Trenton will never rebound until we fight poverty

A white sheet hung on a wired fence on Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Boulevard near Bond St. Saturday morning.

The linen remains a far too common way to pay homage to slain urban youth and adults. A Sharpie hung off a white piece of string as friends and relatives scrawled condolences.

This sheet recognized the death of Tashaughn Robinson, 17, found unresponsive with multiple gunshot wounds to his body about 9:20 p.m. Friday on the 600 block of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard.

Robinson died a block from his home and his death received minuscule media attention, far different than the uproar caused by last week’s Art All Night mass shooting.

Found no emailed statements from Mayor Eric Jackson, nothing from his successor, Reed Gusciora, and zilch from North Ward Councilwoman Marge Caldwell-Wilson as empathy rarely reaches into urban areas.

The Dr. King Boulevard corridor looks deplorable as drives down Fountain Ave., Sweets Ave. and a turnoff onto Sanford St. displays what occurs through decades of inefficient government.

These rank as streets with residents left outside the vision and consciousness of people in power, media members and those who offer opinions about Trenton. This city will never show revitalization until government honchos and politicians (there’s a huge difference) develop strategies to fight poverty.

Plus, Trenton will never come back unless leaders cultivate interactions and conversations with people overwhelmed by poverty.

A drive by the Martin Luther King, Jr. sheet early Sunday morning showed that someone had removed the sheet. Makes no matter whether the sheet stays or gets pulled down, another young black teen will be buried.

A line of candles did acknowledge the death of Robinson.

Reverend Joseph Ravenell who heads the nearby Samaritan Baptist Church ended his Sunday services at about 1:30.

“The only thing I know is that another person has been killed here. What do you want me to say,” Ravenell said.”

Headed to Philadelphia for another religious service, Ravenell walked toward his church’s blue van.

“Enough is enough,” he said.