I'm just not sure that's an appropriate function of government.  Government's primary role is to protect the health, safety and welfare of its citizens.  What you're saying about illegitimacy does not fall into those categories, and instead falls into a category of social values...and that's something we can not regulate from my opinion.

 

To stay on topic, I think the issue of black on black crime needs to be addressed by first understanding what the cause of black on black crime is, then taking that knowledge and applying an effective solution.  In this case we seem to be defining solutions for problems we don't yet understand or know.

In my personal opinion, its the environment that many of these individuals (individuals participating in black on black crime) are brought up in. They grow up in a culture that accepts violence and distrust public authorities (read: police). In Cincinnati's recent history, this distrust was magnified by those who took advantage of the 2001 Race dispute/riot/whatever you want to call it to promote the idea that the Cincinnati police were corrupt and abused their power.

 

Combine this with the fact that crime is higher in low-income areas and Cincinnati has concentrated a lot of the poor in to a few areas (OTR, West End, Price Hill), and this leads to the creation of environment that further promotes violence and mistrust.

 

But thats just my $0.02

I'm just not sure that's an appropriate function of government.  Government's primary role is to protect the health, safety and welfare of its citizens.  What you're saying about illegitimacy does not fall into those categories, and instead falls into a category of social values...and that's something we can not regulate from my opinion.

If we don't think having entire swaths of urban areas basically off limits to civil society is a problem that government should not address, then we REALLY ought to look at ourselves.  Maybe something more dramatic is required to stop the violence and predation on innocent life?

 

To stay on topic, I think the issue of black on black crime needs to be addressed by first understanding what the cause of black on black crime is, then taking that knowledge and applying an effective solution.  In this case we seem to be defining solutions for problems we don't yet understand or know.

I don't think the "black" part really matters.  That's just the way it is.  It could just as easily be Hispanic or white or whatever.  The point is where there are not checks and balances on human behavior, anomie settles in and chaos reigns. 

 

Not to beat a dead horse, but there are functioning families and people that live in crime-ridden neighborhoods.  Maybe we should look at the reason why those who participate in anti-social behavior don't put their energies toward more constructive ends.  Who are their role models? Rappers?

 

Obama has addressed the importance of being a good father (esp. black father) well before and I wish he'd hammer at it some more.  Cosby has done some of the same thing but doesn't have the street cred of Obama methinks.

I'm just not sure that's an appropriate function of government.  Government's primary role is to protect the health, safety and welfare of its citizens.  What you're saying about illegitimacy does not fall into those categories, and instead falls into a category of social values...and that's something we can not regulate from my opinion.

If we don't think having entire swaths of urban areas basically off limits to civil society is a problem that government should not address, then we REALLY ought to look at ourselves.  Maybe something more dramatic is required to stop the violence and predation on innocent life?

 

The element of having children out of wedlock and the lack of a strong family unit are not direct connections to violence and those preying on innocent life as you put it.  They may certainly be indirect connections and may very well have a positive influence on things, but it seems to be outside the role of government to actively promote a specific kind of family unit.

 

For example, a good friend of mine wasn't raised in your typical family unit at all and is one of the nicest people I know and is a productive member of society.  I also have friends who had children out of wedlock, but are terrific parents and are offering their children a great upbringing.

 

The point of this anecdotal evidence is that for every example you give about the lack of a strong nuclear family causing social problems, I can probably give you an example where the lack of a strong nuclear family unit not having an impact.

I'm just not sure that's an appropriate function of government.  Government's primary role is to protect the health, safety and welfare of its citizens.  What you're saying about illegitimacy does not fall into those categories, and instead falls into a category of social values...and that's something we can not regulate from my opinion.

If we don't think having entire swaths of urban areas basically off limits to civil society is a problem that government should not address, then we REALLY ought to look at ourselves.  Maybe something more dramatic is required to stop the violence and predation on innocent life?

 

The element of having children out of wedlock and the lack of a strong family unit are not direct connections to violence and those preying on innocent life as you put it.  They may certainly be indirect connections and may very well have a positive influence on things, but it seems to be outside the role of government to actively promote a specific kind of family unit.

