Bridgeport resident Glover Gardner Jr., an occasional essay contributor to OIB, shares his latest commentary about the spike in violent crime. This perspective was also shared with the CT Post. The reference to “Ms. Ocasio” is to columnist Keila Torres Ocasio.
What most of you don’t understand is that your persecution of Mayor Finch will not stop the violence. Mayor Finch can do no more about the violence and killings than the last three or more mayors did and neither will the next Mayor. What perplexes me is that many of you folks yearn for the good old days as if it was so good back then. All of you must be too young to remember the ’80s and ’90s.
This year’s numbers pale when compared to the Park City’s murder rate in the 1980s, when it rivaled many major U.S. cities with its per-capita murder rate. In 1992, the city hit an all-time high homicide rate with 63, exceeding the previous high of 44 in 1988. A majority of the victims in the early 1990s were men in their 20s.
Ms. Ocasio, you are definitely too young to remember the headaches that came with the Jersey barriers on the East side. It was so confusing that the firemen needed a map to find a house that was on fire. If those barriers were put up now, you couldn’t find an address with a GPS.
The naïve thought that the Bridgeport police can remove guns from the streets is preposterous. Federal agents can’t even do that. Gun lobbyists aren’t going to allow you to do that despite the large number of people killed in Aurora Colorado and they were white.
Another thing that mystifies me is why you think that a curfew is going to solve any of the problems with violence in the city. People are shot during daylight hours also. Young boys and men stand on corners during broad daylight and sell drugs despite knowing that they can be put away for 10 years or more. Times seem bad but they are not so bad that you need to declare martial law.
Yes, we should be concerned about young boys killing each other and innocent bystanders, but we aren’t equipped to challenge those young boys in the street just as we were unable to take back the streets a couple of years ago when we were misled to think that we could. That was a wasted and dangerous effort for everyone that participated in those marches. Let qualified and capable law enforcement people handle this. We surely pay them enough while they are actively working as well as when they retire.
Don’t any of you well-meaning young, uninformed, naïve, wishful, praying, religious, inexperienced, foolish kids step in and try to mediate disputes between any young boys unless you want your parents to be weeping as they ride behind the long black car to a place where you’ll never return.
I don’t want the killings to continue but I also don’t want a restriction on one’s freedom of movement whether they are young or old unless they are guilty of a crime and restraining orders are in effect. This is not Eastern Europe, the last time that I heard, it was America. If all of you parents want a curfew that is dictated by city government, why don’t you just turn your children over to the government and allow them to raise your children?
Don’t get me wrong now, I don’t want you to think that I’m insinuating that the murders of today are any less painful than the 1980s and ’90s. It’s just that our perspective is considerably off.
Nostalgia has taken over your minds and caused you to remember yesteryear as being a fairytale existence.
Here is where our problems lie. Listen to this scenario. The names are fictitious but the situations are real. The current situation should have put things in perspective, but it doesn’t seem that it did. The police stated that many of the shooters and even some victims are people they know. And we also know that to be the case. Now here is the scenario:
A neighbor is concerned and deeply hurt because she doesn’t know how to tell the police that the shooter was Ms. Sarah’s son? She knows that it will break Ms. Sarah’s heart. Ms. Sarah is at this moment crying because she can’t figure out how she can tell on her own son or grandson or Ms. Jones’ son. Little Lisa that attends night recreation overheard a plot but is afraid to say anything and she shouldn’t say anything. Thus we’re where we are because of our own inactions.
The killings are a major problem that is difficult to control, but we allow other lawlessness by not requesting that our children not be able to ride illegal dirt bikes and ATVs on the street and wreak havoc and we do nothing despite the disruption that they cause on our streets. We sit in our homes fearful of boys. My wife once said to me that I shouldn’t say anything to them because they might hurt me or our sons. And that’s the feeling of most. The behavior of many of our boys is inexcusable, unacceptable, unbelievable and tragic and the behavior of their parents is irresponsible. I’m sorry, irresponsible was a cruel word.
