Trying to understand what exactly the hell happened last week in Bushwick when cops arrested 30 or so kids has been a bit difficult. Quick background: Donnell McFarland, 18, undeniably a gang member and possibly even leader (depending on the report), was shot dead by a rival gang member a few weeks ago. Last week, a group of his peers — friends and neighbors (according to some sources), fellow gang members (according to others) — gathered to either travel to his funeral or to make a show of strength (again depending on the source).
The New York Post of course starts out falling over itself to praise the cops as “outright heroes.” But then it does mention that at least one kid was walking on cars, and that the kids were arrested for their own good: they surely would have been targeted for attack by the rival gang, a view with which Councilwoman Diana Reyna sides. But then the far-left activist Drum Major Institute’s blog counters that the last thing these kids need is to be exposed to the criminal “justice” system — an opinion I share.
What is the right answer? Anyone have better info, sources, or opinions on this story?
Mr. Kraayon June 4th, 2007 at 7:36 pm
Let them go to jail. That’s thirty less kids on the street who have who will potentially kill some or get themselves killed in the near future. They made the decision to join the bloods, a CRIMINAL organization. As soon as they made the decision to strap that red bandana on, they should have been fully aware that they had a better chance of going to prison than the average person.
Jeremy June 4th, 2007 at 7:47 pm
It’s easy to just say “toss em all in jail” but it’s harder to look at why they join gangs. Jail clearly doesn’t work — if anything, prison has been the biggest benefactor of the gang culture. I’m willing to bet 100% of these kids live in subsidized housing of some sort. They are locked in this environment, this culture that has lasted decades, and out of which few seem to be able to escape. Getting “pushed out” by “gentrification” might be the best thing that may ever happen to a lot of these kids.
Mr. Kraayon June 4th, 2007 at 8:11 pm
I admit, it is an easy thing to say, and I don’t necessarily believe that jail will do them good. In fact, it will probably make them worse off in the long run. At this point in my life though, I care more for the well being of the community than that of a punk kid who’s doing dumb shit.
Armstrong June 5th, 2007 at 10:17 am
I, personally, am for a major “Quality of Life” campaign in Bushwick. I am not only tired of gangs of kids running wild but also loud cars, open fire hydrants, illegal dumping, etc. Forget about calling 311 in this neighborhood. I’ve been trying for years and you are totally IGNORED.
Mary June 5th, 2007 at 1:16 pm
I too have been reporting broken sidewalks, loud cars, etc. to 311 but they get ignored. The police haven’t helped much either.
Too many rooming houses that the police are not cracking down on.
dana June 5th, 2007 at 3:52 pm
maybe i’m just lucky but i’ve had really good luck with 311 acutally. don’t give up calling.
Mary June 5th, 2007 at 4:01 pm
I called 311 6 times one day (from 12 noon to 8 pm) because the neighbors were blasting the music.
They said the report goes to the police dept. but nothing was done during those 8 hours to stop it.
So what makes you think they are doing anything about gangs or crime.
Armstrong June 5th, 2007 at 10:01 pm
I’m ID’ing w/Mary on this one. One time I had everyone in my building (residents of four separate apts) call 311 continuously for several hours about wall shakingly loud music on the street and nothing was done. nothing. I gave up and bought a large supply of ear-plugs. Surprisingly, it’s quieter by my new place on the park at night. I think that’s because it’s closed at night.
Ben June 6th, 2007 at 3:10 pm
Keep calling 311, even if you don’t see a response. The complaints get logged regardless and the more complaints the more focus these issues will get over time.
Everything has to get prioritized and, unfortunately, noise complaints are at or near the bottom of the list. So if there are only a small number of cops able to respond to complaints and more serious complaints come in they will not be able to take care of these issues.
More complaints may lead to more bodies assigned to the district to address these issues. Also, contacting the precinct directly and speaking to a community affairs officer can help raise awareness of the problems.
Armstrong June 9th, 2007 at 7:59 am
No, it seems to me that the police feel that if they can stop people from killing each other and openly dealing drugs on the streets around here, then they’ve done enough – and beyond that, they take a “hands off” approach to Bushwick.
David June 13th, 2007 at 2:33 pm
I agree with you armstrong but i would rather that the younger people get into loud car systems than gangs and drugs. It can become a hobby for them and keep them out of trouble i think if they were to hold offical events for the young adults that own these loud cars we can come to an agreement to tone it down
Teach June 16th, 2007 at 6:13 pm
Some of those kids are my students. According to them…they were trying to get to the funeral. And as far as I know, Darnell had only just turned 17. Whether he had gang affiliations or not, he was shot on the street at 7:30 at night, when he was hanging out with a bunch of kids are NOT affiliated with a gang.
