WELCOME
to On The QT issue # 6. Pick Up Sticks. Let's head on up to the
castle. Corruption is a non partisan phenomena-- non partisan
REFORM is the only response. But even QT likes to
HIT THE BEACH!
Our regular sub title (everything you always suspected)
is on brief vacation. What's better for the beach blanket than
a mystery? As in "Noir" the genre of crime fiction steeped in
corruption and betrayal. Usually in urban settings. Like the
cities that New Urbanites hope to revitalize. An admirable
ideal-- as long as it doesn't involve sweeping reality (or
people) under the rug. Because then it would be
NEO BOOSTERISM.
Boosterism is the blather indulged in by local officials
everywhere. At best, boosterism is civic pride tinged with a
tendency to soft pedal problems. At worst it becomes inhuman
ideology. It turns a blind eye to public safety and dehumanizes
groups of citizens when their experiences don't mesh with an
idealized vision and/or financial interests. Boosterism can
easily segue into The Big Lie. Time to tread the
SHIFTING SANDS OF TRUTH.
A string of brutal murders took place on the streets of
downtown Albany, New York in early June. Over a period of
one week three people were shot to death in the city's
GHETTOS.Two of them teenagers. In one neighborhood a grade
school girl described seeing a victim's body after it had been
cut in half by a shotgun blast. Some in these hard hit
communities believe the Albany Police have been less than
attentive to neighborhood crime. A claim strenuously denied by
Albany Mayor Jerry Jennings and Department of Public Safety
Commissioner John C. Nielson. Yet after a civilian police review
board was recently instituted in Albany, The Schenectady Gazette
quoted Albany Police Officers Union President Thomas McGraw:
"I think the implementation of this review board has had a bad
effect on the morale of the Albany Police Department...They make
the arrests that need to be made, but I don't think they're
going out there and killing themselves"
FUN FACTS:
Four states (New York, California, Florida and Texas) are entry
points for a major share of the drugs imported into the United
States. Drug money in equally huge amounts is laundered in these
states. And said four states provide a lion's share of
presidential contributions.
DRUG DOLLARS
inevitably work their way into politics. And into economies.
Cities ( particularly ones that are regional distribution
centers for illegal drugs ) need law enforcement focus on upper
levels of supply. And consistent scrutiny by local news media.
Do persistent drug houses have owners with other similar
buildings? In other cities? In other states? Do convenience
stores linked to drug sales belong to family owned chains with
similar records in other cities? Families with ties to countries
active in the international narcotics trade? Low and mid level
dealer sweeps are helpful but thug replacements will be stepping
off the bus before the police cars pull out. Either New
Urbanites face tough issues of the drug economy or visions of
revitalization will be a sick joke. Blood stained flowers in
CONCRETE TUBS.
Why do mayors love those clunky flower vats? Like Jersey
City's ex-mayor Bret Schundler. Of course, his family was in
the vermiculite business... Bret's flower potties and
SLICE OF HEAVENethnic festivals became a bitter jest in
neighborhoods awash in drugs. After talking big, Schundler
dropped crime like a hot spud. He eventually lost popular and
respected Police Chief William Thynne. Some say dough boy Bret
dreams of being Prez. Right now he's working on New Jersey
governor. In his last days as mayor Bret tried to slip a mega
flunky over the plate as Parking Authority Director. New Mayor
Glen Cunningham fielded the move. Cunningham has some
SMOOTH MOVES
in mind for the Jersey City police department. Cunningham, a
former JC police chief and U.S. Marshall, is calling upon
connections in the U.S. Marshall Service to help him
professionalize police standards and codes of conduct. He'd also
like their input on shutting down Jersey City's open air drug
markets. Former Director of the U.S. Marshals, John Marshall (son
of Supreme Court Justice Thurgood Marshall) is one of the
brains being picked. But Mayor Cunningham's taste in law firms
leaves something to be desired. Matthew "I never suppressed the
vote" Burns??? Guess who gets a
VACATION BEHIND BARS?
Camden New Jersey's Mayor Miton Milan. Seven years in a federal
slammer for laundering drug money and taking bribes. The
corruption was so pervasive the judge set the still too short
sentence beyond federal guidelines. In Camden's recent
post-Milan election only 14% of the population voted. The
entire city budget was rubber stamped. Of course, after Miton
Milan got through, not much was left. Just
CRUMBS.
