aimed at specific individuals, possibly gang- or drug-related, but the danger of gunfire affects us all.
Residents deserve a no-nonsense report on what is actually going on here. Did the door-to-door leafletting last summer make any difference? Can Operation CeaseFire be revived here? What analysis has been done of these past shootings that might point to better strategies in 2011?
Police Director Hellwig's stance at the Dec. 20 City Council meeting was not reassuring. Citing escalating homicide counts in other cities and calling burglaries the number one concern after homicides are comments that ring hollow.
"We're in a good spot" and "We're not doing nothing" are responses that just don't sound right. If aspects of police work are confidential for investigative reasons, maybe the Public Safety Committee could be briefed at least.
Based on comments about "unreported shootings" at the Dec. 20 meeting, Plaintalker also got the impression that sometimes residents call their elected representatives before calling police. If so, it behooves any council member receiving such calls to direct the individual to report directly to the police. If there are matters of trust that prevent such direct action, they have to be cleared up.
The use of crime statistics as a political campaign tool must be stopped. A former councilman with a long background in law enforcement once told this writer that no mayor could prevent homicides. Conversely, no mayor should take credit when the numbers are low. The only force that can be brought to bear on gun violence is law enforcement and public cooperation, especially when it comes to limiting gun trafficking. Education and viable life-choice alternatives are possibly the only deterrents to gang involvement.
Congressman Frank Pallone will be continuing his second-Tuesday office hours at City Hall Library in 2011. Maybe his staff can identify funding for programs to help Plainfield in this current plight. When it comes to gun violence in neighborhoods, all other concerns take second place.
--Bernice
I again ask that the Plainfield Police supply its daily logs to the Courier News to publish as other towns do. It will gives us an awareness of what is going on all over town
ReplyDeleteSomeone warm up the copy machine at City Hall...I sense more handouts coming. We should ask the Mayor to print out twice as many so she can she is working twice as hard at ending violence in the city.
ReplyDeleteMmmm...I just don't recall Rudy G. handing out fliers in Midtown Manhattan or the Bronx to bring down crime levels in the 90's...I mean, I may be mistaken, but I just don't recall that being the solution...
Prohibition brings about some exceedingly high profit margins and increases illegal activities! Look at the US / Mexican border!
ReplyDeleteAs long as vast amounts of money are to made and there are virtually no consequences to speak of . . . we will continue to have problems! The states with the toughest gun and drug laws have always had the highest violent crime rates!
It is time to rectify Corzinne's screw up and to reinstitute the death penalty . . . only not twenty years of appeals . . . guarenteed loss of life within two years!
An express line if you kill a cop or a child!
Mandatory death sentence for trafficking narcotics or guns!(We know what they are both used for)! The criminals are much more afraid of their own code of justice than in the legal system as it exists!
President Jefferson said,"That when you take away the right to bear arms from the law abiding citizen, you in essence weaken them and strengthen the criminals!"
1:54 p.m, I am not posting your comment.
ReplyDeleteBlackdog is right and there seems to be few consequences for the perps here, so violence is not curtailed. Criminal Hellwig is not doing a very good job, so fire him and reinstate the police chief and the city can save real money and put more cops on the street.
ReplyDeleteIt's sad Sharon has not been able to come up with any plan besides making photocopies. Too bad for Plainfield, we deserve better.
Bernice - I disagree certainly a proactive stance on guns and violence held by a Mayor that inturns (LOWER)not eliminate murder -- should most definitely be attributed to that mayors service.
ReplyDeleteall the money plainfield is wasting might as well supply citizens with Bullet-Proof Vests
ReplyDeleteI applaud the residents of the 4th ward who inspite of the recent and on going shootings are still trying to keep up their properties
ReplyDeletethis says alot about the strength and fortitude of the 4th ward community.