WEST END CRIME

This from thevillevoice: Local Film Examines West End Crime.

A documentary called “Wake-Up Call” will air Saturday night at 9 on Fox 41. It’s produced by T-Shombi Basemore, a morning editor at the station who had the bright idea a while back of producing a film addressing the cycle of violence and crime in the West End.

All I can say is it is about time.

For too many years to count the West End has been ignored and crime has been allowed to go on regardless of any efforts to stop it. While there are many variables to be sure as to why, the fact remains that we must get involved and stop this from happening. In my opinion it is a part of our recent past history we need to correct. The West End at one time was Louisville. When Louisville started migrating slightly East the neighborhoods and primary area of the West End was forgotten.

As many of you know during the Mayoral race in 2006 I stated we must focus on West End development and job creation to help get rid of the criminal element. This would be done through an aggressive economic plan that would include incentives for business to locate there such as necessary needs: groceries, shopping, etc, as well as, an economic plan streamlining small business monies to aid in local growth and development of small business.

How much better could our money have been spent in the West End versus the money we just gave to Cordish Group for Center City?

Some will argue that is a bad comparison. Some will argue that I am wrong. So be it.

Here is my take on the whole situation. When you have nothing to look forward to in your own backyard what will you lean toward? When the only "business" open to you growing up is the crime business then you will migrate toward that. It really is a very simple concept. If that is all you are exposed to then typically that will be your choice in footsteps to follow.

When we get serious about economic development in the West End, along with a visible involved police presence, AND an accountability for some of the parents who do not do their job, we can and will beat these criminals back out of our neighborhoods.

The old saying is that crime doesn't pay. Well in this area crime has paid well for a select few at the expense of all of us.

By lowering crime through direct community involvement including the initiatives I have spoken about we are indeed helping ourselves.

One of the greatest costs to taxpayers is the criminal system. We can lower that cost exponentially by letting the criminals know we do not want them anymore through initiatives like take back our neighborhood, through economic development towards necessary services, and through the goodwill of all of us in this City wanting more than what we have come to expect.

Do we want a vibrant City?

We do that by taking back our neighborhoods and providing economic opportunities for ALL to succeed. This is not a west End problem this is OUR problem together. While I spoke constantly of UNITY in the commUNITY during the Mayoral race this is one reason why. We are all in this together.

Times are bad right now and crime will rise. Let's take a stand now to stop this from happening.

Check out the documentary it airs at 9 PM tonight.

I saw the trailer it should be very telling.