City Hall Fails It's Most Vulnerable Residents
May 30, 2020
I wanted to write this story since Feb; and started writing it in May when a firestorm in Minneapolis over the murder of a black resident named George Floyd by a white Police Officer Derek Chauvin took place. Now is the time and here it is.
Mayor Muoio had an idea to improve the lives of young black men in the northend of the city where crime is rampart and shootings are normal. Any attempt to bring police and residents together was in my opinion well worth the effort.
It’s called the “Peace Walk” and a program that has been in existence for the last 5-6 years. It is a simple plan where residents, escorted by police officers, walk the streets wearing yellow “Peace in the Streets” t-shirts and yard signs with the same message, left in yards with homeowners permission. We talk with the residents in the area and let them know about programs available to them.
Young black men struggle with various problems such as being raised in a single parent household (usually by the mother with no father to guide them) high school dropouts, incarceration, violence, racism and gangs attempting to recruit them. Can you understand their frustration in not being able to see a light at the end of the tunnel?
The city works closely with the Urban League of PBC and their Mission Statement is: “To assist African Americans and other minorities in the achievement of social and economic equality.”
On one Peace Walk we were asked by the Urban League to assist in distributing forms for employment to all black resident aged 18-25.who were looking for work. Here is my experience with one young man.
Me: Young man are you looking for work?
YM: Yes, I could sure use a job.
Me: I have a job application you can fill out.
YM: Yes I sure will. Handed him the application, which he took and sat down to fill it out while I stood with a cop and chit-chatted.
After a while he stopped writing and stared at the application, got up, walked to me and handed me the form while stating “I can’t finish this because I’m a convicted felon.” It’s not as much what he said but the way he said it. I could hear defeat in his voice.
Me: You are exactly the man we are looking for. A felony wont be used against you for employment. The cop spoke up and verified what I had stated. Big smile, he took the application back and continued to fill it out.
After a few minutes he got up and walked into the house, application in hand. I wondered if he was done. He came back out with 2 cold bottles of water saying it’s hot and we must be thirsty. We drank, he wrote and I walked away feeling good with the belief we had accomplished something.
My only regret is my failure to follow up. I hope he was successful in his bid for a new job.
Our last walk was in February when the Carona Virus hit and everything changed. This walk was also different because it was the first time we walked without a police escort in one of the most dangerous area of the city. At the next City Commission meeting I complained about the lack of police presence. Mayor said he has nothing to do with the police and their schedule.
I don’t know if the program is helping, it certainly isn’t hurting when young men see us in their neighborhood and people and police are taking an interest in them, engaging in conversation and asking what the city can do to help. The more I thought about it I realized James is gearing up to stop the walk program and the loss of the police escort was the beginning of the end.
These 2 pictures show children interact with the police. The police on the Segway gave the young man a ride around, and the child was beyond happy. When he turned back there was a line
waiting their turn. They all got one. Double click the picture to enlarge and notice the children’s faces.
If you have read this far, please take the time (4:31) to turn on the sound and listen to the video below. Say’s it much better than I can.
https://www.instagram.com/p/CAvtTbYg4ZP/
If the mayor of WPB can’t help people who look like him, please stay out of the way of people who are willing to try and help the most vulnerable among us.