A Shooting Happens on My Block
Thursday night, a man was murdered in his home on the 500 block of W 4th St in Quaker Hill. This man was my neighbor, and this is the block I live on. A week ago — also on a Thursday — I returned home from a late run to BJs for gas to drive by a scene where a man was on the ground, being attended to by paramedics, at the corner of Lancaster and Dupont. As I drove by (just before the WPD shut down the street), I saw a friend of mine and her granddaughter who had clearly been too close to this shooting. In the days between July 16 and July 23, there have been 10 shootings in Wilmington. And for me, it is getting too close for comfort.
There’s a great deal of rumor still swirling around Thursday night’s shooting on 4th St. I do know that many of us sat outside the past couple of nights watching for something, what I don’t know. I don’t know why one man was shot in the head in his home, and I hope the WPD can find the shooter. But what I do know is that one of the most stable blocks in West Center City is feeling under siege and it would not surprise me if some of these long time homeowners find someplace to live where their safety will be more important than it is here.
I don’t want to blame the WPD for this one shooting on my own block. But I have been pointing out since Easter that WCC has been pretty bloody this year, in spite of the claims for success of Operation Disrupt. What I do want to lay at the feet of the WPD leadership is the continued lack of urgency in seriously upgrading the WPD to a 21st century police force. And I do fault them for not taking the crime mapping effort seriously. 7th and Washington needs to be addressed for this neighborhood to have any stability. And as far as we can tell, there is no such targeted effort. But here is what I want to point out:
First, this spike in violence clearly flies in the face of the rush to claim some victory over the city’s violence problem by misusing statistics from ShotSpotter and Operation Disrupt. ShotSpotter isn’t a deterrent tool, it is supposed to help officers locate shootings and shooters. And it is apparently not 100% reliable. Operation Disrupt is reported to have ended June 5 (although the NJ also reported that a reconfigured Operation Disrupt was supposed to be in place sometime in June — a reconfiguration that was supposed to be a smaller, more focused unit. So what’s the deal, then? Is there or is there not an Operation Disrupt?)
Part of the overly eager effort to try to stamp a face of success on managing the city’s crime problem has the City claiming:
In the first six months – from June 30, 2014 through December 31— there were 231 reported incidents through ShotSpotter in that area. In the next six months – from Jan.1 through June 26 – there were 135 incidents reported by the system.
“We continue to address violent crime through a multifaceted approach that includes engagement, partnerships with federal and state agencies, increased police presence and effective use of innovative technology like ShotSpotter,” said Wilmington Police Chief Bobby Cummings, noting the 42 percent reduction in gunshots detected by the technology.
Which has the city indulging in Very Bad Statistics, but also catches them in giving ShotSpotter credit for the city’s typical seasonal crime curve (this figure is taken from the crime mapping presentation for the WPSCC):
Then there’s this claim:
While Operation Disrupt officers were patrolling, there were fewer violent incidents and no homicides, Cummings said previously.
Read that closely. Because this takes credit for the limited hours that Operation Disrupt was working (the early to late evening hours) — the shootings and homicides outside of this window don’t seem to count. Meaning that the 20 or so shootings that happened during the hours that Operation Disrupt was NOT on duty are ignored. And while Mayor Williams and Chief Cummings are trying to take credit for something that isn’t happening, they did tell Cris Barrish:
Williams, a former city detective, and Cummings said they would continue Disrupt at least through the summer, and eventually incorporate the zero-tolerance patrols into the force’s regular operations.
So what is the deal with Operation Disrupt?
Of course, if you follow the NJ’s Wilmington crime data page, the only thing that these numbers reliably say is that we’re typically about at 43 to 64% of our yearly rate for incidents and 50 to 72% of the yearly homicide number right about now. Sixteen killed right now might mean that we *could* be on a pace to break all of the records. The group of 5 killed in January could have been an early start on the usual gang stuff — meaning that activity should start tapering off about now or we have bigger problems ahead. But we are pretty clearly on the usual curve of violent incidents.
Second, this entire business looks like more of the same:
Wilmington Police Chief Bobby Cummings said even without those special deployments, the department is working efficiently to combat violent crime.
“We have our redeployment, and we believe it is going pretty well. It is just that we have had a spike over the last week or two,” Cummings said.
“Sometimes you have those ebbs and flows and right now … shootings are up,” he said.
“We have people in the right places, working with the community to build trust and be present,” Cummings said. “We believe we are on the right track.”
