New Haven Independent

Posted by: jackie | August 14, 2007 1:11 PM

Something doesn't quite add up in this story. It may be that Dixwell is just such an incredibly violent neighborhood that you can lose three family members in separate incidents in which they are abolutely innocent bystanders.

On the other hand it does make you wonder if the bereaved mother (I do feel for her) had children who were hanging out with dangerous friends. I know that when I was growing up, I had to switch who I hung out with; otherwise I would have been around a lot of drugs, dealing, and risky stuff. One of my friends ended up in jail, mostly for being in the wrong place and time. But she was there at that place because she liked the edge, hanging with the bad boys.

So I wonder if this woman (Banks) had to strugge to keep her children away from certain friends and bad influences, and maybe she couldn't protect all of them from everything, from every choice they made as young people.

Posted by: AT | August 14, 2007 4:37 PM

I deeply feel sorry for Mrs. Shirley Banks, and for the lost of her daughters.

Here is the main problem I do have:

A boy (21) in charge of DMR, resident at a home group should not, (while staying with her mother), be out there at 3:00 AM - 4:00AM buying junk food. Mrs. Banks should know better. She has been a victim of crime before; she is active in the community and knows the temptations and cunnings of street life.

This story DOES NOT add up and DOES NOT look kosher; and that is very sad because more kids will continue to be victim of violence while they could have been in bed at those hours, (3:00 - 4:00 AM).

I wish the boy a speedy recovery.

AT

Posted by: New Haven | August 15, 2007 8:06 AM

It is truly sad for this mother , the situation she is in. But as the others pointed out, something is not right here .There is no reason to be hanging out at a gas station at 3 or 4 am. And why would David be changing his story multiple times.

As a youth I got into trouble at times as we all have. And I never had to change my story when I was not doing something wrong.

Its time for mom to put her foot down, because unfortunately the consequences of not doing so are quite clear in the article.

Posted by: DHE | August 17, 2007 3:37 PM

The New Haven Independant may have had the best of intentions with its series of articles about Ms. Banks, her tragedies and her request of donations for her "Drill Team".However NHI failed to look underneath the surface. This failure is both troubling and unacceptable for the Newhallville community.Many of us have had the opportunity to observe the so-called practice sessions( without the staging for the press) and are stunned by the unruly and bizarre behavior of the children. The language Ms. Banks and the children use are both colorful and abrusive. The children's names have been replaced with interesting titles including i.e. bitches, hoes, fat asses and most often motherf--kin' ass. In recent publications Ms. Banks claims to be a victim of violence and poverty as a result of "Governor Rowland' s welfare reform". In view of her claims it was warranted to examine Ms. Banks' contribution to her economic situation and her possible contribution to the violence in this city.
Ms. Banks is the mother of 10 children. Ms. Banks raised two daughters that were tragically killed by gun fire ("she lived a hard life" see NHRegister August 14,2007). Ms. Bank is the mother of a son recently found shot in New Haven ( see WTNH/ NHI/NHR- man shot in the neck) and Ms. Banks is the parent who raised at least one son who is in prison for serial rape convictions (see NHRegister- rapist sought- manhunt- New Haven -Hamden 2004.)
This individual should not have been provided a platform to request money from the community without complete disclosure of who and what she is. It is not clear if Ms. Banks is a legitimate competitor in the Drill team world or running a game (to supplement her income) on gullible reporters. In view of her claims the failure to include an examination of her parentling skills of lack of is extremely unforunate. It is worth noting even with the limited amount of family history revealed in these articles one must question the safety and longevity of any child in her care.
In highlighing this individual NHI has done a disservice to the normally high standards of the hard working families in the Newhallville community. In this instance the NHIs failure in its quest for the truth and responsible journalism is glaring.

Posted by: BJ | August 20, 2007 2:10 AM

Let me be the devil's advocate, (oh yes, I can see my upcoming crucifixion by my closest friends, but I cannot resist - this is too tempting), and get to the point here, since it seems that everybody is beating around the bush.

