Jim for those that don't bother going out to the APP on clicking on the comments in the APP, maybe you should post your follow-up on here.
--- In [email protected], "jwkeady" <jim@...> wrote: > > 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/
