Just as we are learning of an exciting program from the City to take over 3 abandon, foreclosed, neglected, and derelict homes in the Truman National Historic Landmark District, it is becoming more and more clear (for those with their eyes open) how this part of the neighborhood has had a drop in investments and homes sell for the price of a cheap used car. On Saturday, the 400 block of North Spring was victim to its second fatality (that we know of) within the last 6 months. Four police cars, a crime scene van, ambulance, and an unmarked car full of detectives showed up in full force. If you live on this block, you are more likely to be a victim of a crime, reside next to a sex offender, step on a drug needle, drop dead by the end of the year, and/or all the above. And don't bother to ask public officials "What the hell is going on?" Don't bother to tune in to the evening news or open the morning newspaper because you will find out that nothing really happened. A building can disappear overnight, a duplex can expolode off its foundation, and two separate fatalities can occur, and nobody knows nothing about nothing, it's considered not news-worthy, and, for some strange reason, it's considered "normal." One can easily see how an early plea to public officials concerning the presence of child rapist, Randy Lande, would be handled under those conditions. And it's reminiscent of the death that occurred a while back just a few blocks away where a man died from the severe burns he received from a fire in his lap. Nobody wanted to talk about that and there was nothing in the media to report, although there was short obituary in The Examiner that stated "he loved to garden." I'm sure there was some "meth" to his madness even though his death was likely listed as accidental (if you can even find the public record). As citizens are encouraged city-wide to participate in neighborhood watch and being aware of what is happening in the neighborhood blocks around you, here in this corner of the Truman National Historic Landmark District the policy appears to be "don't ask - don't tell." It seems that the issue is not the need for more police (although we need more police) or that we need to dump federal money into sub-standard housing (although that is welcomed for the most part). The reality is that there is little open and honest discussion about not just the presence of crime but the very few consequences for those choosing to commit crimes. And there is very little collaboration between stakeholders. Many of those who commit crimes do not serve time. Some are sentenced to counseling. Those who serve time always get out early. Even with the most heinous and despicable crime committed against an innocent 8-year-old girl, the convicted criminal gets a reduced sentence because no one wants to sit through the horrific details that would be presented publicly during that trial, not to mention the public exposure of how the system failed to protect a child. And if these types of problems are normal in the most important neighborhood in our city, then what can we expect in other neighborhoods? We always look forward to new life coming to reinvigorate our historic residential neighborhood and contribute to our success, although carting out unsuccessful folks in body bags is not what we envisioned for creating these opportunities.
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