I was too quick to accuse a parent and far too many times the parent is struggling financially and with other complications that comes with being on the lower rung of the ladder. In too many cases the attraction of the streets is more than anything the parent can compete with. The parent loses the fight not because she doesn’t care, she just can’t win against the streets and its magnetism. Because of losing the battle to the streets, a mother like so many other mothers will follow the long black car to a plot of ground six feet deep where life and dreams for that child will end. Jail or death at our own hands will be the destiny of some just as the young girl that was shot and killed a few days ago.
We also yell and scream that our children have nowhere to go and that’s why they are in the streets. The Boys and Girls Clubs and teen centers will not appeal to most of those kids. However, those clubs can be a “Safe Haven” for those who don’t want to be in the streets. Just as the daylight shooting of a man on Park Street across from the Boys and Girls, so have many shootings been done before nightfall just as the shooting on East Main Street which also could’ve put a young child in jeopardy. Let’s be thankful that there is a Boys and Girls Club on Park Street and was a “Safe Haven” for many kids. Let’s ensure that all Boys and Girls Club are open for the children who don’t want to be on the streets. Also, let’s make sure that those clubs be the equipped with everything that a modern Boys and Girls Club should have. Surely we must have the money somewhere. I thought that everything was about the kids. Don’t tell me that I’m wrong.
Glover Gardner Jr.
Glover treated Keila with some kid gloves. He has a great institutional knowledge of Bridgeport.
He has forgotten more than any one of us will ever know.
Here’s an idea. Hold the police chief’s feet to the fire. He has cops riding scooters and watching sunbathers at the parks.
In 1989 and 1990 the annual murder rate in Bridgeport was 79. The chief doubled the number of patrol squads at night maintaining high visibility. Many of us will remember squad cars making routine patrols with their lights flashing letting everyone know the cops were in town. The detective team at that time went after the most egregious of offenders and put them in jail. The murder rate plummeted.
It is all Finch’s fault for pussyfooting around with the police and not demanding a full-scale effort.
He stinks and everyone who supports the dumb bastard needs to think again.
This Pollyanna piece is offensive.
Too many shootings? Too much crime? Increase the number of people on the street to enforce the public safety.
Thus far, there has not been one additional cop assigned to the streets.
Check out the number of cops on duty at the ball park or at the arena. It’s disgusting. Of course those cops get extra pay to do that.
yahooy–I know you are a man of numbers. Check Twice, Cut Once! Your numbers regarding 1989 and 1990 are way off.
Please see this statistical analysis from 2005.
www .cga.ct.gov/2005/rpt/2005-R-0639.htm
Bullshit.
The report is wrong. Look it up yourself.
yahooy, if the police chief or some deputy chief reduced the number of police officers–let’s say to four–at the arena or ballpark and there is a Colorado type of shooting incident there, what would you say here? The Jeopardy sound is playing.
How many cops were at the theater in Colorado. Doofus.
You would argue they left the theater to get coffee and donuts. So you agree with the deployment of plenty of cops at the arena and ballpark? Would you like no cops at the arena and ballpark? There is no way for the police to know how many people will show up at the arena or ballpark, so why question the number of cops there? yadoofy sounds like a better handle for you.
The Phantom // Jul 27, 2012 at 10:38 am
Why are there cops riding scooters and watching sunbathers at the parks? There are cops sitting on lawn chairs at park sticker checkpoints making sure every out-of-towner pays their $40. That’s not a good use of my tax dollars.
Where exactly are the “sunbathers?” anna had better not be one of them.
