EDITORIAL: An Invasion of Violence - Providence’s Parks to Buffalo, NY
Monday, May 16, 2022
This weekend was a punch in the gut to any decent person who lives in America.
And it is a scary time for anyone who sends their kids to the local Providence parks to play.
- 20 shot in Milwaukee
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- 1 killed and five wounded in a church shooting in California
- 2 men shot in separate incidents at public parks in Providence
- 1 man stabbed in another park in Providence
And the list goes on and on across the city, state and the country.
Guns, guns, guns. And, some knives too.
Dead, dead, dead. Wounded -- a lifetime of pain. Tens of thousands in healthcare costs for the injured.
Some of these incidents were executed by racists trying to kill those of another race. A white man killing Black people going about their shopping. In that case, many of his victims were elderly.
In California, it was an Asian man killing Asians.
In Milwaukee, it was Blacks shooting Blacks.
Gangs, psychos, racists.
The patterns are ugly and they are all indications of a decay.
It is now time for leadership -- NOT PRESS CONFERENCES. No mayor and ministers -- sorry.
In Providence, immediately amend the budget for another police academy.
Immediately negotiate for the Providence firefighters and mobilize them to visit parks and gathering areas -- festivals, block parties, etc. to be a presence this summer.
Offer teachers from across the region to $25,000 to work this summer. The cost of 100 teachers working the summer is $2.5 million -- about the same cost as three people being critically wounded with gunshot injuries.
Immediately hire an additional 1,000 Providence high school students to work at summer events, to help with summer programs, to teach dance, to coach sports -- to do anything. Buy them great hats, cool shirts, buy them lunch -- mobilize them. Those that work all summer -- they get a new phone.
For $5 million dollars in spending, we save the summer, we engage hundreds of people to back our city from the invaders. By the way, every dollar paid to those high school students -- that money is going right back into the economy. No 401Ks there.
We are facing an invasion of violence.
It is time to stop the carnage. Engage the community and make everyone feel -- and be -- safe.
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