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Looks like the Globe's finally gotten the memo on Boston street violence
By adamg on Fri, 03/30/2007 - 10:09am
Not only did metro columnists Brian McGrory and Adrian Walker deal with violent crime this week, but today State House columnist (and fight breaker-upper) Scott Lehigh and business columnist Steve Bailey pile on (although John Daley notes that despite Bailey's pledge to get the Globe to cover the issue in great detail, there isn't a single Boston-specific story on the front page of today's Boston Globe).
Elsewhere on the violence front, the Globe reports on mixed reactions to the Guardian Angels and looks at anti-gang funding.
The Herald has Sliwa denying he's here for the publicity and has its fashion reporter critique the Guardian Angels' uniform:
The Red Beret: The signature piece. Breaking in a new one, Sliwa said, borders on a religious experience.
Oh, and the Herald gives Sliwa a blog. Interesting question: Can the Herald be unbiased in its reporting on an organization it's giving Web space to - especially when the blog is really being written by a Herald editor? (Oops, that means it's time for me to link to my disclosure). Possibly so, at least on the columnist front. Peter Gelzinis writes: Frauds don't usually get the chance to resurrect their routines.
The Dorchester News reports on the police Party Line, which Dorchester residents can allegedly use to report loud, late-night parties, of the sort Chiara Levin went to:
... Even when the party line is operational, Andelman said, she has heard anecdotally that calls sometimes go unanswered.
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Comments
So can someone tell me why
So can someone tell me why they're riding around the subways, and patrolling downtown when there's no real need?
Just a guess, but I don't expect them to be doing these foot patrols day and night down in Dorchester and Roxbury where they might encounter a bit more problems...
Hey Adam, I know you have a "violence map" that tracks violent crime in the last 6 months. How about adding a Guardian Angels sighting to see just where these tough guys are patrolling, and if they're making a difference.
Like I said I bet their patrol territory won't be matching up with the areas of higher crime.
A Visibility Issue
Less visible areas - dark, not a lot of witnesses - are typically higher crime areas when other demographic issues appertain. That is why mall parking lots are crime nucleii.
More visible areas are attractive to red berets.
I'd be the murder zones and the Guardian Angel zones are mutually exclusive for that reason.
Maybe they should be handing out those see something say something flyers at Back Bay/Stabbington Station?
Party Line
My understanding is that the Dorchester Party Line is routed through C-11's community service officers, which means that sometimes an answering machine picks up. It also isn't a 24/7 endeavor. I have been very pleased with the police response I've seen from party line complaints. A patrol car is dedicated to party line complaints during the hours of operation, barring a higher priority emergency, which means that sometimes there won't be a response but that is a rarity, according to the people with whom I've spoken.
Party Line only in summer
Remember, as the Reporter story says, the C-11 Party Line only exists in the summer (June-Aug) and is grant funded. That means that the cops at district 11 have to go out on their own and scrap for the money to pay for it every year. Shouldn't have to do that for a program that is aimed directly at such a fundamental crime engine. And, it should be year round.