Ybor, we understand.
Too much wet-zoning, too many teens, too many places that have too many good reasons to pat down for weapons. That’s why there are curfews, code crackdowns and an obvious uniformed police presence. It’s what you do, and you don’t let up — because Ybor’s that important.
But even still, if you don’t go near certain establishments at certain wee hours, you’re almost certain not to have a problem.
But downtown St. Petersburg? BayWalk? Christmas evening?
For the second time in less than three years, BayWalk, centerpiece for downtown St. Pete’s well-documented renaissance, has been raked by out-of-control crowds. The latest incident included gunfire. Pepper at BayWalk is to be ground, not sprayed.
It’s obvious what’s at stake: downtown’s continued revival.
Suggestions: For openers, don’t treat these disturbing incidents as if they are mere by-products of “bored teenagers” and “troublemakers.” This is no time for Crowd Control 101, “Best Practices” guidelines, criminal euphemisms or oxymoronic appeals to parental supervision. We’re talking about serious curfews seriously enforced by highly visible, uniformed police officers. That’s because we’re also talking punks and thugs.
Second, think twice about downtown events that attract precisely those that are the problem. Or is that still not clear enough?
We’re now a couple of weeks removed from that rhetorical shootout at City Council over city jobs proposed for elimination as part of City Hall budget cuts. Still time for serious reflection.
Mayor Pam Iorio had proposed that as many as 88 jobs could be jettisoned in janitorial and security services alone. The plan is for such jobs to be privatized.
It’s certainly a subject for debate. The employees who hold these jobs – and the families affected — deserve no less. To privatize or not to privatize? And if so, where is it most applicable? And have attrition and re-hiring scenarios been sufficiently scrutinized?
Not relevant, however, was the recent undue focus on the racial and ethnic composition of those in the affected areas. According to analysis by City Council Finance Chairman John Dingfelder, an inordinate number of impacted employees are black or Hispanic.
Not to be insensitive, but – so? Would this have been an issue if a bunch of Euro-Americans were being laid off? Would the compassion for those who would lose health-care benefits be as palpable? Would grandstanding have been part of the fact-finding?
The point is this. There are legitimate reasons to at least challenge the city’s budget-cut priorities. As there are reasons to label City Hall communications-challenged.
But don’t make this a minority issue. That’s the wrong bottom line. As wrong as “No justice, no peace.”