Making Safer Neighborhoods

6/26/20

Some things bear repeating:

“The safest neighborhoods aren’t the ones with the most prisons and the most police — they’re the ones with the best schools, the cleanest environment, and the most opportunities for young people and working people.” [Source: The Ella Baker Center for Human Rights]

Could this proposition be at all controversial? It strikes me as being simple, intuitive, and believable — i.e., the basis for serving as a foundation for a political consensus.

If America were polled, I’d expect to see an overwhelming majority endorsing the goal of assuring safe neighborhoods for all as a top priority; and as the quotation suggests, getting there requires allocating additional public resources for education and infrastructure in low-income communities. These resources won’t be forthcoming, however, unless a broader coalition favoring these actions coalesces.

It’s unfortunate that a vocal element of supporters of the Black Lives Matter movement, who undoubtedly would be a part of this political coalition, have adopted the “Defund the Police” credo. That position is more divisive than unifying. “Make All Neighborhoods Safe” would be a much more effective rallying cry, with the above quote implicitly outlining he way to move forward. Police reform is fine, but money needs to be spent in these other areas.

As the end of June approaches, pressure for Congress to authorize another round of fiscal stimulus will likely mount for several reasons, including:

1. A spiking of Covid-19 cases, hospitalizations, and deaths, which will undoubtedly inhibit the pace at which the economy opens up.

2. Ongoing double-digit unemployment rates.

3. Termination of the special $600 per week unemployment benefit.

4. Barring federal intervention, expected reductions in state and local government spending.

All of these considerations will further exacerbate the already high levels of income and housing insecurity, further buttressing the case for Congress passing an additional round of federal stimulus. I’d hope that the lion’s share of those funds would go to communities having the greatest need. In this way, the funds will serve the double duty of supporting the economy on a macro basis, while also helping to level the economic playing field for now and for future generations.

Now is the time to unify in support of making neighborhoods safer. Rhetoric matters, and divisive rhetoric isn’t helpful.