Radiofree West Hartford -- The Crow's Nest by Tom Evers

THE CROW'S NEST

Gangs of West Hartford?

This should be a major campaign issue.

By Tom Evers

October 08, 2005

When I first heard rumors of gang activity in West Hartford, I thought it was merely the ramblings of a few people with a hyperactive imagination. The idea that gang activity is within the borders of our plush, highbrow community is a concept that's hard to swallow. After all, our neighborhoods don't necessarily have the seedy reputation of places like Hartford's Frog Hollow.

But it seems clear that a trouble-making group of about 40 middle school students, under the guise of "223" have the West Hartford School system, namely Sedgwick School and King Philip School, its faculty and students held a bay, and our police force - baffled.

Earlier in the year, a member of the gang was arrested on charges of bringing a gun to King Philip Middle School. A second incident involved a brawl involving gang members that began at a Hartford movie theatre and spilled over into West Hartford. As shock rang through the community, and the Town Council set up a task force to deal with gang related issues.

Unfortunately, it seems that the hoodlums are back in business. This week television news reporters captured the gang's latest activity - vandalism against an area CVS and a local church, where in both in places a swastika was spray-painted on walls with a reference to "223" beside it. Obviously, drawing nazi symbols in a high population Jewish community was meant to antagonize area residents; sadly, however, we hope that the amount of media coverage that the gang received doesn't fuel the fire, and lead to other instances of property damage.

The Hartford Courant reported that earlier this year, West Hartford police arrested about twenty of the suspected gang-members on charges of drug dealing, possession of weapons and intimidation-type behavior. Generally, middle school students do not have access to drug and weapons, so key questions that the police should be asking are "who is their supplier?" and another is "who's directing this activity on the outside?"

West Hartford residents deserve better. The West Hartford Town Council's primary responsibility is to make sure our streets and schools are safe. The Council has failed to remove the gang our borders, and now residents are facing vandalism and a resurgence of gang related activity.

When it comes to guns, gangs, and drugs amongst young people, West Hartford police should focus on locating the troublemakers, holding parents accountable, and sending gang members to area reform schools and juvenile detention centers. The only way to solve the problem is to eradicate the problem.

The left-leaning mindsets of the foolish may attempt to make this situation yet another social experiment; or somehow tie the problem to economic inequity amongst minorities within our border, and seek a way to dismiss the problem as routine, and not worthy of our attention. Nothing could be further from the truth. Our only concern should be to remove the negative influences, and isolate children who will poison the community well. When a school child is bullied or threatened, he or she doesn't learn. And when they are lonely, or in despair - they are attracted to gang member-types, who seek attention at every turn. The only way to win is to remove the dangerous element from their environment.

Our West Hartford schools are not social centers for wayward or delinquent children. The Town Council should increase police presence at our schools, if necessary. But let's start seeing more results.

During this election cycle, I ask you to ask our candidates what their personal plan is for removing gangs from our schools, and our borders. Remind them that it's high time to remove "223" and their proponents from our neighborhoods. Expect leaders who are proponents of a "zero tolerance" policy toward gang activity in West Hartford. And tell them that if they are going to spend money on the school system, let it be for security and not teacher's salaries.

And tell them that if they don't have a plan or concerns about removing these threats, then they aren't up for the job of leading our community. This election cycle make taxes, spending, and safety for West Hartford students your hot button issues for choosing the best electors to lead West Hartford.

Until next time, I'm Tom Evers and I'm looking out for you!