Buffalo ends year with 50 homicides !!

[cheekman]

WoW What a place.. It was a bloody year for the City of Good Neighbors. What can the city do to stop this??

Fifty people were victims of homicides last year, up nearly 40 percent from the previous year’s total of 36.

The vast majority of the killings were related to drug deals and turf wars involving small-time, neighborhood gangs, police say.



http://www.buffalonews.com/apps/pbcs...121239857/1010

[Genoobie]

No money, no turf. How do you pull the money out of this? Legalize drugs. All of them, some of the harder drugs will have to have certified distribution systems (i.e. you can use the drugs at low cost but only at a "certified" facility). This will appease addicts and deter new users. Marijuana is practically legal but the money is still associated with it. Make these facilities sources of retraining / addiction education, etc. Seems like a simple solution to me. I think many in LE are also in support of this.

[sharky]

and that's only because so many of the shooters can't aim and hit people in the lower arm or leg or even hands and feet

[WNYresident]

and that's only because so many of the shooters can't aim and hit people in the lower arm or leg or even hands and feet

It might not make a difference but I would think it would be mandatory to have gun safety/target shooting taught in school. Let kids see first hand the damage a stray bullet can cause.

[grump]

No money, no turf. How do you pull the money out of this? Legalize drugs. All of them, some of the harder drugs will have to have certified distribution systems (i.e. you can use the drugs at low cost but only at a "certified" facility). This will appease addicts and deter new users. Marijuana is practically legal but the money is still associated with it. Make these facilities sources of retraining / addiction education, etc. Seems like a simple solution to me. I think many in LE are also in support of this.

Yeah, and they should be serving liquor at AA meetings too as part of retraining and addiction education. What coud go wrong with that. The number of murders is shocking but the inability of the police to solve them boggles my mind.

[Genoobie]

Actually, the analogy you ought to apply would be prohibition. We all know how well that went. But continue your dismissive and derisive commentary, I can still act like an adult.

[steven]

Before the low of 36 homicides in 2011, there were 55 homicides in 2010.

He also added that crime in the city overall has steadily dropped.

Based on the FBI’s Uniform Crime Report, 24/7 Wall St. identified the 10 U.S. cities with populations of 100,000 or more with the highest rates of violent crime per 1,000 residents

1. Flint, Mich.
> Violent crimes per 1,000: 23.4
> Population: 102,357
> 2011 murders: 52
> Median income: $22,672
> Unemployment rate: 18.9%

2. Detroit, Mich.
> Violent crimes per 1,000: 21.4
> Population: 713,239
> 2011 murders: 344
> Median income: $25,787
> Unemployment rate: 19.9%

3. St. Louis, Mo.
> Violent crimes per 1,000: 18.6
> Population: 320,454
> 2011 murders: 113
> Median income: $32,688
> Unemployment rate: 11.7%

4. Oakland, Calif.
> Violent crimes per 1,000: 16.8
> Population: 395,317
> 2011 murders: 104
> Median income: $49,190
> Unemployment rate: 15.6%

5. Memphis, Tenn.
> Violent crimes per 1,000: 15.8
> Population: 652,725
> 2011 murders: 117
> Median income: $37,045
> Unemployment rate: 11.1%

6. Little Rock, Ark.
> Violent crimes per 1,000: 14.9
> Population: 194,988
> 2011 murders: 37
> Median income: $44,415
> Unemployment rate: 7.2%

7. Birmingham, Ala.
> Violent crimes per 1,000: 14.8
> Population: 213,258
> 2011 murders: 54
> Median income: $30,212
> Unemployment rate: 10.9%

8. Atlanta, Ga.
> Violent crimes per 1,000: 14.3
> Population: 425,533
> 2011 murders: 88
> Median income: $41,631
> Unemployment rate:12.1%

9. Baltimore, Md.
> Violent crimes per 1,000: 14.2
> Population: 626,848
> 2011 murders: 196
> Median income: $38,346
> Unemployment rate: 10.5%
http://www.nbcnews.com/business/most...america-832351

The cities with the highest crime rates tend to have particularly high poverty rates, high unemployment and low median income. Two of the worst-off cities, Flint and Detroit, Mich., both have had well-publicized budget woes. Flint was taken over by an emergency city manager after failing to pay its bills in 2011. Detroit is facing similar budget problems and recently came to a temporary oversight agreement with the state.

IMO legalizing drugs inst the answer, addressing poverty is

[300miles]

WoW What a place.. It was a bloody year for the City of Good Neighbors.

Any homicide is bad and they are right to figure out how to stop it. But this article is hype. There were 50 homicides in 2012. During the past 10 years there were ONLY TWO years where the homicide count was less than 50. One of those years was 2011 which they oddly are comparing with 2012 to paint it as a huge "spike". They only mention all this towards the end of the article:

[Genoobie]

Yes, certainly poverty is a problem. However, poverty doesn't have to imply violent. You are illustrating a correlation, not causation. What drives the murders is money, guns and the associated criminal activity. Remove the black market and the profit incentive then there is no "turf" to defend, murders will drop. There are equally poor people living in the countryside and the murder rates are lower. Bring the drugs and the money, the murder rate rises.

[cheekman]

Before the low of 36 homicides in 2011, there were 55 homicides in 2010.




The cities with the highest crime rates tend to have particularly high poverty rates, high unemployment and low median income. Two of the worst-off cities, Flint and Detroit, Mich., both have had well-publicized budget woes. Flint was taken over by an emergency city manager after failing to pay its bills in 2011. Detroit is facing similar budget problems and recently came to a temporary oversight agreement with the state.