Understandably, there is a lot of nervousness about retaliation on both sides.
As far as the arrests are concerned — I’m worried. The kids had made t-shirts with FRE$H (his street moniker) on them. They were going to the funeral, to pay respects. The ones who weren’t able to get there were understandably upset.
As far as “getting pushed out may be the best thing FOR these kids” where they heck are they going to go? Just some other poor neighborhood?
The Bushwick Campus (a combination of 4 high schools from the old high school that was shut down) is graduating more than 100 students this year. When it was the old school, only 20 kids graduated each year. (The building houses over 2000 students. Change is happening, but it is slow.
Karla July 26th, 2007 at 4:40 pm
I have a problem with the phrase “Getting “pushed out” by “gentrification” might be the best thing that may ever happen to a lot of these kids.”
I am a Latina and lived in Bushwick my entire life- I am now 28. I grew up here, finished college, and remained here after. My problem with that phrase is that I don’t see why one group of people need to be pushed out for another group of people to move in. Where will they get pushed out to, exactly? And what happened to co-existing?
My other problem is the statement “I’m willing to bet 100% of these kids live in subsidized housing of some sort.” Personally speaking, subsidized housing does NOT lead to gang activity. Poor education, lack of resources, and no community involvement do. Bushwick has been long ignored because guess who mainly lives here? Minortities who don’t make enough to pay the big tax bucks. So that has equaled to less police service, less garbage pick up, less neighborhood beautification, less quality schools, and the list goes on.
I think the only way to solve the gang problem is to invest in the community and help these kids find other useful ways to pass the time. Otherwise, this will be a recurring problem no matter where you “push them out” to.
Jeremy July 26th, 2007 at 5:38 pm
Karla, you misunderstand what I said, and I agree with you — one group of people do not need to be pushed out to “make room” for another group. But according to all the activist types, that IS necessary, and that’s why all white people (regardless of income level) should stay out. My comment was just saying that IF this is what is happening, getting pushed out of the neighborhoods that keep them mired in a crime culture might be the best thing that could happen to these particular kids.
In fact, I don’t think growing up in a bad neighborhood CREATES more bad people, necessarily — and you’re proof. I think quite the opposite, that people have free will, know what’s right, know what they need to do to help themselves, but that some people simply choose not to do it — it’s easier to stay in your broken-down rent-controlled apartment than venture into the scary world of self-responsibility and home ownership, which is where my subsidized housing comment comes from.
As far as investment — you can only throw so much money at a problem. The problem in gang-ridden neighborhoods is not a lack of education — hello, one of our bloggers teaches the classics at a Latin (that’s Latin as in classical Latin) high school program. Where I grew up, we didn’t have that, we had the one-size-fits-all curriculum that made people like me loathe school. So I think the last thing there is a dearth of in Brooklyn or NYC is educational possibilites, or even economic opportunities — this is the center of the universe, if you can’t make something of yourself in this city, there’s something else very very wrong.
And I dare say it’s culture. But I’m white, so I’m not supposed to say that. Anyway, thanks for speaking your mind.
P.V. March 18th, 2008 at 7:49 am
I read some of these responses and I agree and disagree. First of all, all of these kids have and receive an education. If they choose to ditch school and become hoodlums its their coice not the environment or their surroundings. I lived across from Woodhull Hospital’s parking lot and then moved to Boribquen Plaza projects. I went to school with kids who were looking for ‘better’ ways out and found them. I also went to school with kids who dropped out because they didn’t like school. No one pushed them to join a gang or crew or posse. Thats is why I severed ties with most of them. There are schools and FREE programs that give these teens something to do. By the way, where did they get money for loud car systems? My bet the answer is from drug sales. I don’t think it has to do with culture because I knew a few white guys in school who wanted to be black. I don’t see what is so good about being black or white or hispanic. We all grow up in good or bad, poor or rich neighborhoods. We all have a choice on how to get out of these neighborhoods. And my personal opinion is if you wind up joining a gang then hopefully you will get killed quickly and take up space in a cemetary rather then waste tax dollars in a jail cell because you were too stupid to make a right and decent choice in life. I am a hispanic so before anyone chalks this up to racism or something like that let it be known I made a better choice and don’t care about those i left behind. Good riddance to bad rubbish is what my teacher at P.S. 257 would say and I could’t agree more.