 

For example, a good friend of mine wasn't raised in your typical family unit at all and is one of the nicest people I know and is a productive member of society.  I also have friends who had children out of wedlock, but are terrific parents and are offering their children a great upbringing.

 

The point of this anecdotal evidence is that for every example you give about the lack of a strong nuclear family causing social problems, I can probably give you an example where the lack of a strong nuclear family unit not having an impact.

 

I know what you're saying Rando, and you're right and wrong.  Look into the communities where crime is untenable (black on black crime mostly as has been noted upthread), and you'll find illegitimacy is endemic and feeds the vicious cycle before any remedies to the social ills of the community can really take effect in the lives of the young. The "kids having kids" refrain comes to mind.

 

The extreme concentration of illegitimacy contributes to anti-social behavior in community life by decreasing parental responsibility and disabling the social frameworks that keep young people from entering lives of crime.

 

There is a large body of work supporting this "anecdotal evidence" and as far as I can tell, it's the only one that actually makes sense.

 

Again, what are your ideas?  Don't be afraid to have one that ends up being something different than a government program.

Cincinnati might benefit from something like CompStat.

I've had family involved in bringing Compstat to Cincinnati, it's been tried multiple times but it's never gotten the political support.  CPD is okay with the system that they have.

Six arrested in Indian Hill drug raids

 

INDIAN HILL – Six suspects have been arrested on 32 felony drug trafficking charges, according to the Indian Hill Rangers.

 

The arrests, which happened on Friday, were a result of a several-months-long investigation in and around Indian Hill. Drugs involved included cocaine, OxyContin and marijuana.

 

Great cartoon!  For what it's worth, the only people from Cincinnati I've ever known to use cocaine have been richer kids from Indian Hill and East Walnut Hills.

The only people in Cincinnati who can afford to use cocaine are rich kids.

^ It makes me think of the movie "Traffic." 

Weird, I know who these guys are.  Some of my friends/people I went to high school with are friends with these guys, and a least a few of them have been in trouble before, so no real surprise here.

The only people in Cincinnati who can afford to use cocaine are rich kids.

Well, I doubt the local drug trade bases its cocaine sales off of rich kids.  But then again, I have no idea.

 

Anyway, this sort of crime doesn't seem to lead to any other crime in Indian Hill that I know of.

Weird, I know who these guys are. Some of my friends/people I went to high school with are friends with these guys, and a least a few of them have been in trouble before, so no real surprise here.

 

Yeah, I know one of them. The Enquirer commenters really know how to kick someone when they're down.

Kick someone when they are down?  If they are guilty they are guilty. If they are serving to minors.Throw the book at them.

Kick someone when they are down? If they are guilty they are guilty. If they are serving to minors.Throw the book at them.

 

My comment wasn't clear ....

 

There's no reason to bring the mom, Sibcy Cline, their families, etc. into it. Should they be punished to the fullest extent? Of course! Otherwise no one will learn their lesson.

Sunoco station robbed

 

This Sunoco has really changed in the last couple years.  It used to operate a service garage...and now just has random people using the service bays to either sell crappy merchandise or wash cars.  They've been robbed quite a bit (i remember not long ago there was an armed robbery).

 

I know Montgomery is a convenient escape route...but, damn...

That place was robbed about 4-5 months ago as well. Biusinesses may start putting hdtv cameras inside and broadcast it outside the store. I know i would along with advertisements.

I saw a "helmet cam" video of Cinci police tasering a guy in OTR on national news the other day. Wasn't exactly a warm and fuzzy feeling.

I'd imagine it was a pretty hot and shocking feeling.

I seen a guy in a 2010 A4 wagon rolling down McMicken, 

^ A lot of people, including middle-class law-abiding folks think that law enforcement should keep their hands out of situations where someone exchanges money for sex. Good arguments on both sides.

A new crime related website/blog is out in Cincinnati: http://cincymugshots.com/

I hate the proliferation of mugshots on newspaper websites.  This website is sad IMO.

I hate the proliferation of mugshots on newspaper websites. This website is sad IMO.

Agreed. Awful. They should take down that site.

 

I did look at it, though...man, those people look messed up.

It's all public record, why should anyone take it down?

^^^ ^^ It's public record, so there is no legal rationale for its removal.