IMO legalizing drugs inst the answer, addressing poverty is

steve.. poverty is it since we live in a welfare state rust belt cities are noted for high poverty, no jobs, high crime and murders.. more food stamps and no jobs..

[WNYresident]

Yes, certainly poverty is a problem. However, poverty doesn't have to imply violent. You are illustrating a correlation, not causation. What drives the murders is money, guns and the associated criminal activity. Remove the black market and the profit incentive then there is no "turf" to defend, murders will drop. There are equally poor people living in the countryside and the murder rates are lower. Bring the drugs and the money, the murder rate rises.

How do you supposed this could be curbed? Drugs are already illegal. How does one remove a market for something that is illegal to sell to begin with?

[steven]

Yes, certainly poverty is a problem. However, poverty doesn't have to imply violent. You are illustrating a correlation, not causation. What drives the murders is money, guns and the associated criminal activity. Remove the black market and the profit incentive then there is no "turf" to defend, murders will drop. There are equally poor people living in the countryside and the murder rates are lower. Bring the drugs and the money, the murder rate rises.

I disagree, you used prohibition as a example earlier. Lets roll with that:

During prohibition people where not beating, robing, and murdering, other people for a jack and coke.
Women were not out walking the streets selling there bodies for a gin and tonic.
People were not getting there homes invaded in the middle of the night so someone could buy a Michelob.
Men didn't mug little old lady's for a glass of Merlot.

Now if you are talking about thug on thug crime you have a point, but that totally ignores the fact that a lot of crime is committed to get the money to purchase drugs. Making it legal wont make it free or address the reason these people turned to drugs in the first place, it will just make it more accessible.

[mikenold]

Before the low of 36 homicides in 2011, there were 55 homicides in 2010.


The cities with the highest crime rates tend to have particularly high poverty rates, high unemployment and low median income. Two of the worst-off cities, Flint and Detroit, Mich., both have had well-publicized budget woes. Flint was taken over by an emergency city manager after failing to pay its bills in 2011. Detroit is facing similar budget problems and recently came to a temporary oversight agreement with the state.

IMO legalizing drugs inst the answer, addressing poverty is

Do any of these cities have a republican mayor?

[mikenold]

Do any of these cities have a republican mayor?

1. Flint, Mich.
> Violent crimes per 1,000: 23.4
> Population: 102,357
> 2011 murders: 52
> Median income: $22,672
> Unemployment rate: 18.9%

2. Detroit, Mich.
> Violent crimes per 1,000: 21.4
> Population: 713,239
> 2011 murders: 344
> Median income: $25,787
> Unemployment rate: 19.9%

3. St. Louis, Mo.
> Violent crimes per 1,000: 18.6
> Population: 320,454
> 2011 murders: 113
> Median income: $32,688
> Unemployment rate: 11.7%

4. Oakland, Calif.
> Violent crimes per 1,000: 16.8
> Population: 395,317
> 2011 murders: 104
> Median income: $49,190
> Unemployment rate: 15.6%

5. Memphis, Tenn.
> Violent crimes per 1,000: 15.8
> Population: 652,725
> 2011 murders: 117
> Median income: $37,045
> Unemployment rate: 11.1%

6. Little Rock, Ark.
> Violent crimes per 1,000: 14.9
> Population: 194,988
> 2011 murders: 37
> Median income: $44,415
> Unemployment rate: 7.2%

7. Birmingham, Ala.
> Violent crimes per 1,000: 14.8
> Population: 213,258
> 2011 murders: 54
> Median income: $30,212
> Unemployment rate: 10.9%

8. Atlanta, Ga.
> Violent crimes per 1,000: 14.3
> Population: 425,533
> 2011 murders: 88
> Median income: $41,631
> Unemployment rate:12.1%

9. Baltimore, Md.
> Violent crimes per 1,000: 14.2
> Population: 626,848
> 2011 murders: 196
> Median income: $38,346
> Unemployment rate: 10.5%
http://www.nbcnews.com/business/most...america-832351

I checked! None of these cities have a republican mayor and in fact the majority have not had a republican for more than 40 years!

[leftWNYbecauseofBS]

Yes, certainly poverty is a problem. However, poverty doesn't have to imply violent. You are illustrating a correlation, not causation. What drives the murders is money, guns and the associated criminal activity. Remove the black market and the profit incentive then there is no "turf" to defend, murders will drop. There are equally poor people living in the countryside and the murder rates are lower. Bring the drugs and the money, the murder rate rises.

There is always going to be a black market. It's rather naive to think otherwise.

What drives the murders is a class of people who have no options to exist besides engaging in criminal activities. Where these people live is their 'turf' and they will 'defend' it over any issue. If all drugs were legal there still would be a market for drugs sold illegally. Just like there is a black market for guns when you can buy the same gun in a store in the open.

The murder rate is where it's at right now because those doing the killing have no regard for human life.

The crime rate is where it is because, as a society, we have shown a higher tolerance for crime. A perfect example is Jay-Z. Here is a guy who rose from the projects, became a drug dealer in his youth and went on to own an NBA team and friends with the President. Compare that to just 50 years ago when everyone knew JFK was 'in' with the mafia but socitey would not allow him to be open with it.

Right now, if you're a youth in the projects the only detrement to crime is being caught and in some cases going to prison is more welcome than living free.