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outerspace29 t1_je0m2ab wrote

As others have pointed out, better policing would go a long way in addressing violence like this. I'll also add that more investment and development in neighborhoods like this is also critical, otherwise the poor areas stay poor and this bullshit continues. Incentivize development in these areas, spread the dollars around instead of pumping it into a handful of places. A good neighborhood surrounded by blight is not a sustainable model for a city - we've seen this across the country over the course of decades at this point.

Maybe I need a catchphrase; "mandatory development" or something

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TimeFourChanges t1_je0vjzi wrote

I have no idea how this could be implemented for real, but extensive parenting classes would go the furthest. After that, yes, I'd such major community development, especially in terms of giving both younger and older kids outlets for all their pent-up energy and aggression. If those two could be combined into one multi-purpose community center (maybe with community-led groups and classes), where families and kids can get to know each other from a young age, taking away the alienation that allows for violence to occur, that would do the most for the community, I think.

ALL of the issues that you see with the kids from the hood are the reult of generational trauma. The students I taught at Gratz that were at grade level, worked hard everyday, and aimed to go to college - unshockingly - had nice, stable home lives. Those that were unstable and violent had home-lives that reflected their behaviors. So, blame the parents, right? Well, they had the same issues growing up, along with all the trauma that comes from living in North Philly, being black and always at odds with the police, never feeling safe around them, high incarceration rates, poor enployment options, etc. So their behaviors are just as understandable. This includes parenting styles and techniques. Some of these parents are violently abusive to their kids, because that's how they were raised, and that's all they know how to react when their child is upset and they don't know what to do.

Providing all the mothers to be - especially the teen mothers - extensive parenting classes, along with on-going support in the early years (for those of you without kids, as a parent of two, those early years are HARD).

I've also worked in elementary schools and have seen how some kids come into the school - with almost no academic prepartion. My kids were so far advanced by the time they hit the door of kindergarten, but we didn't do anything excessive. We read to them every night, we answered their questions, we took them to the library, museums, parks, etc. Mostly just always had conversations with them, and talked to them about everything, and talking abotu fun scientific concepts like, say, the rain cycle, I'd dig up a youtube video and we'd learn more. Also, watching shows with them and anytime they were interested in something, pausing and discussing it with them, as well as playing puzzle games with them. I know that kinda sounds like a lot, but I mean to say this wasn't all the time. There was plenty of unstrctured time and just watching shows and such. I wasn't grilling them on everything and making them study for tests or what-have-you.

Anyway, point being, that if every mother-to-be got intensive classes as well as support, maybe even up to kindergarten, I'd suspect that the multitude of issues would be vastly less within three generations.

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SauconySundaes t1_je19zlf wrote

Essentially we need mandatory maternity/paternity leave and universal pre-k. Having well funded and organized starts for children can make all the difference.

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AskMoreQuestionsOk t1_je3bb15 wrote

That’s a great idea.

I don’t know why it isn’t a cultural thing where new parents can shadow or work with veteran parents in some way. It seems kind of obvious for infants, but really it makes sense to have knowledge sharing all the way to college graduation.

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Bartleby_TheScrivene t1_je0yfj9 wrote

Mandatory military service in order to attain citizenship and right to have children imo.

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Scumandvillany t1_je0olhz wrote

Part of MANDATORY 4K is addressing social iniquities.

This looks like cleaning sidewalks, keeping streets litter free, vacant land clear and clean, vacant housing kept up to standards(with a cost associated), planting trees, upgrading parks and playgrounds, funding better and more after school programs and initiatives, getting rid of abandoned vehicles, expanding funding to and improving the implementation of the "basic repairs program", tangled title help, expungement clinics, streamlining basic city job opportunities.

And all of the above need to be consistent and well managed. Actually solving crime is half the issue, the other half is the above plus increasing opportunities for people.

It's all part of MANDATORY 4K

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a-german-muffin t1_je11w2l wrote

> vacant land clear and clean, vacant housing kept up to standards(with a cost associated)

The city seriously needs to hike the shit out of the costs to leave property vacant. It's a measly $185 right now, and there aren't nearly enough L&I folks to process the inevitable violations stemming from owners letting those properties rot.

I'd love to see a sliding scale that's something like $1,000 minimum for the first year and escalates from there (potentially higher if you have multiple vacants) — these assholes will stop squatting on houses if you make it hurt.

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mustang__1 t1_je0pj5n wrote

What does investment and development in areas like that look like? Because that sounds like gentrification which pushes people out because the people living there probably won't get "better jobs", at best there might be more local jobs - but I don't think there is a general lack of jobs in the city overall, menial or otherwise. Fundamentally.... Im coarse and would rather see the development and remove the blight and hope the people either find a better job or a new place to live.

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crispydukes t1_je0ub4k wrote

Part of the trouble is capitalism as it currently exists. If these areas are "improved," the jobs going in will still mostly be blue-collar/service jobs with limited wages and advancement opportunities. We're not suddenly going to build lawyers and doctors. The desperation that comes from current-age capitalism will still exist. Selling drugs or resorting to other crime may still pay better than the jobs that come from development. You've improved the neighborhoods, great, but even with solidly middle-class incomes, will there be enough local demand for goods and services to sustain the local businesses?

The solution will likely need to be mixed income residential (which is seemingly impossible to achieve organically) or dense commercial that is a cross-city attraction (East Passyunk, Fairmount, Fishtown, etc.).

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mustang__1 t1_je1nqwt wrote

It's not capitalism's fault that there's a cultural anti-education mindset, Uncle Tom, etc. This mindset greatly reduces the opportunities afforded to you when you become an adult. Illegal activities are, in and of themselves, a form of capitalism........ and will never be less profitable than actually abiding by the laws of society - at least in the short term. Capital, social, commune, or otherwise... Crime is hard to beat for short term gain.

If Nicetown/K&A/Germantown, etc, ever become like Passyunk - to attract people from around the city.... what percentage of the current residents do you think would be able to afford to remain?

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Raecino t1_je2teg8 wrote

Hmm but displacing people by pushing them out is not the answer. There needs to be more housing for those who aren’t wealthy in this city as well as actual investment in the neighborhoods. That means investing in the people that live there. Putting up brand new condos across the street from someone living in poverty only encourages crime.

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