The problem with it is that these people have been arrested and presumably charged with something, but have not been convicted.  I had my name run in the paper when I was cited for littering and open container while in college but I was not convicted (in fact the charges were dropped because I was not only on private property, but inside an apartment building).  Why didn't the paper run something when the charges were thrown out?  Why didn't they run a story on police citing people for open container while inside an apartment building? 

 

 

^ Pornography rarely has an epilogue.

I realize it's public record, and there's no legal motivation to take it down. All I said is they should take it down. My reasoning is simple human decency. jmecklenborg highlights the biggest problem, but then there is also the question of what benefit there is to the public to see these people's faces. They will be punished by the courts. They don't need to be paraded through the public square (or, in this case, the interwebs) to receive further embarrassment.

 

If they did something which is of concern to public safety, it is perhaps a different matter. But then we have things like sex offender databases.

 

I just think it appeals to the lowest common denominator. It's like Jerry Springer on the web, except the people didn't ask to be on the "show". (Yes, I know most could have avoided being there by not committing a crime...but it's not like they explicitly signed up for it. And then, of course, there are the people who didn't commit a crime, but still get the treatment.)

 

I just think it's in bad taste, and a bit cruel.

My only problem with it is the extremely trashy impression it leaves with visitors to those newspapers websites.  I didn't think it was possible but apparently the newspapers have found a way to be even trashier than the tabloids. 

 

The legal implications are dubious at best. Once you're charged, it's all public record even if it's not fair and you're later vindicated.

 

Poor taste is my only complaint but then again having "good taste" probably isn't in fashion.  Or as HL Mencken would say: "Nobody ever went broke underestimating the intelligence of the American public."

They really need to start stripping repeat criminals of thier citizenship and ship them to some ungoverned territories like Yemen, Somalia, Congo or some remote island in the pacific. Im dead serious too. They don't want to live by our laws. Kick em the hell out.

Good point. I like Japan's law for DUI offenders and Singapore does a pretty good job keeping their city clean.

I think the mugshots website is brilliant.  There are times when I see the same people misbehaving over and over again downtown. Now if I see their mugshot on the website I can actually commit their name to memory. That way the next time I see them doing something illegal, I can call the police non-emergency number and give their name along with a description.  Despite my best efforts, the police seem to not match the descriptions I give with the person I'm calling about.  These "frequent fliers" are well known to the police, so I'm sure a name would go a long way in helping the police pick the guy/gal up.

 

Besides, now I can better identify jmecklenborg when he's causing trouble  :wink:.

Good point. I like Japan's law for DUI offenders and Singapore does a pretty good job keeping their city clean.

 

Signapore is a very repressive society

A very clean, very repressive society.  Fun to visit but probably not to live in.  Although I did know a family that lived there whose father taught for the military and they really liked it.

Yay! I contributed to the crime statistic today. My car was broken into overnight. Radar detector, my cell phone charger (yet the left the iPhone charger intact), tripod and my Sigma 150-500 APO lens. The thug threw a brick through my window and did a quick grab. Didn't set off the alarm, unfortunately.

Sorry to hear that Sherman.  I hear car break-ins are really on the rise (even in relativity low crime areas like downtown Dayton).

Yay! I contributed to the crime statistic today. My car was broken into overnight. Radar detector, my cell phone charger (yet the left the iPhone charger intact), tripod and my Sigma 150-500 APO lens. The thug threw a brick through my window and did a quick grab. Didn't set off the alarm, unfortunately.

 

Never leave anything visible, especially car chargers ... and never leave anything in your car that you wouldn't mind being gone when you wake up. It's best to just leave your doors unlocked.

Yay! I contributed to the crime statistic today. My car was broken into overnight. Radar detector, my cell phone charger (yet the left the iPhone charger intact), tripod and my Sigma 150-500 APO lens. The thug threw a brick through my window and did a quick grab. Didn't set off the alarm, unfortunately.

Where was it parked? How much of that stuff was visible?

 

If you aren't going to take stuff inside with you, lock it in the glove box.

That sucks, Sherman. Makes me happy I have an indoor garage (even though I don't have a car yet).

