Quote:It's pretty sad what certain parts of this town has become. 

 

There is more outrage for one off events in Jacksonville (and many other cities) than the things that happen nearly every single day in this city.  It's sad and until the culture changes where standing up for your city, neighborhood, and family becomes more important than having a chance of being shot, not much will change.

 

Edit:  I'm going to have to rethink going to First Coast to watch anymore football games in the future.

 

While I completely understand the logic behind this, as self preservation is a pretty basic instinct, isn't that really feeding into the problem?  We're all cowering in fear of a few punks in their gangs using violence to intimidate and control a community?

 

I don't claim to have an answer.  I see the daily news reports coming from various areas of town, and I can almost predict that the first 10 minutes of each local newscast will revolve around some violent crime that took place in one of about 5 areas of town the day before.  No area of Jacksonville is immune to this stuff.  Some are better insulated than others, but none are immune. 

 

This gang violence problem has grown into such a significant problem for the city that it was a driving factor behind all of the campaigns in the local elections that concluded this week.  It's clearly a priority for some, but I don't care as much about what the politicians think we need to do as those who are closer to the problem, living in the neighborhoods that are surrounded by the dangers.

 

I live in one of those pockets of decent neighborhoods that is almost completely surrounded by subsidized housing that has caused an escalation of property crime AND violent crimes in the area surrounding us.  That has bled into our neighborhood in recent years where we're seeing an uptick in break-ins.  There have been multiple murders within 5 miles of my quiet neighborhood over the past year or two.  My next door neighbor and the family behind us have both  had their homes broken into over the past couple of years.

 

At some point, we need to stand up as a unified community, don't we?  Or do we just hide in our homes?

 

I've been asked to get involved with a local coalition in my area of town that is a combined effort between local churches, community leaders, and JSO to address crime and redevelopment.  One of the biggest focal points is on how to deal with the rising crime in the area, and the prevention of allowing gang related crimes to expand into our neighborhoods.  It is going to require a very proactive approach to deal with that and the other issues our community and this city are facing.  I'm just curious to know how many others here have gotten to the point where they're tired of picking up a paper or turning on the TV to be greeted by extensive police blotter reports on a daily basis?

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