If you lived here during the Baker/Szczerba years will recognize this rhetoric. They have their plan and they aren’t changing it. And little of that plan is what the WPSSC recommended for the city. Maybe they think we just need to get past the summer surge. But one of the points of the WPSSC was to encourage the WPD to reorient itself from a response-driven organisation to a more proactive one. And for all of their claims to have implemented large bits of the report, they clearly haven’t. Because while culture and overall strategy takes time to change, you hear no proactive language from the Administration. They haven’t done much implementation of the plan at all. And my guess is that they’ve spent more time angling for more money than in upgrading their operation. This might be a spike, but it looks more like the usual Wilmington crime curve from here. And this summer the action is in West Center City.
Third, I just want to point out how hard everyone — the WPD and the NJ — worked to make sure that people know that the man who showed up shot close to the Riverfront movies was not shot at the Riverfront. He was shot in some dangerous place and had the nerve to drag himself over to the relative safety of the Riverfront. The Riverfront *is*s safe, and it also has its own Community Police unit that it shares with Market St. You can think about the WPD coverage Downtown and at the Riverfront a a permanent Operation Disrupt, but in a place that doesn’t need it. I mention this *again* because this Administration can make focused deployments when it is important to them. And HEY, NAACP — here’s a *real* and urgent disparity issue for you to get behind.
Fourth, Bobby Marshall needs to stop trying to throw money at these people. They have plenty. And for a group that has just completed a budget cycle, you would think that they had already budgeted to make sure that foot patrols were funded and ready to go. And I understand that the Chief is telling folks that the new class sworn in needs to complete its 6 month acclimation and then there will be more foot patrols. Who knows. But I do know that the Administration claims they have implemented much of the WPSSC, which means that they should be reaping the benefits of the efficiencies that would accrue. So they are making better use of the money the taxpayers of Wilmington provide to them and so don’t need more funding. We need Bobby Marshall to help us get some accountability from this Administration instead of trying to enable all of its worse instincts.
Of course, none of this ameliorates the trauma on my block. Or the trauma throughout the rest of the city. But this Administration isn’t much interested in the harm this kind of violence does to the city, because they are too busy working the angles for more funding. Even though they aren’t quite four weeks into a new budget year. They’ve had some success in starting a narrative that indicates the Operation Disrupt and foot patrols have ended because the money is gone. Shame on the NJ for not looking into this closer — their own reporting indicated that there was intent to keep Operation Disrupt going. And I think that Wilmingtonians would really like to know how it is that funds for these programs can possibly be gone when the new fiscal year just started. I mean, how can you be in the business of asking for funds for more management (for a plan you claim to have mostly implemented) while you let funds dry up for these other programs?
But when you hear the Administration crying for more money for the WPD, remember that they have plenty of funds, especially if they can get control of their own budget. And also remember that they couldn’t bother to budget for programs they said were important just a few weeks ago. Then, especially for those of you who have spent some time with the WPSSC report, ask yourself whether this Administration took even its own “plan” seriously.
Tags: City of Wilmington, Featured, Mayor Dennis Williams, WPSSC
You might want to shift the blame from the police to society. Crime happens in certain areas for a number of reasons but the kind of people in the area are obviously to blame not the police. I live in Hockessin and see a police officer maybe once a week yet no crime occurs.
I saw this post on Facebook and will bookmark your site. Interested to hear more about what you have to say.
You might want to read what I wrote. I specifically did not blame the police, but do want to hold them accountable for their dysfunctional organization.
Brandon – It is society’s fault but not in the way you think it is. It means all society. All of us – even the affluent white people in Hockessin – not simply “the kind of people” who live in Cassandra’s neighbourhood. I’m not even going ask you to eloborate on that one, mate. I don’t even care to know what you meant.
So I’ll give you a pass this time because you’re new here and seem a little dim. There are reasons certain neighborhood’s are they way they are and nearly all of it has to do with rich bankers, politicians, housing and law enforcement policies, and most importantly what the population ask police to do.
You have a very narrow view of this and I’m not surprised. If you’d like me (or Cass) to produce a reading list for you to help you sort it out I’d be glad to do it.
Brandon, So what you’re saying is…. if everyone had economic stability and single family homes like people in Hockessin, crime would go down. great idea!
Wilmington needs a massive fundamental change in leadership. Williams is a complete failure and i just dont see enough pressure on him from anyone in a position to actually take him and his administration to task. I dont give an ounce of blame to the people living in Wilmington for this situation, but it is on the residents to wake up and kick out this administration in favor of someone who actually gives a crap about the city and the people in it.
Thoughtful post. I hate what has, is, will continue to happen to Wilmington. I have no answers. I can just echo DG’s point about it being a societal issue, and one that isn’t going away any time soon.