1. The Woman is up to no good. I know Newhallville all too well, (Thompson Street between Shelton & Winchester).
2. The soul-o-rette is another scam by Mrs. Banks to supplement her welfare income.
3. Mrs. Banks is not truthful when she cooperates with the David story as to what store he went to, what happened and when did he go there, etc
4. David under the care of DMR cost us taxpayers a minimum of $25.000.00 a year of personalized services without the overhead, (staff, facilities etc this is individual services received only), and that is a strict minimum. Yes, our tax money!
When he is on leave from the DMR home to visit his mother, he must be closely supervised and not be allowed to go out alone at 3:00 AM - 5:00 AM to buy "junk food", according to Mrs. Banks. (She is taking the rest of us tax payers for imbeciles).
5. Exploiting the violence, (that truly do exist in our community), to bash everybody, (From Rowland to the Federal Government), while milking the welfare system must not be tolerated.
6. It is time we start putting accountability were it belong: With the family first.

If I am wrong, I beg anybody to correct me, please. Mrs. Banks & supporters, since you will read this, I am ready to apologize if I am wrong and / or have gone too far.

I join the above commentators to express by deep sorrow for the children who died, and for David injuries. Let us put this on the table and protect more children and our community.

Posted by: Rosalie Quinones | August 21, 2007 9:59 AM

first of all I've been an assistant director for this squad for over 4 years and there's never been a problem as these people are commenting about. First of all she doesn't have 10 kids and second of all people should leave comments that are not true that's how rumors start and if your someone that loves that type of life style you should be making it known on a page for someone to acknowledge. Third of all none of her kids have ever went to jail for raping someone her kids are 16,21,25 and her girls are 29,14 so get your facts straight before you end up getting yourself in trouble for making up lies just to make yourself look good. And another thing this drill team has never had any problems in the community far as selling drugs, using the money that's granted to us for personal reason. All the money that we receive and spend has to be accounted for with receipts so make sure you know what your talking about. And another thing if you've noticed
anything bad in our drill team wouldn't have that much respect in those grants we received and the help from board of education if we were so violent and uncontrollable and when you hear those kids cursing and etc you cant blame her for that, because you have the areas where these kids go and listen to whomever is speaking so basically parents should be aware of what there kids are doing and saying, cause she cant be the cause of them doing what they feel. And we don't like the fact that your bringing up the situation about her son that just got shot due to the stories that we're told. If you knew David and his situation then you would be able to explain but since your not in the family you go by what you want to say and that's not fare cause you also making yourself be a lier. And why does everyone think that her squad is fake? You've seen numerous of events with them involved they give toys away for Christmas for the needy kids in the community. We don't ask for a lot of publicity. We just do from the heart.
Is not her fault that alot kids like being around
her, that may be a sign of expecting the care and
affection that they don't get at home because of
drugs,abuse or just don't have time for them and she shares enough time with her team and whomever else is around. And for your information her son is paying his own share of expensive at the group home and coming home and retrieving violence that's anywhere you go. It could be you at the store coming out and purchasing whatever and someone ask you for something and shots if that answer is that good for them. And you've mentioned supervised. How can someone be supervised while shes sleep and he sneaks out the door you really cant control someone that's mentally challenged at 3am and be able to get the real truth in a situation that's being told from him and only him no witnesses, so a parent is only able to believe
hat the child states not what the public wants to
hear. And information was told otherwise by the cops that we involved many people have there stories on what happens in her life but you can ask the kids themselves if shes such a bad person and you'll get your own feelings towards the kids that love sharing time with her eating her food going places and remind you everything is paid for. No child ever had to come out there pocket for anything we've done this for so many years and we're gonna continue to have fun and keep those kids off the streets

Posted by: BJ | August 21, 2007 5:14 PM

Let us focus Ms. Rosalie Quinones.

David physically 21 but mentally under 17 - that is why he is a DMR client.
It is therefore the responsibility of the family FIRST to make sure that all "non adult children", (like David and others), are tucked in bed and stay in bed all night. That mean saying "no David, you cannot go to the store to buy junk food at 3:00 - 4:00".

