Below is an article about the tragic shooting of an 11-year-old girl last night
in AP. Thank God she is alive, although in critical condition. As a
relatively new father, things like this have taken on a much more
guttural-level meaning for me. I cannot imagine how this family is feeling.
I know that many ask, what can be done? How do you stop this violence?
Creating systemic, city-wide plans to address the underlying causes of the
violence must be a concentrated, ongoing effort of the governing body. It has
be something that is addressed week in and week out and not solely in response
to shots being fired in the neighborhood. In my analysis, the four key areas
that need to be addressed are:
1. A lack of family structure for many young people in the community.
2. A lack of good-paying blue-color jobs for poorly educated of under-educated
people in the community.
3. A lack of safe, clean, affordable housing for those living at, just above or
just below the poverty line.
4. A lack of adequate recreation opportunities (although we have made
significant strides here) in the community.
These four areas must take on immediate and sustained urgency. Even when
things seem calm (i.e. no shootings) they must be kept front and center and the
entire weight of the City's resources (along with county, state and federal
resources) must be brought to bear in addressing these things. A very
practical way of doing this is to place each of these four items on the City
Council agenda (along with clear goals and objectives attached to them) at
every City Council meeting for at least the next 10 years. It has taken more
than 30 years for AP to decline in these four areas, it will take at least a
decade of focused effort to turn things around.
This is not glamorous work, nor is it easy, but the payoff is revitalizing a
city and its citizens and creating a safe, wonderful place for everyone to
live, work and play.
If anyone has any additional information about the young girl and her family
and if they need anything, please post it. I am sure that people on this list
will respond.
Peace, Jim Keady
ASBURY PARK An 11-year-old girl who was shot in the face by a bullet meant
for someone else Sunday night remained in critical but stable condition Monday
at Jersey Shore University Medical Center, authorities said.
Asbury Park Police Capt. Anthony Salerno said the girl, whose name is being
withheld, was cleaning her room when multiple shots were fired into her family
home in the 1000 block of Monroe Ave.
Salerno said the assault was drug-related, not gang-related, and that there was
a specific target in the house. Authorities are following up on leads in the
case.
The girl was alert and speaking after going to the hospital, Salerno said.
"When is it going to stop and when are people going to realize that by this
type of drug activiy, you're not just putting yourself in harm's way, but
putting your wife, your girlfriend, and children in danger," said Asbury Park
Deputy Mayor John Loffredo.
First Assistant Monmouth County Prosecutor Chris Gramiccioni Monday said
authorities are continuing to investigate. He said that one person, Kyson
Kirkpatrick of 1060 Monroe Ave., was arrested and charged with obstruction of
justice. Gramiccioni wouldn't reveal further details on that arrest.
Kirkpatrick was released after posting $50,000 in bail.
"This is a national epidemic," said City Manager Terence Reidy of the shooting.
"We're experiencing our piece of it here in Asbury Park, and the solution to
this is not finger-pointing. No one has found a solution to this yet."
"However, I still believe we are committed to being a safe community," he said.
"And I still believe that we're both small enough and big enough in commitment
if the community comes together, if everyone comes together, that we can better
address this and get our kids a better education and work on more effective
job-training programs."
The Sunday shooting conjured up memories of the death of 4-year-old Evonia
Kettles on July 10, 1995, when she was sitting at her grandmother's living room
window at Boston Way Village in Asbury Park. While watching children play
outside, a bullet passed through an opening in the window, through her body,
and into the apartment wall, killing her. A Freehold man was convicted of
aggravated manslaughter in the child's death.
The city has experienced a spate of shootings in recent months, and it comes as
state, county and local law enforcement authorities are involved in a new
community development group to come up with solutions.
Anyone with information concerning the Sunday night shooting is asked to call
Detective Jeff Wilbert of the Monmouth County Prosecutor's Office, at
1-800-533-7443, or the Asbury Park Police Department at 732-774-1300.
------------------------------------
Yahoo! Groups Links
<*> To visit your group on the web, go to:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/AsburyPark/
<*> Your email settings:
Individual Email | Traditional
<*> To change settings online go to:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/AsburyPark/join
(Yahoo! ID required)
<*> To change settings via email:
[email protected]
[email protected]
<*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to:
[email protected]
<*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to:
http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