I moved out of Hedgeville in 2006 and haven’t looked back. I considered my block “safe” until it wasn’t. Looking back I think to myself how crazy it is to think that literally a 200 yard stretch of land in a sea of crime was safe. We humans sure have a way of rationalizing things away.
The fact that the Chase building right outside the train station houses the office of our fine State Senator Carper sure as hell indicates to me where the priorities lie with the people representing the citizens of this state. He feels safest in an office in a bank. A bank that has rigged Mortgage Rates, Rigged Energy Markets, Illegally evicted War Veterans, Illegally robosigned mortgage documents, Illegally sold mortgage backed securities, lied to the SEC, Lied to shareholders, and on and on and on…and yet he can continue to have safe harbor with his office on the bottom floor of a Building dawning the name of a bank that ruined an entire global economy and has a CEO that told a fellow senator to Fine him and they could pay it.
let me repeat that for you. A DELAWARE SENATOR HAS HIS WILMINGTON OFFICE ON THE GROUND FLOOR OF THE CHASE BUILDING.
A SENATOR HAS HIS OFFICE IN A BANK.
SENATOR CARPER HAS HIS OFFICE IN CHASE BANK.
It tells you the state of our State, Of Wilmington and who runs things
The police have a job to do regardless of what is going on in society. Just like teachers, law enforcement has to play with the hand that they are dealt. A police officer in Wilmington has a much more difficult job than a police officer in Hockessin. That does not mean we should not hold the officer in Wilmington accountable just because their job is harder than an officer in the suburbs; No more than it means we should not hold inner city teachers accountable because their jobs are harder than the teachers who teach at North Star. In fact, because their jobs are tougher, I expect more from them and from their administrative support than I ever would from an officer or a police department in Hockessin. Poverty should not be a reason to give government a pass on short comings in law enforcement or education, it should be the reason that we expect a great effort.
Everything written above is right. It’s not about the blame game. It’s about willingness. In a city of 200 thousand plus it’s deplorable we can’t control this issue. The leaders elected by the same people is impacting , simply don’t give a darn. It’s there own people and they don’t care. It trickles down hill. It’s shameful but after living in a hot spot I once lived in, I know. People in our leadership forgot about us. They want to develop the Riverfront . They want the money coming in. Forget the neighborhoods. They are gone.
I’m not giving anybody a pass. I just wanted to express my feeling that there are two very big misconceptions that people tend to turn a blind eye to.
1. Police do pretty much exactly what we ask them to do. So any blatant problems with police (and there are a great many) are our fault.
2. The idea that the lion’s share of the problem is “the kind of people in the area” is wrong, racist and ridiculous. Whilst personal responsibility is a thing, I don’t believe we can possibly ask any more of the people we’ve forced into ghettos with redlining and mortgage laws in the 50s and 60s and provided very little means for escape. Then we pass draconian laws so police can go occupy these neighbourhoods with harsh drug laws, harsher sentencing guidelines, stop and frisk policies, etc., etc… The entire idea is victim blaming of the very highest order and I don’t stand for it.
I can add to DG’s and Cassandra’s reading list, Brandon. I’m a lifelong city resident and I love living here. That said, I’m not blind to the problems – or the fact that our mayor is a complete disaster. (Not surprising, since he’s always been a disaster. Remember, I’m a city cop’s kid. I’ve known Williams a long time, and his performance now mirrors his past performance.)
Poverty is a huge factor. Not giving a pass, just stating a reality – and one we refuse to address at our own peril. As far as your holding inner city teachers accountable… fine, but not until we give them all the resources they need. Right now inner city teachers are working with the same funding formula as North Star – with a bit of Title 1 funding thrown in. So, it isn’t simply that their jobs are harder than the teachers at North Star (altho they are – and inner city teachers epitomize everything I want in a teacher. I honor their dedication against under-funded odds, and constant criticism from those who’ve never stepped foot into these struggling schools), it’s that education funding funds Shortlidge and North Star the same, pretending that all things are equal – And then is quick to point fingers at inner city schools that don’t perform as well as their segregated (racially and economically) suburban counterparts.
We need more affordable housing in Hockessin.
Dorian- I would be interested to read the aforementioned resources as I’m not sure how people are not accountable for themselves. I understand that ~70% of Planned Parenthood locations are in low-income areas which encourage abortion and thus diminishes the value of human life to those in the area. Banks, policymakers etc lie, cheat and steal but they do this all of us not just people in low income areas.
Ben – People in low income areas of Wilmington don’t take care of their houses (such as not cleaning them), throw trash in the street and destroy property in their neighborhoods. That is the norm, not sure how the blame is not on the people yet we blame banks, politicians etc. Please explain how a bank can make someone not clean their house (of course this is just a generalization).
