Overall, Violence is Down, But Teen Violence Is Up Nearly TenFold
Philly has two massive infected wounds causing irreparable harm to the city.
Gun Violence
The Opioid Marketplace
via The Trace
Mayor Parker was the first Mayor in my lifetime to TRY to make an impact at Kensington & Allegheny. While the street sweep and decampment efforts were not successful, the City did learn that suggesting the K&A dwellers enter rehab and into government housing would not be successful.
There was plenty of housing available, but they simply wouldn’t go.
We now know that cleaning up the area can’t be a suggestion. It would probably need to be more of a military operation — taking those suffering to a lockdown facility (read: jail) with medical services readily available. Then provide them housing after kicking and rehabbing, with rehab services available and required to keep things as clean as possible.
Only then would garbage local rapper, Skrilla, need to find a new lane.
It’s a tough, borderline inhumane call to force people to endure drug addiction but in the long run it’s probably the right one. After all, every single one of the people on those streets are breaking the law. It doesn’t mean they’re all bad people. Many of them could be there thanks to doctor’s prescribing them pain meds that got them hooked on opioids, but they are sleeping on the streets, doing drugs in public, and doing whatever they can to get enough money for said drugs.
That’s the harsh reality.
Speaking of a harsh reality…
via Philadelphia Police Department Crime Statistics Report
via Philadelphia Inquirer
It’s important to note that the comparitive data could be inflated because these stats are specifically in relation to REPORTS. Not everything that happens in Philadelphia. Simply put, not everything is reported.
In working towards a gun violence solution, another issue reared its head.
Gun violence has been a problem in Philadelphia for as long as I can remember, but until recently, the focus of it has not been among teenagers.
As a high school teacher, this one really hits home.
When it comes to teens, you can pretty much guarantee the cause of bad behavior is connected to their environment — what they’re surrounded by, what they think is cool, what their role models are doing, and what they THINK they need to do to sustain or create such a life.
For example, you won’t see a teenager who has not been exposed to excessive violence in one way or another go find a gun to “solve” one of their issues. You won’t see a teenager resort to selling drugs if they haven’t been exposed to that lifestyle.
In years past, blaming rap music, violent movies, and entertainment was laughable. I loved gangster movies but I didn’t join the mafia or start selling (hard) drugs.
Today, that’s a different story. There are several video series that detail the block-by-block gun violence in Philly and its direct correlation to the city’s trap rap scene.
YBC being the most prominent example.
Three of the most prominent and heartbreaking examples of this senseless violence:
Inspirational local rapper, LGP QUA, who’s on the cover of this edition of The Feel
GILLIE’S SON, CHEESE, according to Gillie, was an untargeted bystander
FELS BASKETBALL PLAYER (who’s connected to the murder of Gillie’s son)
The Problem is with How The Problem is Addressed
There’s no magical solution.
We all love community gatherings, gun violence rallies, town halls, powerful political speeches, investments in education and after-school programs, but none of that is a direct solution to teenage gun violence. A phrase that should be an oxymoron, but is as real in this city as a cheesesteak.
It likely needs to be a boots-on-the-ground operation that directly communicates with the small percentage of the Philadelphia population, both teens and adults, that’s causing the large percentage of gun violence in Philadelphia. It needs to be a personal message.
It’s certainly not for a lack of trying, as evidenced by a quick google search:
Strategic plans like this one from 2013 show that things have only gotten worse, despite efforts enacted by each and every Mayor for as long as the problem has existed.
In most cities, and likely in Philadelphia as well, it’s about 10% of the population that commits 90% of the crime. We need to find a way to address these individuals, directly, and likely with amnesty, if we’re ever going to make a significant impact on this issue. I’d credit Wallo & Gillie, amongst many other youth organizations, who did this better than anyone. Perhaps it’s time to put a task force in place. Offer jobs and vision for success out of that world, so that these young kids can not only see the proper route, but begin to feel it as well.
The Feel V5
