Viewing a single comment thread. View all comments

CrabEnthusist t1_j37cnj0 wrote

Reply to comment by Syphon6645 in [WBAL] Baltimore Mayor Scott unveils state legislative priorities for 2023 by z3mcs

...How is getting more funds to be used for public safety (putting aside the efficacy of BPD at stopping crime for a second) not "taking action"?

The violence in Baltimore is a result of decades and decades of systemic disenfranchisment, exploitation, underinvestment, and lack of concern for poor people and Black people. It's baked into our economic system, our infrastructure, our law enforcement and justice systems, and yes, our political system. I'm not saying things couldn't be going faster, but expecting any mayor to in a single term "fix" issues which fundementally stem from generational poverty and systemic racism is pollyanish at best, and results in policy that actively makes those issues worse down the line (see broken widows policing).

5

Syphon6645 t1_j37f4w9 wrote

I agree. It's not going to improve overnight. Not expecting it to. All those things you stated are an issue and need to be resolved. This goes deep and I get that. I'm tired of hearing problems and not solutions.

How does asking for funding help with acting on solutions? Are funds being used currently to help with those issues? I believe a lot of those issues are free to solve.

Maybe the problem is the government as a whole. How is the government supposed to provide solutions when they are the problem? These issues are embedded in our society and let's assume they aren't going anywhere anytime soon. What now? Continue to watch the youth get slaughtered on the streets? Schools fail the kids? Admission fail the teachers? Infrastructure fail? Jobs leave? Resources diminish?

1

CrabEnthusist t1_j37hr7a wrote

What issues do you believe are free to solve?

Also, there's a massive difference between saying "these issues cannot be solved overnight" and "well I guess we shouldn't do anything ever."

Mayor Scott's focus on environmental issues is a good example of something that is fairly unlikely to result in short term returns, but will result in better health, employment, and economic trends over a longer timescale. The hard truth is that generations issues usually require generational inverventions (which of course does not mean we shouldn't address immediate issues simultaneously).

2

Syphon6645 t1_j37j76z wrote

Not everything is corrected with funds like when minority men are sentenced longer to similar crimes because they don't have money for better lawyers. Or minority families being pushed out of neighborhoods because of gentrification. Politicians let that happen! It's not just corporate America.

You don't change how systems are run with just funding. It also comes down to policy changes and corrective actions towards those who do wrongdoing.

0

CrabEnthusist t1_j37kwsh wrote

...You think that politicians should just decree that the public defenders "be better" at being lawyers without spending money?

I can't think of what "policy changes and corrective actions toward those who do wrongdoing" means other than 'lock people up for longer' which (1) isn't free and (2) doesn't work.

I agree there are zoning changes that could be made that would reduce displacement, although I disagree tha alone would be sufficient to ameliorate the issue

1

Syphon6645 t1_j37m18o wrote

I'm typing in those little block. Obviously, "being better" is a generalization. Most public defenders are underpaid and overworked. There aren't enough of them either. That's nationwide. There are policy changes and others things that can be done to help.

Locking people up? No, but firing when not doing their job, yes. There are other ways to discipline folks.

1