1. Do you believe that David was out at 3:00 - 4:00 AM to buy junk food?
I do not! I think he was out to buy, sell or use drugs.
How about you? Do you buy the "junk food" purchase story?

2. Ms. Banks & her assistant drill team Director, (yourself) must know that.
Did anyone of you ever said to the boy: "no David, you cannot go to the store to buy junk food at 3:00 - 4:00 AM, or any other time past your curfew"?

3. Can you see why we cannot trust a drill team director who cannot keep her own (mentally) teenage child in bed at 3:00 - 4:00 AM, to run a community drill team and trying to raise public money for it?

How do you do it after you ask us for money and take kids (mostly younger than David) out of town to competitions? Oh by the way David was supposed to be part of the trip! Oh my God. Can we imagine David out at 3:00 - 4:00 AM going out to buy junk food in Florida? Probably taking other kids with him?

If every family in this town kept their physically or mentally under age child in bed past curfew, there will be less children blood flowing on our streets.

Please focus and answer these three questions and we will give you our apologies and retract the above comments. Again, we wish the boy full recovery.

Posted by: shirley banks | August 26, 2007 10:56 AM

To all of you that have made comments, it is easy to pass judgement when you do not have to live in these circumstances. None of you know me in this neighborhood, because I don't associate with anyone.So whoever said I had ten children and a son in jail for rape, are living a fantasy of rumors. Get to know the people that you talk about, before you say anything. I have a lot of supporters, whom have come to me and said not to pay any attention to these stories and comments.

MAY GOD BLESS ALL OF YOU

Posted by: BJ | August 27, 2007 3:09 PM

We are not Judges.

We just need to know the truth about his and many others similar sad and tragic stories. You (or Quinones) still did not answer the basic questions about the facts. You owe us an answer because you do ask us for money directly and you do solicit public money through grants and so forth!

Focus and just tell us. Say it!

1) Was David out at 3:00AM - 4:00 AM out:
a. To buy junk food?
b. To buy drugs?
c. To sell drugs?
d. To use drugs?
e. All the above?
f. Some of the above (tell us which one)?

2) Do you think it is a good idea to take David on a trip funded by public money, while he has this habit of (... let us say...) buying junk food at 3:00AM ... or whatever you answer to question 1 is)?

3) After what happened, are you NOW able to restrict, control or put a curfew on David so that he does not go out a 3:00AM - 4:00AM to buy "junk food" (or other stuff)?
Because you will have to. Governor Rowland will not do it for you. You are the Parent.

Just answer us.

By the way, I grew up on Thompson Street between Shelton and Winchester, so I know what I am talking about. My behind would have been sore for days if I ever when out to buy "junk food" at 3:00AM and brought home a gunshot injury. Yes Ma'm.

May god bless you too and give you much needed strength and wisdom to keep the children in bed at 3:00AM - 4:00AM.

Posted by: Shirley Banks | September 2, 2007 1:30 PM

FIRST OF ALL HOW WOULD HE BE ABLE TO BUT DRUGS WITH .45 THAT WAS FOUND BY THE
SHOOTER AFTER HE SHOT HIM AND ASKING FOR A CELL PHONE BEFORE THE SHOOTING OCCURED
ANY NORMAL PARENT WOULD BE SLEEP AT THAT TIME AND HE SNUCK OUT THE BACK DOOR AND
DAVID HAS BEEN TOLD REPEATEDLY NOT TO ROAM IN THE STREETS LIKE HE USE TO IN ROCKVIEW
CIRCLE WHERE EVERYBODY WAS FAMILY IF YOUR NOT OUT HERE HELPING WITH THE KIDS IN THE
COMMUNITY THAN YOUR PART OF THE PROBLEM AND NOT THE SOLUTION YOU MAKE ALL THESE
COMMENTS IN THIS PAPER THAT NO ONE ELSE COULD READ UNLESS ON LINE BUT YOUR
CONSTANTLY PASSING JUDGEMENTS ON SOMETHING YOU HAVE NO CLUE OF------JUDGE NOT LESS
YOU BE JUDGED