Comments on: Ask The Lawyer: Is This Crime Plan Worth A Damn?

By: conorcorcoran

conorcorcoran — Thu, 31 Jan 2008 21:47:09 +0000

IFSEsq – Very kind of you sir. You are a gentleman and a scholar. To use the parlance of our times.

By: finch

finch — Thu, 31 Jan 2008 20:27:32 +0000

That’s Season 4 boring McNulty, by the way. The one with the twirling baton and impish grin. Not Season 5 downward-spiral McNulty.

By: finch

finch — Thu, 31 Jan 2008 20:25:58 +0000

I’m not sure why we have to conflate stop and frisk with better police presence. Get uniformed patrols in North Philly and West Philly. Make it so you can’t walk around a corner in the worst neighborhoods without tripping over a shiny-shoed McNulty. Why do you have to inject this unconstitutional nonsense into the otherwise sensible (and long overdue) idea of actually providing some semblance of state-funded safety in these neighborhoods? What we’re talking about is a history of racism and classism–not providing services to the poor and black–that led to this mess in the first place. The way to fix it is to start repaying the debt to these people with increased presence and services with interest, not trampling all over their rights.

By: Mackie Dingdong

Mackie Dingdong — Thu, 31 Jan 2008 17:57:39 +0000

Mackie wants a cupcake. Hello?

By: Mackie Dingdong

Mackie Dingdong — Thu, 31 Jan 2008 17:56:37 +0000

Mackie Dingdong says, “Arrest every broken window. Press full charges! Melt them down and form glass art and beads tiny little glass animals that can sit on Mackie’s wondow pane and look at him while he stays home sick from work. Arrest them all!”

Broken windows doesnt work. Broken windows needs to get a job! Mackie is sick of supporting broken windows!

By: IFSEsq

IFSEsq — Thu, 31 Jan 2008 16:53:44 +0000

It’s actually “This is not Nam, Smokey, this is bowling, there are rules.” But the effort is not unappreciated.

By: C. The Impaler

C. The Impaler — Thu, 31 Jan 2008 15:27:02 +0000

I’m not sure what you guys are talking about by “broken window theory.” You’re entirely focusing on just police deployment. Broken window requires the community to fix the window, the city to keep the street lights lit, and give the people who live in the area the comfort that the police got their back. “Broken window” was only part of the anti-crime strategy of NYC during the 90s. We should also mention all the Clinton money putting police on both NY and Philly streets during those economic boom years too.

Inhaler, in security and law enforcement speak, everything you’re calling a “deterrent” is more accurately called a “dog and pony show.” They’re good for funding, but do squat for actual safety and actual incidents of crime.

Philly cops running red lights isn’t “recent” and it’s not an “enforcement initiative”. It’s driving like an above the law asshole and a safety hazard, and Philly PD have been doing as long as I can remember. Police have those sirens and lights to clear the way when they have to run red lights.

And did you just try to sound smart with Foucault’s cribbing of Bentham? Yeah, Foucault’s real important to criminology and social theory outside graduate level humanities seminar. For Foucault to be right, you have to believe the city is ideologically engaged in incarcerating the city, in which case Inhaler go right ahead and blow up city hall. Rage Against the Machine will reunite and eulogize you via a “pay what you want” mp3 drop.

Do you really think the majority of people living in N+W Philly in fear of their kids getting shot are living in fear of the “city hegemon”, or are they wanting the city they put in power to exercise that power for their security. They’re not incarcerated, they’re poor and need help. Foucault only works if you don’t believe in the political process, in which case it’s probably best to remain in the solitary confinement the rest of the world calls indling in grad school.

Patricio, Nutter and Ram didn’t take office and hit Philly’s murderminds with a New Day Ray to immediately reduce the murder rate. The murder rate is lower bec. it’s a lot colder this month than it was last year (gonna be a shout out for Artists for Heat tonight?). It’s too cold to be out beefing and shooting. That or you can conspiracy theory the three shooting incidents with the police behind the trigger as a “secret message” … either case, stick to video and the ROC nostalgia. Simpler stories. Maybe you can cover inhaler running wild in the streets at the revolutionary barricades. Just so you guys know the OJ and gasoline napalm formula doesn’t really work.

By: inhaler97

inhaler97 — Thu, 31 Jan 2008 14:47:10 +0000

Broken window theory is an extension of Foucault’s panopticon. That being, if someone is feeling like they are being watched, it would deter them from committing a crime. When Guiliani had his cops arrest the subway hoppers, and line them up for everyone to see, there is a reason. There is also a historical precedent. Look at the French and the English with all their beheading, and then placing the deads disembodied head on spikes?

Deterrent.

Anyone else notice cops running red lights these days (the last time I noticed this was when I was living in NY, post 9-11)? all deterrent. A strong police presence makes people aware. Its not the nicest or the most idealistic situation, but its worked in the past.

Broken window theory works, until the public has unrest, and when the public has unrest, revolutions begin.

By: c-bo

c-bo — Thu, 31 Jan 2008 04:15:53 +0000

I have no problem with stop and frisk provided that right is reciprocal.

By: lord_whimsy

lord_whimsy — Thu, 31 Jan 2008 02:33:06 +0000

Helloooo! Who wants cupcakes?

I, uh…oh.

I’ll come back later.