Community Concerns

I am still in shock after witnessing yesterday's act of violence. As I was walking down 219th street and Whiteplains road in the Bronx I saw a group of school kids fighting the police. Things were so out of control that the police had to call for back-up and it total about 6 kids were arrested.

As a community organizer I walk in many communities doing assessments and talking to people to learn what the needs are so that I can create meaningful programs to benifit communities at large. This process has been extremely difficult when there is no real support from those that have the power to help make a difference. For example, the councilman for district 12, I have went to his office quite a few times and have had appointments scheduled to meet with him to have a real dialouge about ways that I would like to help and would you beleive that every single time I have either gotten a last minute phone call or email informig me that the councilman had to cancel - this has been over a 3 year span.

It appears that there continues to be acts of violence when the school kids are realeased from school and these activities seem to take place on the same corner of 219th street and Whiteplains road, so it puzzles me how is it that the councilman is un-aware of this, not to mention he provides funding to the community schools?

Another concern is the lack of K2. Recently the police busted up a store on 219 White plains road that had been selling illegal K2 and although I like many of the community residents are happy, but we now have a crowd of people in search of this drug and people in the community fear for their safety.

I am deeply troubled when I see the councilman constantly on the news being praised for all his good deeds, yet the most pressing issues in the community continues.

Yesterday I went over to my local police station attempting to meet with the office for community development and have a meeting scheduled with him in the strong hopes that he will approve my services. Although I know that I cannot change the whole community, at least if I start the trend for real dialouge and meaningful programs, perhaps others will step-up.

I am open to ALL suggestions and fund raising opportunities to begin making a real difference in communities.