Cassandra – you mentioned the NAACP investigating the police force in your article. I thought of something else the NAACP can investigate, the majority of planned parenthood locations being in low-income areas (which is essentially genocide of the black race since some measures have shown more black babies aborted in certain areas than are actually born).
Looking forward to non-hostile responses from you guys.
Oh, sweet mercy. Brandon, you have demonstrated that you don’t have a clue when it comes to Planned Parenthood and what it does. Please tell me the percentage of abortions PP performs, compared to its other services. (You can look it up.)
Planned Parenthood offers low income women health services, but don’t let that get in the way of your right-wing propaganda. I’ll await your answer. And while you’re at, please list all the health clinics, besides PP, that offer these services.
And this is priceless… “People in low income areas of Wilmington don’t take care of their houses (such as not cleaning them), throw trash in the street and destroy property in their neighborhoods. That is the norm, not sure how the blame is not on the people yet we blame banks, politicians etc. Please explain how a bank can make someone not clean their house (of course this is just a generalization).”
Dorian gave you the benefit of the doubt, but I’ll bet – given your last comment – that that doubt is gone. You have no understanding of the city’s problems and their cause. As a city resident, I find your comments woefully uninformed. Guess if we just gave every city resident a broom that would solve the problem.
Planned Parenthood is not the problem here. You can do yourself a favor and find the conversation that will actually take that seriously, because it won’t be here. And that is as non-hostile as it gets.
Keep voting Democrat…..
Oh, I’m feeling hostile. 🙂
Let’s have Brandon flesh out this idea. How does poor women having more babies fix any of the concerns Brandon has? More people to clean houses?
This is what I’m talking about.
http://www.delawareonline.com/story/news/local/2015/07/26/million-sought-planned-wilmington-stock-exchange/30711857/
Money for a Stock Exchange in Wilmington?
Two different worlds exist in this city.
To me it seems that the police and politicians are being blamed. Politicians rightfully so. But the city voters keep voting these people in. When was the last non democrat mayor? Just like Detroit and other cities. It will fail. Crap economic policies, Unions, taxes. If people don’t take care of their streets then I have no concern for them. City folks don’t want to “rat people out” but complain when the shit don’t stop. It all starts with the parent. Teach your kids right and wrong. But when you don’t care what your kid is doing then this happens. Longer jail terms. Don’t tell me this solves nothing. It gets these idiots off the street. Stop the plea deals for violent crimes. put them on a chain gang picking up trash. Which leads me to the police. Why as a cop do I want to put myself in danger knowing if I do one thing questionable when a thug with a gun attempts something that I have to worry about the NAACP marching and people rioting when the clown deserved the bullet. Police your own neighborhood. The cops can’t do it all.
Don’t worry Brandon. The Administration has been collecting massive amounts of data (“it’s the kind of data base that no one has ever seen before”) in order to address the disparities in your Hockessin.
Brandon – I’d start with Ta Nehisi Coates’ essay ‘The Case for Reparations’ in The Atlantic.
Then read ‘The New Jim Crow’ by Michelle Alexander
Then read Bryan Stevenson’s ‘Just Mercy’
The idea that Planned Parenthood encourages abortions is so fucking stupid I don’t even know where to begin with you. Let’s just put it this way (and Pandora can confirm it) I know more about Planned Parenthood than you could learn in a year. You regurgitate talking points from Hockessin because you have no idea what you are talking about.
I’ll say it right now. Based on what you’ve written here I think you are a disgusting fucking racist pig who has no clue how to examine deep social and cultural problems. The faster you come to grips with what you are and try to change the better we’ll all be.
The machinery of white supremacy has clouded your mind. I, for one, think it takes a very ignorant and thoughtless person to make the claims you’ve made. The idea that the weakest, poorest, most brutally policed populations in this country, who have historically been given no mechanism to accumulate wealth in this country, need to take even more responsibility for themselves (like they even have the means and opportunity to do it) is complete nonsense.
You live in a superficial fantasy world.
I don’t even know if I have the energy to deal with this jimmy character. Longer prison terms?? What fucking swamp did this turd crawl out of? Can someone else handle my light work, please?
“city folk” wink wink
Also for those of you who care to read and are actually literate, I just finished “Our Man in Charleston” by Christopher Dickey. It’s a very good analysis of private correspondence and diplomatic dispatches from the British consul in Charleston, SC in the 1850-60s.
Compare the structure of slavery that white supremacists built and fought for in the 19th century with Jim Crow, lynching, segregation, housing discrimination and mass incarceration and you’ll discover something very interesting…
Dorian – thanks for the references, I’ll take a look at them later today or tomorrow.
