I'm not an expert either, but removing these dilapidated structures is important for many reasons. Eliminating places for homeless squatters to stay is only one reason; others include increasing surrounding property values and eliminating dangerous places where adventurous children can get injured, among many others. I am *NOT* saying that homeless people are dangerous, nor am I saying that compassion should not be shown. The arguments about this being some sort of witch-hunt can be applied to any solution presented in the wake of a tragedy such as we have witnessed in Highland Park. But let me ask this: If neighborly compassion is, in fact the answer, why wasn't anyone reaching out the homeless prior to the sexual assault? The answer: because it often (unfortunately) takes an extreme example of its consequences to mobilize people against a problem. "Being friendly" is not a cure for all of the problems facing our neighborhood. This seems to be a fairly common reaction among Highland Park residents, and while I admire the fact that one can look beyond one's own anger and outrage at the crimes committed, I think it is naive and dangerous to assume that the solution is so simple. Is anyone planning to go around to the abandoned buildings and invite any squatters to the next meeting of the Highland Park book club? Or maybe you will share summer recipe ideas with them? These are neighborly things to do, aren't they? While you are at it (since you seem willing to endanger yourself for the good of the community) would you mind offering some lemonade to the bands of teenagers who like to harass Highland Park residents after the pool closes? Maybe you can also organize a bake sale with whomever was stealing bicycles a few months back? Clearly, I joke, but I mean to illustrate the point that sometimes people are going to commit acts of violence in ways that can not be prevented by simple kindness. There are people out there who will commit crimes regardless of their standing in the community, regardless of the pool of victims available to them. The type of person who would commit the type of crime in question may not the best person to try to reach out to. I will admit that there is a small chance that you might help the situation. However, I would suggest that it is at least as likely that your compassion will be viewed as weakness or in so doing, you may paint a much larger bullseye on yourself. Whatever you choose to do in your attempt to enrich the community, please, please consider that not everyone you meet will take kindly to your well-meaning outreach. Be careful on the streets of Highland Park. I say this to you as I do to my own family. We may take pride in our community, but please don't forget that we live in a large city and we are not immune to the effects of crime- whether they come from within our neighborhood or not. On Mon, Jul 20, 2009 at 10:23 PM, Jessica Sutara <jmsutara@verizon.net>wrote:
Bearing in mind that I have read only a few of the emails pertaining to this issue, I think that if somebody wants to sexually assault someone, they’re going to do it whether or not there’s an abandoned house available. This sexual assault didn’t happen in an abandoned home. Tearing down every abandoned home in or around Highland Park won’t solve the problems of homelessness OR sexual assault. To my knowledge, nobody was talking about tearing down abandoned homes until this incident. Now it seems to be the cure-all because people are scared. All it will do is push any “squatters” into a new neighborhood... which doesn’t solve the squatters’ problems.
I’m not an expert on anything, but what I have seen come through my inbox (for years) is a lot of talk about “rule following” and in essence “getting rid of the bad people and bad things”. However, I don’t know anybody who grew up saying they wanted to commit crimes. I wonder who is willing to reach out, be friendly, and even help those who may be desperate enough to consider such measures? In my experience, it is an ounce of KINDNESS that goes further than anything, and in turn builds safer, more vibrant communities.
I don’t write this to be critical, but to say what I see (and get on my idealistic soap box). If I am mistaken (which happens once in a while!), then I will have to eat my words.
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