Ex-North Bergen mayor now mysteriously bankrolled developer
Mocco plans to build a pre fab "Greenwich Village" on the
Jersey side of the Hudson. Does Mocco's desire to build an
elaborate ersatz Bohemia spring from his period as a would be
FOLK SINGER?A true urban Renaissance man, Mocco never met
a zoning restriction or fire code with which he felt rapport.
Indicted in the 70's on conspiracy and conflict of interest
charges the wannabe Dylan dodged the bullet. Rumors that
Mocco strong armed home owners into selling at low prices were
no doubt spread by jealous spiritualists: when mayor, Mocco had
great success employing the dead. In the Big 80's Mocco moved
on to grandiose development projects: a number of which went
bankrupt leaving local municipalities holding the bag.
Meanwhile flames crackled in
ARSON CITY,
aka Hoboken. The FBI dubbed it thus when 20 some tenements
suspiciously burned in one year. Residents who weren't killed
left town and the charred slums were turned into cardboard
condos. A film called
was made about Hoboken's fiery revitalization period. The title
also applies to the bright boy at HUD who came up with the idea
of scattering people with mental disabilities and resistant
substance abuse problems in apartments throughout villages in
NEW YORK'S CATSKILL REGION.Villages with little public
transportation and few supermarkets. Ones rife with anti-tenant
sentiment and a laissez faire approach to building and fire
codes. Supervision is "supposed" to be part of the package.
These cash crop tenants are by and large incapable of
recognizing emergencies. They aren't trusted with Section 8
vouchers: HUD puts the full rent directly into landlords'
hands. Woof woof it's--
GRAVY TRAIN!
While waiting on line at the local savings bank to get the
ADVANTAGEOUS HUD LOANSgiven those who provide this kind of
housing, small town slumlords can be heard decrying parasitical,
thieving welfare recipients. Right before accepting renovation
funds under a different corporate entity name. The funds meant
for separate contractors. Rural Noir lives! When vacationing in
the mountains remember to pack your laptop. Don't miss QT's
COMING ATTRACTIONS: HUD's Historic Hovels/Crime Stats: Fact or
Fiction?/Festivals of Boredom/Blood Red Cars/Do Corruptoids Go
To Hell? On Location Interviews/Nuisance Bars Au Go Go
SHINING WEBSITES:
Transparency International
The global coalition against corruption. Based in Germany,
Transparency International takes the concept of reform to a new
high. Their daily newsletter of International stories (with
website) keeps you up to date on corruptoid capers all over the
planet. From Zimbabwe to New Jersey. An amazingly ambitious
undertaking. TI not only informs but advocates greater
"transparency" in government. A research resource par excellence.
Crime Prevention Association of Michigan
Back to the USA for a slice of crime pie. Don't be fooled by the
regional title: lots of broad based information aimed at
neighborhood activists and concerned citizens. Updated frequently
with an eye for emerging patterns. An optimistic site with a "we
can do it" tone. Guess it is a tad regional after all.
NYCHAnews
Yes, another site focused on the New York City Housing Authority.
Proving that bad institutions, like bad public officials,
inspire dedicated opposition. This site takes a crisp understated
approach. Very well organized, one can click on a large selection
of archived stories in a number of areas. Fires, crime,
intolerable conditions, waste, mismanagement, sweetheart deals,
executive perks, spending excesses, inventory shrinkage, tax
evasion and cover-ups situated in the claustrophobic world of
NYCHA. The evidence speaks for itself.
Students 4 Reform
Sounds like the 60's, right? The mood is similar. Smart ass youth
all fired up. By campaign finance reform in New York State. With
attorney Charles Juntikka at the helm. A man with a mission.
Students 4 Reform launched a memorably amusing campaign that
grabbed the goat of NY State representatives in Albany. Not a
bunch known for a sense of humor- nor for a desire for reform.
Read all about it.
Black Lodge
An alternate universe in which to escape harsh reality? Not.
This is more of a parallel universe. One spun off of David
Lynch's Twin Peaks. Twin Peaks, with all its vagaries, presented
evil with more understanding than most popular art. There's an
enormous subculture devoted to Twin Peaks. Like the Energizer
Bunny, it keeps going and going and...
Addendum: Rent Wars Ronin (last issue's Shining Websites) also
produces a compelling email
newsletter, Click & sign up!
"Crime was a major concern as I walked the neighborhoods...and
tried to become Mayor of the city."
Albany Mayor Jerry Jennings. 1993
"As I walk along, I wonder-- what went wrong?"
Del Shannon, Runaway
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