Yeah, DV. The idea that the people to blame (“city folks”) are the ones who hold the least power, have the fewest resources, are policed brutally with “stop & frisk” and long prison terms for non-violence offenses, and who have been historical shut out of affordable home ownership to build familial wealth is illogical nonsense.
No one wants to look in the mirror and realize he or she is to blame. It isn’t easy. But until the jimmys and Brandons of the world jettison their easy answers we are really and properly fucked.
I posted on my break. I better check my white privilege and get back to work. Someone has to support you guys. Also dorrian you do realize planned Parenthood was created by a racist to kill black babies right?
And you are the ones that are fucked.
Also..
http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2014/03/13/how-we-built-the-ghettos.html
Jimmy – You also live in America I presume? I know more about Planned Parenthood than you could learn in your lifetime. Trust me.
jimmy, better get back to your important work as the gun clerk at walmart.
Oh and by the way – because I know this little tidbit is important to disgusting racists pigs like you… I’m an affluent white guy. Until you begin to grasp the idea that we all live in the same place we’re all fucked. You included!
How much workforce housing is in Hockessin? I think they need more.
Dorian Gray is my favorite commenter for today!!
Dorian calls it like he sees it! And I can confirm his extensive knowledge on the subject of PP!
And notice how Brandon didn’t answer my question about the percentage of abortions performed by Planned Parenthood. Perhaps he looked up the percentage and realized he needed to abandon that ridiculous argument. Not trying to be hostile (okay, maybe a little), but if we want to discuss this then we need to be on the same factual page. For those unsure, the %age is approximately 3%.
But this argument has nothing to do with the issues facing the city (just like cleaning houses is utter BS). Also, everything Dorian said. 🙂
I believe your dear leader has the best solution, Cassandra:
“God Bless Planned Parenthood”
A few more generations of Sanger reductions and the undesirables and impurities, and your crime problem should begin to subside.
Best part is, the parts are profitable! A mind may be a terrible thing to waste, but #blackliversmatter!
Dear lord, the stupid on here actually hurts. Nickado is a moron (that’s me being “hostile” again). I’m so over this brand of stupidity. Nick and Brandon blame the city’s problems on abortion… perhaps they can explain (in detail) how this works, ’cause where I’m sitting it sounds like they’re in favor of more abortions – that more abortions is their solution.
Pandora – Planned parenthood abortions vs total services = 3%. You asked me to determine the number of clinic that provide the same services as Planned Parenthood but I’m not sure how to do that without spending a lot of time reaching for no particular purpose. I don’t have as much planned parenthood knowledge as many self described experts on this site.
Anon – why do you want the government to intervene so badly with regard to housing? I can only assume you believe the government should use social engineering to create a utopia that will wash all the world’s problems away. Very strange.
Hey, everyone, another ignorant racist piece a trash! Hooray…
Joking aside, Nickado, in your quieter moments, after a demanding day of mouth breathing and complete confusion about the world, does it trouble you that you that there is so much you don’t understand? C’mon, bud. Admit it… you know you’re dumb. You must. Frankly it must be very scary to see the world the way a squirrel does.
We can work on it together if you’d like. There’s a very good new biography on Margaret Sanger if you’d really like to learn something beyond what you absorb by mistake from television. You can even borrow the copy from my library. I’ve read it already…
Remember the first step is admitting you have a problem.
Pandora, we are on the same page. I could have worded that better. My issue is not with the individual officer or the teacher, but rather the administration that they answer to, because just like they give the same funding to North Star, they also give the same training to those teachers as well. Why a teacher at North Star receives the same cookie cutter professional development and training as the teacher in the inner city is beyond me.
Poverty must be addressed, however poverty in the black community has been a systemic problem dating back over 200 years, it will not be solved over night. People throwing up the need to solve poverty as a prerequisite for law enforcement and school districts to do their jobs, is a cop out?(pun intended)…. We all know that poverty is not an easy fix and will not be solved over night, so to say that that needs to be solved before police are held accountable or schools are held accountable is bullshit. Especially since, historically and currently, racism in education and law enforcement has helped to create the VERY same cycle of poverty that we claim is the barrier to solving the problems in education and law enforcement. It is a dumb argument meant to garner applause lines.
How can you talk about solving poverty until you talk about improving our education system? You can’t talk to me about community development if 1/3 of African American men are in the criminal justice system? Unless there is some new way to get out of poverty while being poorly educated and having more than 33% of your males carrying criminal records and many others being killed in the streets? Telling me that we can’t talk about these things unless we talk about poverty, which is in part cause by deficiencies in these very systems, is a rhetorical maneuver that is being used as a way to maintain the status quo in our classrooms and our police departments.
