Turning around a complex network of violent interactions seems akin to re-routing a battleship in a minute - not easily done. And yet as impossible as it seems, we nervously hope it will happen.
My personal interest in a gang truce is being able to walk a short distance back and forth to night meetings without wondering whether I will be in harm's way. This despite Municipal Court and City Hall being just steps from police headquarters. I have been teased for wearing my many-pocketed travel vest around the city as if I am trekking the wilderness, but having my ID and valuables on my person as opposed to dangling from my shoulder in a purse gives me a small feeling of security as an elderly woman on foot.
At first glance, the truce appears to be the real thing, according to a police sergeant who should know. Those who gathered to enact the truce, then tell reporters about it, are influential in the city's gang world, he says.
So why am I not unequivocally glad to hear of this turn of events? Because over the past 25 years, I have seen too many young men hardened by street life into simulacrums of classmates who have made better choices. They look the same, but inside they have decided that violence is a more effective means to power than the mundane route of study and work. Their lifestyle is vaunted and validated by the gangsta culture, in all sorts of media.
So now that they have expressed the intention to change and lead others to change, they may face a most insidious form of peer pressure, that being the pull to stay in the depths where hurting people is a code and dying by gunfire is street martyrdom.
In thinking of what will keep these young men and their friends and enemies on their new path, I remembered a phrase I heard somewhere: "Just maintain." The Urban Dictionary defines it this way: "To hold composure, even in the stickiest of situations; to be a juggernaut with grace 100 percent of the time ... every time."
That is my wish for them and for the city as summer approaches. May it come true.
--Bernice
Great post Bernice
ReplyDeleteI just read Mark's report and my first thought is... who exactly is running this city? So now we are so desperate for peace that we can just turn the city over to the gang-bangers and allow them to dictate when, where and how the 'shooting are going to stop" and if we don’t give them city jobs the shooting will continue? What about the other crimes they commit? Should we just turn a blind eye and be grateful that the shootings stop. Needless to say I am outraged. What do we have a police department for with a so called ‘gang task force’? I truly believe that it is time that the current mayor steps down and allow some real leadership to take their place in this city. When will the law abiding, tax paying, hard working citizens of Plainfield stand up for this city and hold city hall accountable and stop acting like there is nothing we can do! This is gone way too far!! If you wanted to leave the city and you own a home you can’t do, there are over 500 homes on the market in Plainfield that homeowners cannot sell. Can we really afford another two years of Sharon and Jerry?
ReplyDeleteBernice: Great post and to 9:49AM - excellent comment.
ReplyDeleteThis entire thing is insidious and I would love to know why the authorities, knowing who these thugs are, won't go out and prosecute them? Instead they'll end up with a town job, provided by the team of Green and Briggs and end up with with benefits and a pension.
Are these thugs running the city?
We need change folks . . . people who will get things done for those of us who will always end up paying the price.
Now the gang can back to their core business. Learning flower arranging, stamp collecting and French cuisinie. The only problems in town will be to find parking at the neighborhood pot luck dinners we can all get back to hosting.
ReplyDeleteSo...What steps, if any, are the gangs in Plainfield doing to lower taxes, repair infrastructure, become accountable to the taxpayers of Plainfield and to grow the businesses in Plainfield ?? I mean, since it seems they are doing the administrative branch of Plainfield functions...
ReplyDeleteI guess they got tired of seeing the flyers from the Mayor.