As usual Sonny is correct and knowing what the past was is always helpful in our future and now. Mayor Finch sought out our vote and won, he is the head of the City and the buck stops with him. It is up to the police chief and his boss, the mayor, to come up with solutions to help solve these problems and there is no bigger issue than life and death. As of today they are both failing the residents of Bridgeport. Those Jersey barriers were hell, at that time I was a pump engineer in the Bridgeport fire dept. so it was my job to drive the fire engine to fires and had big problems just responding to fires two blocks away and it got worse when we had snow. We were concerned lives would be lost because of those barriers slowing our time to respond. Those barriers did not help anything but the mayor and the police chief wanted a fast answer to all the killings and drug dealing. I’m sure what Sonny wrote was never thought about by the mayor, the police chief and the City Council.
“I’m sure what Sonny wrote was never thought about by the mayor, the police chief and the City Council.”
You are wrong in part, Mackey. I was on the council back then when the barriers were placed. I raised my concern regarding fire trucks being able to get through and the Fire Chief at the time participated in the planning and execution of the project–he approved the plan. My main concern was during the winter time and Public Works was instructed to make sure the snow be completely cleared in this area. It wasn’t a perfect working plan, but it did the job of detouring, deterring and helping police trap and capture potential drug buyers. It was a small majority of the City Council who ordered the removal of the barriers when we felt it was time, despite the objection–a strong one–from Chief Sweeney. It was the Public Works failure to remove the snow in an expedient and correct way that led us to order the removal of the barriers. So here you have an insight into the past.
Good point: “that the Bridgeport police can remove guns from the streets is preposterous. Federal agents can’t even do that. Gun lobbyists aren’t going to allow you to do that.”
Right, the city can only do so much. After the Colorado killings you would think president Obama would use this opportunity to do something. Not a chance, he is too afraid of Republicans and the NRA and more concerned about his own re-election prospects than about us. Neither has Romney responded to calls for a renewed debate over how to prevent gun violence.
Bridgeport police–or any other law enforcement agency–will never be able to remove every gun from the streets. But they do and will continue to remove many guns from the streets. Be grateful for that!
“Why Is There So Much Killing?” The real question should be: Why is there so much shooting? Mr. Gardner expects folks like me and many others to feel grateful the murder rate is not as high as in 1992-1994 for example. So if 100 people are shot in 2013 and no one dies, Bridgeport can be classified as a safe city to raise a child. Why is it tragic when shooting victims die and not so tragic if they survive to live the rest of their lives in a wheelchair or in a coma? Is the wife of the Vietnamese Restaurant owner killed on Wood Avenue supposed to be grateful she was not shot and go on running the business alone with no fear or concern for her life and safety? These shootings have a much greater impact on the lives of everyone who lives, works, and plays in Bridgeport. One doesn’t have to be a shooting victim to be impacted or affected by the shootings. Keila Torres was merely pointing out the fact pols react in a way that makes it obvious they are more worried about potential political fallout due to the rash of shootings. I can go on and make Fluckarella’s last comment read like a stop sign, but I’m sure the readers will catch my drift.
Back in the ’80s and ’90s when those barriers (they were called Phoenix Barriers) were in place it was designed to keep the out-of-town drug buyers from easily coming into the area. This basically allowed the city to set a “booby trap” to catch druggies. Keep in mind the only area of town they were installed was the East Side. The barriers had nothing to do with curbing murders, it was all about curtailing the illicit drugs.
www .clintonlibrary.gov/assets/storage/Research%20-%20Digital%20Library/ClintonAdminHistoryProject/41-50/Box%2050/1504630-ondcp-crime-violence-law-enforcement-1.pdf
I think this article touched on some valid points, however the most glaring omission rests on putting the responsibility of raising their child(ren) on the parents! Discipline and moral upbringing starts in the home. If your child sees you doing something nefarious they are more inclined to follow suit. Just the same, if your child sees you are doing the right thing they tend to follow suit, or at the very least knows what is right and wrong. The mayor can only control two kids, HIS! He can’t tell one soul how to raise their children. Blaming him or even the chief of police is useless. The City’s resources are finite. There is no “Special Money Tree” on McLevy Green the City can go to to pay it’s bills. Addressing the lack of revenue is another topic completely, but cops do not work pro bono. Crime prevention starts at home.