Pandora – Nickado is clearly against planned parenthood as an I. The group was created by an active member of the KKK (Margaret Sanger) to exterminate black people. Nickado was simply referencing a quote of Margaret Sanger’s.
Providing affordable housing so people can escape the occupied ghettos we’ve locked them in isn’t social engineering. The same way championing women’s issues to allow them to take control of their own reproduction and ensuring wide availability of birth control isn’t eugenics.
The “Sanger Argument” is like defending the current GOP record on issues of race by saying Lincoln was in the Republican party.
It shows a complete lack of historical understand and really a lack of understanding about anything. Spending a lot of time researching an issue so that you don’t go on internet sites and make ill-informed comments is its own reward….
Sorry to continue to derail the important topic of the original post but Pandora, I’m unclear about your stat. Are you saying PP performs 3% of total abortions, or that 3% of PP’s activities involves performing abortions? Just curious.
Abortions represent 3% of PP’s services.
86% of PP’s services revolve around birth control, STD testing and cancer screening/prevention. The abortion argument from Brandon and Nickado is nothing more than a case for controlling women. Conservatives and the GOP can’t tolerate women who like sex (I know, I feel sorry for them, too), mainly because it gives women (and men who actually love them) a say in procreation.
Abortion is a small, but loud, part of their argument. They are against women controlled birth control. Outlaw abortion tomorrow and they will continue their fight against the Pill, IUd, etc.
And let me point out again, that this agenda has nothing to do with Cassandra’s post. Go ahead and reread their comments. Followed to their logical conclusion they should be for mandatory abortion. That’s the only thing that makes sense given what they’ve written.
Pandora – why do you continue to say Nickado and I are for mandatory abortion? Also, I never said I wasn’t pro-choice or against contraceptives etc. You guys argue for peace and love on this site but wholehearted support an organization that performs 3 abortions for every 100 people it “treats”. I guess you don’t see the hypocrisy.
Dorian – you seem to enjoy calling people stupid who disagree with you. Not sure where all the anger is from but suggest you open your mind up to new ideas every now and then.
Because if what you’ve said is what you believe (that “70% of Planned Parenthood locations are in low-income areas which encourage abortion and thus diminishes the value of human life to those in the area.” and ” I thought of something else the NAACP can investigate, the majority of planned parenthood locations being in low-income areas (which is essentially genocide of the black race since some measures have shown more black babies aborted in certain areas than are actually born).”, and ” People in low income areas of Wilmington don’t take care of their houses (such as not cleaning them), throw trash in the street and destroy property in their neighborhoods. That is the norm, not sure how the blame is not on the people yet we blame banks, politicians etc.” along with the Margaret Sanger stuff).
Which leads to obvious conclusion… less of this “type of person” leads to less problems in your mind. See how that works?
I’ll also point out how a post about crime in the city turned immediately to Planned Parenthood and abortion. Looking for the real agenda? Here it is.
They resent women having control over their reproduction. Angry white men typically uneducated types. Same ilk who cheers when republican presidents drop bombs on babies in other nations. Morally and intellectually bankrupt and full of misinformation from listening to talk radio and fox “news”
mouse I guess Obama hasn’t used drones?
Non sequitur
Back to the original post…..
I remember as I read the News Journal article on the shooting victim found in the Theater parking lot that it is very difficult to serve two masters.
Everything I’ve heard and read leads me to believe the incumbent has no chance at re-election. Who do you see as a logical replacement?
“even the affluent white people in Hockessin”
Dorian believe it or not, THERE are affluent black, hispanic, asian and others who live in Hockessin, FYI.
Fair point. No doubt. I’m aware. Caught in a rhetorical flourish… But what would you wager is Brandon’s background?
Cassandra, I apologize for this comment not addressing a very important issue that should not have been hijacked by PP bashers but I must respond.
Yes, Margaret Sanger had many bad points. She felt population growth for all less fortunate populations should be curtailed. She did not limit her disgust with the black race, it included many caucasian immigrants as well.
Abortion services are 3% of its services. Birth control is 35%. Imagine if Title X is cut as the Republicans would like to see. Abortion rates will go up. Let’s keep Title X, increase it even and we shall see a further decrease in teen and unwanted pregnancy.
As far as locations, did you stop to think that being a non profit requires a medical clinic to lease or purchase property in an area with lower property values? It allows the medical clinic to provide ALL services under a lower overhead and to keep out of pocket costs low.
