Okay,...I just left a PUBLIC MEETING discussion regarding Mapleton/Fallwood and Martindale Brightwood, both making an EXCELLENT plea to increase property values, increase public safety and reduce crime in these areas by taking empty homes, refurbishing them and offering them to police officers to live in, at a reduced cost. The goal is to have Officer Friendly as a neighbor!. This is a GREAT IDEA! At least theyre trying... :) However, several council persons expressed the concern that the Peace Officers, should they be interested in becoming a neighbor (AND OFFICERS HAVE VOICED A DESIRE TO PARTICIPATE) ...could ultimately end up as targets; getting their car windows broken out, cars spray painted or tires punctured! The councilman stated hed prefer seeing a budget set for an increase for hiring more police officers, stay designated for more officers....Amazing! Thats the concern? You mean the councilman thought these neighbor officers being targeted would be REPUGNANT and UNACEPTABLE, kind of like minorities were or are when they move into NON-minority neighborhoods. The two councilpersons who made these statements of concern seemed to forget the TARGETING endured by minorities during the Busing and Integration of white neighborhoods/schools by minorities of ANY kind. The reason that integration happened was because RED LINING ended and minorities moved because they COULD CHOOSE what they wanted... a better life, just like these neighborhoods are attempting to re-create now! PLEASE KEEP IN MIND; both of these areas mentioned were once premier neighborhoods in this city!!! So, heres a thought.... Refurbish the homes and offer them to new College graduates who choose to Teach in those neighborhoods, bring GREEN Technology into these neighborhoods, Doctors who choose to practice in those neighborhoods, Entrepreneurs who open Businesses and HIRE FROM those neighborhoods. Lets just hit RE-SET and recreate the neighborhoods of the pre-integration era! The mid 60s to mid 70s (?), the top ECONOMIC ERA for Blacks in Indy. Keep the budget as intended, hire the additional police officers and TRAIN THEM to do their jobs to benefit ALL of INDY. These neighborhoods can ENCOURAGE PROFESSIONALS to move in these refurbished homes and GIVE THEM THE BOOTSTRAPS to pull themselves up with for a START. Let the youth see Professionals that look like them, and let that encourage the youth to take education seriously. EVERYONE KNOWS EDUCATION IS THE GREATEST DETERRENT TO CRIME! Butler Tarkington was home to EVERY type of professional mentor I could think of becoming. Hang in there Renaissance Thinkers you WILL succeed with God on your side! More PROFESSIONAL MENTORS, MAY BE A BETTER ANSWER, the police will be there regardless.....Just sayin?
Posted on: Thu, 21 Aug 2014 02:41:07 +0000
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