Yeah. I come from an area that had 0 crime for the 18 years I was there, to an area where I have had 4 friends mugged within a 5 block radius, 2 friends that have had their cars broken into and 3 murders within 10 blocks. But yeah, it's a lesson to be learned. I had left it out on Central Pkwy. because I had been moving some large items out of the car and I couldn't do that if it was squeezed into my parking space in the secured garage, and I've left it out plenty of times on the street with no problem. But I came out to it with a brick through the window.

 

The back windows are pretty well tinted and reflective, so you can't really see much of anything. But I suspected they went for the front first, saw the stuff in the back floor and got spooked since they didn't make their way past that -- or really get much of anything back there but the lens and tripod.

 

Yeah, not taking advantage of street parking anymore.

Last time I was in Cincinnati, some jackass broke the glass in my car and stole some trivial items and the sandwiches I had packed.  I'll never park a new SUV near the Zoo again.  The sandwiches are what really ticked me off.  Those and driving home on the interstate without a window!  Interesting point about the unlocked doors Cincinnatus.

 

My sister is an artist and had her nice Nikon camera stolen out of a Jeep that was parked in a public parking garage.

 

At least you're at the front of urban pioneering and some good things are happening in OTR.

It sounds like you guys need to work hard on a neighborhood watch. That's the only way this stuff ceases.

 

I don't mean to be nosey, but I am curious about the state of OTR:

Whereabouts were you parked on Central?

 

I've actually been wanting to ask this for a while, and I may have an answer from the stats you just rattled off, but:

Suppose someone moves to the Q. How inadvisable would it be to bike home alone at night (say, after bars close) from, say CUF or Northside? Or Covington/Newport?

>near the Zoo

 

I lived across the street from the zoo for four yeas and never heard of anyone having their car broken into or any street crime whatsoever. 

 

 

>How inadvisable would it be to bike home alone at night (say, after bars close) from, say CUF or Northside? Or Covington/Newport?

 

Not inadvisable.  I do it all the time.  I walk or bike around Over-the-Rhine after midnight on a fairly regular basis and have never had any issue whatsoever. 

 

 

 

>near the Zoo

 

I lived across the street from the zoo for four yeas and never heard of anyone having their car broken into or any street crime whatsoever.

I guess I was just the lucky one then.  It happened on Dury near Rockdale.

 

That was the last time I was in Cincinnati and parked on-street.  I've been down since then but have stayed at the semi-new Marriott by UC College of Med (which is pretty nice and really really close to the zoo).  I never put all that together other than via the streetcar maps.

 

The zoo is a big place, on which side do you live?

Not inadvisable. I do it all the time. I walk or bike around Over-the-Rhine after midnight on a fairly regular basis and have never had any issue whatsoever.

Are there certain streets you stick to, or avoid?

 

My brother got jumped last summer in Northside, not even very late in the evening. In fact, 4 or so other people on his block also had that happen within a couple months of each other (one even ended up with a broken jaw that had to be wired together). I kind of imagine OTR to be a bit more rough than Northside.

It sounds like you guys need to work hard on a neighborhood watch. That's the only way this stuff ceases.

 

I don't mean to be nosey, but I am curious about the state of OTR:

Whereabouts were you parked on Central?

 

I've actually been wanting to ask this for a while, and I may have an answer from the stats you just rattled off, but:

Suppose someone moves to the Q. How inadvisable would it be to bike home alone at night (say, after bars close) from, say CUF or Northside? Or Covington/Newport?

 

You'll be fine

>Are there certain streets you stick to, or avoid?

 

I never have any reason to walk or bike up Elm or Race, so I don't know what goes on there.  There are obvious better choices...Central Parkway, Vine, Main, or Sycamore.  I'd say Sycamore is probably the safest of all because there's really nothing there and nowhere for some boogeyman to jump out.

 

 

 

 

>near the Zoo

 

I lived across the street from the zoo for four yeas and never heard of anyone having their car broken into or any street crime whatsoever.

 

 

 

While I don't know about recently, when I was in Kindergarten my class took a field trip to the Zoo, and one of our parent drivers parked on street and had her car broken into in the middle of the day.  Also, a drive up Burnett at just about any time of the day, any day of the week can be a bit nerve wracking.  Definitely some issues over there, and further out into Avondale.