Dorian, it’s a dam shame what is happening in Wilmington. It used to be thriving at night. Unfortunately, we’re between Baltimore & Philly. The WPD is broken & desperately needs leadership and some of the leadership needs to stop worrying about being elected and start making tough decisions for the people!
I’m asking the folks having the Planned Parenthood and abortion conversation to take it elsewhere. Comments continuing in this vein will be moderated.
Everything I’ve heard and read leads me to believe the incumbent has no chance at re-election. Who do you see as a logical replacement?
Right now, there is a great deal of interest in running for Mayor in Wilmington. There may be as many as 10 folks declared and/or floating trial balloons right now. I’m interested in who might be a disruptive candidate – someone who might be able to disrupt the city’s current toxic political process. Right now, Eugene Young looks like he is on a path to take on that challenge.
DG’s list here is very good. I’d add to this the work of Tim Wise who is one of the best antiracist writers there is.
I moved out of Hedgeville in 2006 and haven’t looked back. I considered my block “safe” until it wasn’t. Looking back I think to myself how crazy it is to think that literally a 200 yard stretch of land in a sea of crime was safe. We humans sure have a way of rationalizing things away.
Hope you didn’t work too hard in patting yourself on the back here. *Any* block is safe until it isn’t. While you were flighting it away, there are plenty of people still in these neighborhoods who don’t have those kinds of resources. It is *those* people any city wants to make safer. Because these folks are living with the terrorists every day, keeping their heads down in hopes of getting out.
My arms only get to my shoulders any more I fear a torn rotator cuff.
Saying your block is safe is like saying you only have cancer in your pancreas but not in your liver. It’s silly. Wilmington isn’t safe. There are not safe zones. You live in Wilmington your car will get stolen at some point. It’s window will be smashed. You will be threatened. You will encounter a drug deal. You will encounter someone nearly running you over.
It’s a shame, and I admire people like yourself truly trying to make a difference. Why, I just don’t know. Improving my quality of life by moving out of the city was more important to me than fighting battles against people that don’t value their own lives.
I didn’t have the time or the patience or want to take the chance me or my family was going to be another victim. Having been threatened by a neighbor wielding a knife and clearly on heroin made the decision easy.
The city is shit. The people running it are spineless. And the business leaders in the “community” are worthless.
pat, pat, pat
“The people running it are spineless. And the business leaders in the “community” are worthless.”
Yup.
I grew up north of the ws bridge in the “nice” part of town. Got used to having our bikes stolen from the porch and unlocked cars looted. recently, armed robberies have been occurring in front of people’s homes.
A Total change in leadership from the mayor down through the city council and police administration is the only thing that will help the city.
DV – I love you brother but that comment is pretty stupid. The Wawa in Fairfax was robbed at gunpoint a few days ago. There’s been several armed bank heists in Brandywine Hundred in the last month. There was a murder suicide last week in Newark and there’s an armed stick-up in Dover weekly. That’s not even mentioning the home invasions and drug distribution that is reported from down state.
The issues in the city are relatively more frequent because more people from more diverse economic backgrounds live in much closer proximity. You had the opportunity to “escape” it that many people don’t have. But this is hardly confined by Wilmington’s city limits. The idea that it is is a myth.
You can move away for your “quality of life”, but you still caused the problem. You’re just as culpable as I am or as anyone is. It’s everyone’s fault. We’re all to blame for the society we built and allowed to continue.
You’re right though, when you drive directly from your office or the supermarket into a suburban garage attached to a nice $400,000 single family home you can avoid strangers. Good for you. I personally think that is a very narrow view of quality of life and quite sad if I’m honest.
The ironic part of it is, the city is actually the best it’s been in decades. Theatres, new restuarants, new housing on Market St and 9th and Orange. Admittedly it’s usually only to make money for Buccini-Pollin Group and it’s only in affluent or gentrifying neighborhoods, but it’s fucking great right now and improving.
I personally like a bit of an edge. Seeing a few weirdos or crackheads at the bus stop doesn’t ruin my day.
Oh and one point of common ground… city government is generally worthless. Totally agree. The city is improving in spite of them.
I live in what’s considered the nice part of the city. Yes, there are petty crimes, but those exist in every city.
I’ve raised my children here and both use the city to its fullest. They dine downtown, attend all the festivals, ice skate at the Riverfront and regularly hop on SEPTA to hang out in Philly. Both have street smarts that can’t be taught and both can maneuver public transportation like pros. Their friend group is diverse, covering all socioeconomic lines. All these things were important to us when it came to raising children. You don’t have to agree, but constantly trashing an area to justify your choices reeks of insecurity and makes me wonder how comfortable you are with your decisions. City bashing has a lot in common with school bashing – in a “my choices are superior to your choices” sort of way.
