Broken Window Theory

When Rudy Giuliani became mayor of New York City, he enacted a number of major reforms based on "Broken Window Theory." An ultra-simplified version of the theory might be summarized as "Small crimes lead to big crimes." A broken window (vandalism) leads to the presence of junkies (since clearly no one is there to fix the window) leads to the presence of drug dealers and mobsters leads to violence on the streets as gangs clash, leads to murder.

Giuliani's work in NYC speaks for itself. After riots in the streets under his predecessor, New York reached historic lows for crime and especially violent crime. And his successor has kept crime low, despite the economic pressures of the Great Recession.

Unfortunately, many communities have apparently not learned the lessons of NYC. In order to meet the budget, they are now openly announcing that reports of "minor" crimes will be ignored, as the police force focuses on "major" or "violent" crimes. If "Broken Window Theory" is right, we know what to expect afterward. A marked increase in all kinds of crime, which the cash-strapped, under-manned police force will be even less able to handle.

Cutting waste is one thing. But in our quest for austerity, we must remember the essential services that a society exists to provide. Safety and security is at the top of that list.

Protesters vs Police

I have been saying to friends that many post-9/11 reactions need to be rolled back, no matter who the next president is. We have gone too far in our reaction to 9/11 in many areas, and now need to regain some perspective. One of the areas must be the treatment of protesters around political conventions. In 2004, we saw huge new restrictions placed on protesters in the name of safety and protection for politicos. But now these restrictions have escalated to the point that it is impossible for person A protesting person B to get anywhere near them. And the police are encouraged to do whatever is possible to contain protesters. Consider this article and this video from Denver.

Now, Denver has the added excuse of the last Democratic Convention there having turned ugly, and threats from some demonstrators beforehand to do the same. So, I cut them a lot of slack. But the fact is that the Republican Convention will be as locked down, in Minneapolis. Protest is a fundamental thread of the American experience, and more needs to be done to allow it at these monuments of political theater. A political convention where no dissenting voice is allowed is simply a show with no heart and no point.

"Don't Tase Me, Bro"

The recent tasing of a University of Florida student at a town hall style meeting with John Kerry has been making headlines around the world. Tonight I decided to check out YouTube to see what I could make of the situation. Some are saying that it was police brutality and a suspension of the student's first amendment rights. Others were saying that he was warned and resisted arrest. This video (according to a Wired article) appears to be the number one viral video, but I think this other video gives a much better angle and has much better sound. From the videos, my conclusion is that the student was warned many times and the police had to keep escalating their level of force. By the time he was saying that he would walk, it was too late. Even after he laid on the ground, he still continued to resist arrest. What reactions did others have?

Warning: Both videos do have the tasing and the student does use one very non-Family safe word once.

Man Charged for Videotaping the Police

This is a strange story, and my reactions to it range from outraged to simply disturbed.

Brian D. Kelly didn't think he was doing anything illegal when he used his videocamera to record a Carlisle police officer during a traffic stop. Making movies is one of his hobbies, he said, and the stop was just another interesting event to film....
Kelly, 18, of Carlisle, was arrested on a felony wiretapping charge, with a penalty of up to 7 years in state prison.
His camera and film were seized by police during the May 24 stop, he said, and he spent 26 hours in Cumberland County Prison until his mother posted her house as security for his $2,500 bail.

The same article goes on to explain that just before arresting Kelly, the police officer advised him that HE WAS BEING TAPED BY THE CRUISERS VIDEO CAMERA. In other words, it is entirely appropriate for police officers to videotape suspects, but entirely inappropriate for suspects to tape police officers. Isn't there somethinf fundamentally wrong with this picture?