While growing up in NY in the 60's there was a rash of break-ins at my local public elementary school (PS 209) over the course of one school year. When we came back the following fall all the windows on the first two floors of the school had been adorned with bars. Guess what? No more break-ins. Not as simple in a residential neighborhood. Putting up bars on your windows there is a great way to devalue your home. May as well install a Kenny Rogers roaster sized flashing sign saying "unsafe to live here". But they work.
This is true, of course the situation in Oakland, like most of the country is rising housing costs forcing people onto the streets and such. There are probably far more break ins when it comes to cars and other places where property is less than secure. Unless we are going to confront housing supply and costs, and all the other things that are driving inequality and the conditions that cause crime, these stories are what you are going to get. When it comes to property crimes, clearance rates are very low, the cops don't prioritize them because there isn't much they are going to do about it anyways.
Overall crime being at lows doesn’t mean every category is. Sometimes categories can get skewed, scooter thefts for example. I think most folks care about violent crimes forcible felonies. There are huge variations from city to city and even neighborhood to neighborhood. Most of the crimes are occurring in poor areas (and city hall parking lots Go Jax). An interesting study will be conducted over the difference policing strategies, no policing because they are invaders, broken windows theory, community policing, problem oriented policing, woke policing etc People in communities tend to either get fed up or just accept it and move out of the perimeter.
Well yes, but I don't think its necessarily trying to create division, the opposite actually, particularly when it comes to crime and how to address it. Most media's source on crime reporting is the cops, so that's basically the stories you get on crime. "Manufacturing consent" is just shaping the boundaries of acceptable discourse, then people start to view other alternatives as unworkable or unrealistic.
well, I categorically reject your premise of ‘calling out’ based on your whole cloth rules of engagement of which coincidentally appoint yourself arbiter. I would disagree that Posting a recent article from CNN about crime in Oakland or the comments of a DC council person calling DC a ‘war zone’ is somehow irrelevant to the argument about crime or the nationwide debate about crime and crime rates
On a similar note, I've experienced in my life that walls work too. Doors with locks also. Fortunately, in the neighborhood I now reside, a sturdy door with a deadbolt lock is generally all that's needed. With sturdy windows with locks also, no less. However, I wouldn't be so careless as to leave doors to the outside unlocked overnight or when away from the home. Ditto on windows. Honestly, in my neighborhood, I could probably get away with it, but why take the risk?
intersting point about media sources being cops. They aren’t exactly ‘cop friendly’, so why do you believe they would lazily accept ‘cop info’ Vs doing a story based on other sources. And your have to forgive my skepticism of most studies. I learned in middle, high school and college that if my various report subjects were agreeable to the the teacher i was likely to get a better grade. The researchers doing the studies know where the funding comes from and can adjust their findings accordingly.
I don’t disagree about relevancy, but wasn’t your real purpose of starting this thread to use what’s specifically happening in Oakland (clearly crime has spiked there) to undercut the notion that in general most crime rates have fallen to decade’s long lows? Or in other words, potentially using an exception to undermine the rule. Here’s what you said: “Crime isn’t really increasing. There is just an illusion of increased crime. Isn’t that what we are told”
Its an access relationship, not unlike how certain political media depends on access to politicians and other powerful people to report on the highest workings of government. There is a symbiotic relationship. I dont think the cops 'love' the media either, but they understand how using it can make their job easier and solve certain crimes (because police work is basically getting information from other people), while they get to air their narrative on crime(s). Reporters depend on them for information (because there isnt any independent crime information here and cops are just out there giving information easily), and if they get out of line, they cant yank access.
It cracks me up that NYC has so many elementary schools they just go by numbers. I picture cheerleaders shouting “Let’s go 209, beat the snot out of 205.”
Perfect example why everyone needs to be armed. Cops are after the fact. Pop a cap in their ass enough and they’ll stay away. Or end up feeding the worms.
I am returning to Atlanta well OTP for the first time in twenty years to see a Braves game in September.
Yeah, the mythology about police crime fighting prowess is alive & kicking despite such an admittance. Thin blue line flag etc. propaganda only reinforces the mythology.
Every time I see that legal firearm purchases are rising, I breathe a sigh of relief, because it nearly always directly correlates with another drop in violent crime. Obama and Biden have been very effective at dealing with violent crime. By intimating they seek to restrict 2nd amendment rights, they've motivated more law-abiding citizens to legally purchase their firearms for safety and thus our chance of becoming a victim to violent crime has dropped under their leadership. Of course, we can't discount the contributions of Bush and Trump who made sure the Constitutions rights of Americans endured and especially President Trump for ensuring a SCOTUS Yahtzee! on the issue for the next generation of time, but don't short-change Obama and Biden. They've motivated a lot of people to exercise their 2nd amendment rights and I'm forever grateful to President Obama and Biden's for their threats. We are safer for it.