It’s really tiresome to listen to people constantly bash the city. You don’t want to live here? Fine. City living isn’t for everyone. I just don’t understand all the fear – and there’s a lot of fear coming from the anti-city crowd. Like I said, street smarts is something that has to be lived. If you don’t have it then you shouldn’t live in a city. You should probably avoid Christiana Mall parking lot, too! 😉
We are downtown several times a week – mainly because the restaurant scene in Wilmington is amazing and keeps growing. Has anyone tried Cocina Lolo? Simply amazing. So is Pochi, La Fia, Chelsea, LOMA coffee, The Queen, DiMeo’s, etc. The Artarama is the best art store in the state. And I haven’t even mentioned the art and cultural events.
Again, you don’t have to live here, and it’s obvious you don’t because only people unfamiliar with all the good things the city offers could have such a starkly negative view.
Is Wilmington’s leadership a disaster? Yes, but the city isn’t.
I dont deny Wilmington has nice restaurants and a decent night-time scene (as long as you stick to Market Street) …. but my love for the city I spent my first 24 years in REQUIRES me to take to task those who are keeping it from thriving. Much like how my patriotism required me to oppose the Bush administration.
Wilmington could be SO MUCH BETTER if the people in charge, and the corporate interests who control them, actually tried. Think of all the fortune 500 companies who “live” on Orange Street. I call BS that the PD cant fund more counter crime initiatives. Is revenue the issue? raise taxes on businesses .01% and maybe the police force could be improved…. either with better training, attracting better would-be cops… whatever they need. also, Not a big fan of the “love it or leave” approach. If people feel unsafe, they feel unsafe. If the only way they can respond is to move, how can they be faulted for doing so and speaking out?
full disclosure, I now live in Newark, but that decision was made because of a few other life-happenings. I’d gladly move back to Trolley Sq, great houses, decent bars…. hardly any mace attacks by 12 year olds.
Perception is everything. I’m safer where I live then where you do. I’m pretty sure that’s fact. And, now that’s on the internet it definitely is. I have less of a chance of being held up at gunpoint in Wawa on 202 then I do at a similar establishment in the City.
I may be culpable for helping perpetuate the problem (and stereotype) but I didn’t and don’t have the time to waste trying to make Wilmington “a place to be somebody” all the while sending my kids to the public schools they’d be “fed” into.
It’s not worth it. Not to me anyway. I’ll make my bones on the mean streets of N. Wilmington and take comfort that people like yourself and Cassandra are making it a better place.
I’ll be at Chelsea Tavern tonight…no doubt dodging pan handlers with missing teeth, various degrees of limps and an inability to walk straight, but can damn look you straight in the eye.
City is a zoo, wall it off…
Just an FYI, Hockessin has the only approved and completed work force housing (WFH) plan in all of NCCo (to date). It was also under the original WFH plan, which was later changed drastically since other communities didn’t like the first WFH Ordinance having the “rental if unable to sell” provision in it – that defeats the whole concept of WFH and removes the ownership potential for WFH applicants. Just thought you’d like to know. By the way, I agree with Pandora, while the City Leadership is a disaster, “The City” isn’t, but all of us (Delaware residents/citizens) need to work to help Wilmington improve, every day and throwing more money isn’t always the answer – easy, but not the answer.
Cassandra, someone at City Hall is listening to you…Operation Disrupt is now called DISRUPT (all caps):
http://www.delawareonline.com/story/news/local/2015/07/29/wilmington-police-renew-disrupt-patrols/30836039/
I don’t know about the rest of you, but I’d like to see some umlauts added to the program name too. That would really show they mean business.
Doctoring Infuriating Statistics, Reworking numbers Until People sTop noticing…. best i could come up with.
Disturbingly
Impetuous
Self-Serving
Rascals
Using
Power
Terribly
^ much better
@ Dan, I’m not so certain that they are listening to me, but they are working at holding the Community Police Unit hostage to their shakedown game. Umlauts is inspired, though!
@ben and mediawatch — very nice!
The WPD Captain of the Community Policing Unit said last night at the joint Civic Association Meeting (Forty Acres, Highlands, DE Ave) that the newest interation of DISRUPT won’t impact officer assignments in Community Policing. So it appears we’re keeping the community cops…
Trust but verify I guess. Let’s see what happens over the next few months.
There has been an arrest.
http://www.wdel.com/story/69707-wilmington-man-18-charged-with-1st-degree-murder-after-being-caught-in-nyc-in-victims-car