Fighting crime complicated by upcoming election

FUTURE ASPIRATIONS: Providence Mayor Jorge O. Elorza has had to deal with a recent spate of public safety issues in the city while also considering a run for governor in 2022. / PBN FILE PHOTO/MICHAEL SALERNO
FUTURE ASPIRATIONS: Providence Mayor Jorge O. Elorza has had to deal with a recent spate of public safety issues in the city while also considering a run for governor in 2022. / PBN FILE PHOTO/MICHAEL SALERNO

The wave of highly publicized crimes that has swept through Providence in recent months has prompted no shortage of calls for action, but looming elections and political strategy might be making it difficult to reach concrete solutions. The problems – gun violence, illegal all-terrain vehicles and a lack of law enforcement officers – are complex

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2 COMMENTS

  1. One partial solution to reducing crime in Providence (or any city) is to End Hunger. Bear with me. Ending hunger will not only help take away one of the reasons for committing crime/robberies – desperate people do desperate things – it will help address the resulting anger that hunger fosters in our communities. It’s not a stretch, it’s reality. (I know if I witnessed any member of my family going hungry, I could resort to drastic methods.)

    I propose we immediately work to create food secure communities.

    One tie-in could be – bear with me again – mass gun buyback programs that include a reward of (significant) food gift certificates.

    I’ve heard arguments that gun buyback programs are ineffective. I propose we review the data, weigh the pros and cons and if there are any pros at all, we move to implement.

  2. HUNGER? Are you kidding me! These individuals committing these crimes are NOT hungry….Free housing, food stamps, free health benefits, EVERYTHING FOR FREE! AND then receive FREE MONEY FROM THE GOVERNMENT (stimulus money) to spend on guns, off road vehicles, cell phones, eye lash extensions, fake nails, tattoos and every other NON FOOD items they can get their hands on! PLEASE STOP WITH THE BLEEDING HEART HUNGER LOAD OF MILARKY! GO TO WORK! IDOL HANDS BREADS EVIL…..DID YOU EVER HEAR THAT GROWING UP? GO TO WORK!