Joel, I think you miss my point. I was talking about the bigger picture of what Sonny wrote and there is no way this mayor, police chief and city council dealt with the past history of gun violence in Bridgeport. I only bought up the Jersey barriers to show those who were involved in saving lives and property were not being listening to, the fire chief did what he was told. Let’s get back to what Sonny wrote, it is up to the police chief to come up with his plan, but too many of our children are being killed by guns and the answer we get from the City Council is a “curfew.” Please.
“You are wrong in part, Mackey.” In part are the keys words. I understand all other views. So the fire chief was really an Indian?
We need a radical solution. Might be worth looking at how other really tough areas around the world reduced high crime and violence. Let’s look at Medellin.
Back in the ’80s crime stats were the same there as in Bridgeport. Yet they improved drastically. They first sent social workers into the neighborhoods to work with the parents, then they built state-of-the-art libraries and parks, called a parque biblioteca. Kids in Medellin knew they couldn’t walk into certain block areas due to gang rule there. Now that has changed. I know the library is seeking to rebuild two of their branches in Bridgeport. Where do kids have a place to go here?
I for one remember the so-called good old days going back to the ’60s, ’70s and ’80s. This city was in a turmoil, we had robberies, murders and riots, I was in PT when fire trucks and firefighters were shot at and one truck was hit seven times. I remember all the traps set inside buildings before they were torched.
What I remember of the old days was my neighborhood I lived in since I was born in 1943 was a safe place to live. I still live there and it is no longer a safe place to live. While it is not as dangerous as other parts of the city it is still dangerous. We never had an armed robbery in this area until two years ago now we have had approx 13 armed robberies. We have had a murder you name it we have had it in the last 2-3 years.
What I remember was the East Side was the area where the most trouble was and where most of the arsons were. It is still the same. The shame of it is in 40-plus years no one in charge has done much to improve life in this area.
Since 2004, Councilperson Lydia Martinez and myself have been pushing the city to create and implement an Internet-accessible video surveillance system that could be monitored through a secure, BPD-controlled website, by screened, citizen volunteers and appropriate Bridgeport (BPD, BFD, Emergency-preparedness, et al.) employees.
A wireless system could be set up that would allow strategic saturation of the city with webcams–with mobility options/diverse public-safety software options–such that there would be a continual, permanent record of street crime throughout the city. This is a proven deterrent to all classes of street crime and gives first responders a vital heads-up on emergency situations. It also allows for the rapid solution of all categories of street crime–including the apprehension of dangerous perpetrators. (It would also minimize the need for dangerous police chases.)
This type of crime monitoring would invite participation by citizens, who could work in safety and anonymity, from virtually any Internet-accessible location in the world to monitor and report crime in their neighborhoods, or anywhere else in Bridgeport.
In 2006, Councilperson Martinez and myself–with the assistance of then-Senator Bill Finch–secured a $300,000 pilot project grant (bond issue) from the State of Connecticut for such a system. [The pilot system would have set up monitoring of the schools/safe-corridors in conjunction with parent/volunteer patrols (the same project proposed 6 years later by Paul Vallas).]
While this is only part of the Bridgeport violent-crime solution, its role would be very significant and would help address other issues–such as traffic safety.
In regard to those concerned about privacy and personal freedom; other cities, such as London, England, have extensive surveillance systems such as the one proposed for Bridgeport and have still managed to maintain a free and democratic sociopolitical situation in that city. And how much freedom and privacy do we have if criminals are deciding whether or not we are safe in our homes, neighborhoods, parks and city streets?
The proposed system is much cheaper now than it would have been in 2006, and could probably be set up quickly, for less than $1,000,000, using Emergency Preparedness, Homeland Security, Public Safety, and Economic Development/Commerce Department grants from the state and federal government.
In the absence of other viable solutions, this should at least be given a try.
