Local: ‘Frank talk’ about the thugs of River City
Posted in Local with tags Add new tag, carnivals, crime festivals, Eric Turner, Peoria on August 25, 2008 by Billy DennisMost of today’s Word on the Street deals with East Peoria and Pekin.
I’ll let someone who lives in these communities comment on that material.
I do note that Council member Eric Turner is making some noise about violence at Peoria-area festivals and other outdoor events. He says there needs to be some “frank talk” about the issues and that if “groups of young African American men don’t change their behavior,” there will be changes to these festivals that not everyone will like.
In other words, knuckleheads need to behave or we’re going to inconvenience people.
What I’ve noticed is this: When these mini-riots break out, there are folks who say it’s evidence that Peoria is on a downward slide that will result an urban dystopia. This is immediately followed by complaints that kids will be kids and that the police are too quick with the pepper balls.
The truth is, as it usually is, somewhere in the middle.
Most people who go to these events have a wonderful time, don’t feel threatened and can’t wait till next year. Many of the people who stay away because their are worried about roaming gangs of urban teenagers would never stoop to living in Peoria anyway, so I’m not really worried about WHAT they think.
But there are incidents, and a growing number of them, it seems. Now that the murder rate is down along with most other major forms of crime, suburbanites have to find something NEW to justify their decision to live in overpriced homes.
This behavior will continue until it’s understood by those inclined to behave like thugs that this behavior will result in something other than what whatever reward one gets from one’s social group. And there will always be idiots out there who will never master the skill of impulse control.
My suggestion: A big metal warehouse out in the country somewhere without air conditioning or indoor plumbing to hold the people who get arrested during these sorts of disturbances. I mean, just for a couple of days until their bond hearings. And then there needs to be jail time for those found guilty.
In other words, it’s gonna cost money. And it’s gonna get a lot of people really upset.
So yeah, I’d say some “frank talk” is going to be necessary.
