New Haven Independent

Posted by: jon | June 22, 2006 2:06 PM

I think 50 % of New Havens problem are the parents!!!
Why are they always blaming someone else for not doing a better job watching after their kids [like police]
If the families did a better job it would really help--when we have so many priorities in this city why should my tax money be spent baby sitting these kids
The parents should GET WITH IT

Posted by: Gary Holder-Winfield | June 23, 2006 9:03 AM

There are a lot of "shoulds" but we are where we are and must act from that position. Why should you help? Maybe you should look at it in a self-interested way. The bullets that are hitting little children did not have their names on them and the less we do to attack these issues the more likely that you or someone you know may find them self on the receiving end. It is not just the parents that need to get with it - it is us all.

Posted by: Lovebabz | June 23, 2006 9:37 AM

Jon,

You either work toward rational solutions or continue with rants. We either deal with youth violence now or later. The thing about waiting until later, is that many young people will get a better education on becoming a better criminal in Prison university and when they come out they won't be youth, they will be grown ups. Parents should take greater responsibility--but guess what these are grandparents who are raising children. And they are overwhelmed and overextended. So where does that leave us? You and I, can either whine like your are doing, or go out and be a part of the solution. Surely someone has been a force of good for you in your life, maybe it was your parents, or teacher, or minister or the nice lady down the lane. Whomever it was, they existed and it made your life better. So stop your bitching and complaining and go volunteer. Be a force for good in someone else's life so that they may inturn pay it forward. Stop sitting on the bench and blaming, put your sneakers on and in get in the game.

Posted by: Lou West | June 24, 2006 11:20 PM

Black Americans living on the New Haven Plantation are just present day slaves and have no power to make changes. Black people might be in the majority, but the white minority are in control,which is tanatamount to being the modern day slave master!The "so called Black Leadership" are under the control of "City Hall", and the New Haven school system is one of its'"employment placements" for friends/lackeys of City Hall. Up untill a couple of years ago, "social promotion" was key in the New Haven School System and Martin Luther King, Jr.is the Black History. Parents turn out for midget football, High School basketball,and midget baseball, but not for "Spelling Bees" "Math Contests" etc.The New Haven Housing Authority is another City Hall "job placement" and is a cess pool of crime against residents,weather they be children or seniors and is the largest slum lord in the state.

Posted by: Mrs.K | June 25, 2006 11:45 AM

I think that the source of frustration here, for me at least, is that I have children. I am responsible for them in every sense of the word. I can not make excuses or blame anyone else for the actions they take or the people they become. Therefore, I do what I can to teach them, guide them and shape them. So, do I think that parents and grandparents need to be responsible and constant presences in the lives of these kids? YES! However, I am a realist. I can see the bigger picture. I have the tools I need and the resources because I had parents with the tools and resources. Often, the cycle of poverty is far reaching. We have many generations of parents without the tools for a variety of reasons. Socioeconomic status, domestic abuse/violence, lack of education. Therein lies the problem. What these families need is support in getting what is neccessary to break these cycles. Is it easy, NO. Does it mean we should hand hold and enable, NO. We need to encourage and support those that need it. Families need to take and active role and find the courage to make meaningful change. The community needs to work together for the common goal of functional families and decreased violence.

Posted by: Darnell | June 26, 2006 9:44 AM

Parent responsibility and supervision is key, but what happens with those families that have a cycle of "children having children"? Babz is correct, even though they may not be our children, they should be our responsibility. As Gary said, bullets don't care who they hit, and ususally, since these guys can't shoot straight, it is the innocents who are maimed or killed.

Another key is the school system, and the non-education of our children. Everyone who has seen this site in the past will know my position, so I won't get into it again. I'll just say that talk is cheap, marches and rallies don't do a thing, and leaders who continue to run unopposed will never make positive changes for the masses.

Posted by: Gary Holder-Winfield | June 26, 2006 12:07 PM

Speaking of responsibility - these people do not always run unopposed so there is no excuse for them reamining in office. That is our responsibilty - voting. Too many of us believe it means nothing to vote and we pass that on to our children. That is not being responsible especially where local elections are concerned (where each vote holds more weight). Throwing your hands up is not the answer but throwing the bums out (of office) will make a difference.