Any chance Jeff these systems are going to watch Lydia Martinez steal another election via absentee ballots? We sure could use some help in nailing rampant election fraud in Bridgeport. August 14 primary, 700 ABs out … even you can imagine this is nefarious or maybe you think Lydia is part of the new world order you imagine.
Kohut,
Cameras, web space and volunteers should be cheap enough. Why don’t you try to have private business point cameras towards the streets and take donations to pay for the web space?
why wait for the city to do it for you? If you are so gung ho, why not pilot it in a few areas and see if crime stats change?
Seems like if you did that instead of fighting with the powers that be, you might actually get somewhere.
Try finding the $300,000 today.
*** Life doesn’t get better with time in urban settings, it gets worse! Whether it’s 60 or 6 killings a year, it’s one too many. Continued broken family structure, no moral values, lack of a good education, materialistic ways, government corruption, racism, economy, sin, something for nothing, lack of activities for the young, just to name a few. So save all the writing and show pictures instead of everyday life in Bpt. They’re worth a thousand words. ***
I lived on the East Side when the Phoenix Project was in place … Joel you are correct about the barriers and so is TSW … those barriers did work … and led by Lydia Martinez, Edna Garcia and Tito Ayala worked against the community to have them removed. They did not allow for the beautification project to be implemented. And JK … please do not give kudos to Lydia … she does not deserve it … And Mr. Gardner thanks for your words … that curfew is ridiculous … when the city stops punishing the director of the Orcutt Boys and Girls Club … when the city allows for these recreation facilities to open and channel some funding … then we will be on track to help our youth with safe havens … when the city stops hiring out-of-towners’ sons and daughters … when the city stops hiring seasonal workers’ relatives who are retired and are receiving a pension … then we will help our youth …
Off topic but does anyone know if there is something wrong with Andres Ayala???
Finch had a press conference the other day to announce the arrests and Andres wasn’t standing next to him like his boy as he has been at other PR events lately.
Maybe the stage just wasn’t big enough for Finch, Gaudett AND Ayala for a really important announcement.
He also was the only one absent at the services for Ms. Robinson … hmmm?
Hey Andres, how does it feel to get bumped off the stage for a really important press conference just like you pushed the delegation aside so you could be on stage for that really big announcement the racist organization Bass Pro Shops is coming to town?
Speaking of Andres on stage, did you catch the Ayala and Finch road show at the Adventure Park at the Discovery Museum???
Andres must have been very proud of this accomplishment (although he had nothing to do with it).
I love the fact tickets go for “Age 12 & older: $49” for a three-hour visit.
If that’s two adults and two children that would come out to $196 for three freakin’ hours. How many of Ayala’s constituents can afford that?
Hell, probably the majority don’t make $49 in three hours!
If you are wondering Andres, that would be $16.33 an hour. You can be sure Bass Pro ain’t paying that to their average worker.
And this is Bridgeport park land taken over by a private concern charging prices only families in the ‘burbs can afford.
Thank you Mayor Finch …
Thank you Representative Ayala
GR, you are right about Ayala taking the stage for something he had nothing to do with that does not serve anyone from the East Side, unless we get a little creative and offer scholarships to the kids from the East Side offered from that private company, sort of a public/private partnership, like the Bridgeport Barrage gave tickets to the City kids for the allegedly elitist sport of Lacrosse. This zip line park is a very good thing for Bridgeport, mind you, as it takes no toll on the environment and will actually be used by Bridgeporters (who should get a discount). It fosters an appreciation of nature, gives exercise and health, addresses the “Nature Deficiency Disorder” in kids (a source of health problems such as diabetes and childhood obesity), has the potential for synergies with other outdoor recreational activities such as horticulture and sports at Veterans Park, long a disgrace of underutilization by the City. Also the Park brings in loads of cash to the City, rejuvenates our museum and enlivens Bridgpeort. Can you handle all of this positive activity GR or does it ruin your day?