Holidays are no escape from the violence for some families
Consider me an unwanted guest inside your home or head.
As many celebrate Thanksgiving with food and family, several Trentonianarea residents deal with death and funeral arrangements or violence that tethers hospital visits.
Trenton again comes under siege by criminal activity as bullets ricochet off both bones and buildings, leaving behind a trail of blood and misery.
In the past seven days, two men have been murdered and several others wounded as the proliferation of gun violence overwhelms this capital city.
Eric Severino, 27, of Philadelphia, died after being shot in the chest while seated in his vehicle on Walnut Ave. near Monmouth St. on Sunday while an unknown suspect shot and killed Quanmir Spears, 28, on Spring Street last Wednesday.
First, let’s be clear about city murders — most connect to drugs. Period. And most occur in specific high-crime, poverty stricken, blightridden areas where dealing drugs ranks as the profession of choice or necessity.
Knowledgeable Trenton residents know Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard, Walnut Ave., Monmouth St., Spring St., Passaic St. and Oakland St. as places overrun by violence. Understanding crime does not require a degree in rocket science.
Murder can and does appear anywhere but statistics identify those aforementioned areas as hotspots for violence. Generational poverty cultivates violence, addiction, crime and disinterest in government. Nowhere does the saying “It is what it is”, play out with such harsh acceptance than in places immersed in poverty.
While the city’s Art All Night shooting in June gained worldwide and national attention, mainly based on the fact that the 24-hour event gains significant support from Caucasian social and financial investors connected to gentrification, plus, successful middleclass African Americans, daily violence attracts minimal response or horror.
The Art All Night violence happened on their turf, presented a vivid picture of gun violence for their lives, and left behind emotional scar tissue, bullet wounds and spiritual devastation for some who had never heard a gun shot and others familiar with the sound and fury.
Politicians weighed in as New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy urged Trenton to continue the annual arts festival.
Murphy said Trenton needed the festival now more than ever, calling the event a pride producing event.
“Let’s hope that it doesn’t die, that we breathe new life into
(it) and please, God, that everyone who goes to it is safe,” Murphy said, shortly after the shooting that left one man dead and 17 people wounded. Trenton residents deserve a similar concern.
Mayor-elect Reed Gusciora joined a chorus of festival supporters who called for a bigger, better and safer event.
In August, four people were wounded and a child hit by an ATV during a barbecue and book bag event, more violence that garnered another Gusciora response.
“It’s unfortunate you have these peaceful festivals or gatherings in parks, and they are taken over by thugs on ATVs,” he said.
“It’s indicative of violence throughout the country, and needs to be addressed by the federal government that seems to look the other way from lax gun laws.”
Murphy, in June, implemented a handful of gun laws that require background checks for private gun sales, banned the sale of armor piercing ammunition and reduced the capacity of ammunition magazines to 10 rounds.
Police were green-lighted to take firearms from people deemed to pose a threat to themselves or others.
“Today, I’m proud to sign this series of common-sense gun safety bills into law to protect our children and families from the reckless dangers of gun violence, something the federal government has failed to do on behalf of its residents,” Murphy said in a statement.
“By setting these higher standards for gun safety, New Jersey continues to bolster its reputation as a national leader on this critical social and public health issue.”
While laws matter and Murphy deserves kudos for action, we must realize that victory against crime, poverty and gun violence requires an effective education system.
Before former city mayors Tony Mack stopped listening and Eric Jackson checked out, our conversations included a personal demand that they dealt with immediate issues regarding crime combined with a focus on the construction of a successful education system.
Statistics estimate that 80 percent of high school dropouts end up in prison where society pays up to $50,000 per inmate annually. We have invested in the failure of human beings while spending hundreds of millions on incarceration that produces minimal rehabilitation success stories.
Gov. Murphy and Mayor Gusciora should develop policies that impact crime and violence but they need to start and maintain conversations about education. How do we repair Trenton? Education. Education. Education.
As we stop for a moment to give thanks, minds should understand that violence, murder, homelessness and poverty never take a day off in the City of Trenton.