How sad..we have a big problem in Plfd. and it didn't just happen and it won't just go away. I am often reminded of a quote that says something to the effect that ..a fish doesn't know it's in water...we norm ourselves by our environment. Having taught in Plfd. for 30+ years I can put faces to those "gang members" and remember that sometimes belonging to that gang wasn't a choice it was what one had to do to survive in the neighborhood. I know this isn't going to put an abrupt end to our problems and I feel for those who came forward and identified themselves as participants. I remember when Arlington Ave was a big negative area and I had students who left home and walked down Arlington to come to school and they were laughed at by "the boys"..who taunted and said you think you can escape the street...you can't, you'll be one of us again. That is some pressure that so many of us will never experience. I don't know what the answer is but I know that it saddens me that when anyone shows some movement toward confronting the problem, there are those who attack. I have seen it so many times before at Bd. of Ed. meetings and council meetings...we form a circle and start shooting..but who are we aiming for? For once I wish we'd stop sniping and look to any movement and say maybe...maybe this is the opening...the young men who came forward..I would not ever want to be in their shoes..and I would only hope that clearer heads would prevail in supporting those who are part of the problem and are trying to resolve it in the only way they know how. Jo-Ann Bandomer
ReplyDeleteJo-Ann, just curious are you a home owner in Plainfield? The boys, who came forward as gang-leaders by their own omission, were either participants in a crime or witnesses before or after a crime. If this were not turn, then how can they have control to stop it? You obvious know little about street etiquette. The gang-banger are afforded every opportunity as us all, it�s called freedom of choice. I came from the same streets, so let�s stop making excuses and take drastic action to turn this town around before it becomes another Elizabeth or worse!
ReplyDeleteMAY 20, 2011 9:49 AM
to anon...yes I live and have lived in Plainfield since 1971.....I wonder why you didn't post your name along with your comments. There's a lot I don't know, and solutions don't come as easily as you seem to think. You remind me of the old game show..Name that Tune....I can name the solution in 1 note! I did not make excuses for anyone, I was commenting on what I have observed over the years. I compliment anyone who comes forward with a solution, you're writing anonymously, those guys put their faces and names in the SL for all to see, more than you've done. jbandomer
ReplyDeleteMs. Bandomer, with all due respect, I appreciate your sentiment; however there are many of us that were bullied and taunted as we walked down the streets in whatever town or city that we grew up and didn't become members of gangs -- killing, stealing and taunting the world around us.
ReplyDeleteWonderful, so the men who came forward showed their faces, unlike the anonymous blogger to whom you refer; but to the bloggers defense, these gang members have nothing to lose, afterall, are they being prosecuted? rehabilitated? are they being held accountable on any level? It doesn't seem to be the case. On the contrary, they're almost being looked upon as heros; very sad, don't you think?
Unfortunately Plainfield is in the state that it is because many of us fear what may happen to us or our homes if we make public comments that others may view as disparaging towards them; so these blogs offer an opportunity for members of the community to "vent" a little - -not such a bad thing.
You should be commended for your years of service to Plainfield. Thank you.
To all the nay sayers.....take a step back and look at how it was at the beginning of last summer....first off, how can anyone bash these young men for coming forward !!!! they are about change in the city....you can tell a child not to touch a stove.. and until he gets burnt, he wont stop.....these young men are tired.....tired of all the killings, fighting and the demise of the city... they were part of the problem and now they choose to be part of the solution!!!! so to me .. whatever works.. if it is going to save lives .. then so be it... the real question is what have you done lately to save the city?????? and for one minute if any of you thing that Plainfield is the only city with a problem... your WRONG !!!! however Plainfield is the only city where our young men stood up to take a stand to try and stop the violence....by any means necessarily.. and we all should be on the same page and try and do whatever we can to support the movement to stop the violence in Plainfield !!!!!
ReplyDeleteMs. Hall - - the residents of this City have been trying to stop the killings in Plainfield, but these thugs didn't want to stop until they chose to and now many like you feel that we need to salute them, honor them and thank them profusely as if they each were a hero. What kind of message does that send? How about getting them help and some rehabilitation. People don't change overnight.
ReplyDeleteThey want a chance? Perfect, let's give it to them; but let's cut out all the pomp and circumstance.
The are not the answer to the problem. They have been the root of the problem.
The residents of this city and neighboring communities had to withstand the senseless violence they created on a daily basis as though it was a walk to the corner store to grab milk.
We are not the only ones with this problem and yes, they came forward after countless killing, assaults and the terrorizing of their neighbors - oh yes, how honorable.
Many of us are doing things to help this city, but in cases like this, first one must help yourself and then allow others to help you.