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Maybe John Kass, a supermarket owner's son who recently sold his house in Illinois' 15th wealthiest municipality for the better part of a million dollars, lecturing young men in Chicago's most segregated, under-resourced communities is not particularly useful commentary?
I mean, yes, people should avoid gangs and try to make sure their actions don't endanger their loved ones.
But this is a deeply cynical, sort of stupid, take from Kass. Concentrated poverty, housing instability, and other societal factors create social chaos over generations.
But this is a deeply cynical, sort of stupid, take from Kass. Concentrated poverty, housing instability, and other societal factors create social chaos over generations.
Kass writes: "The most important [CPD chief David Brown said at a recent press conference] about targeted fathers and their children who are killed or injured — that the fathers bear responsibility — was largely downplayed by the media."
That is total B.S.
That is total B.S.
In reality, other outlets included Brown's quote "[This is about young African American males, young males of color], deciding to live a life of crime, getting in conflict with others who have decided to live a life of crime, and putting your precious babies in the car with you.”
![In reality, other outlets included Brown's quote "[This is about young African American males, young males of color], deciding to live a life of crime, getting in conflict with others who have decided to live a life of crime, and putting your precious babies in the car with you.”](https://pbs.twimg.com/media/E0ExzmcXMAEbTB5.jpg "In reality, other outlets included Brown's quote \"[This is about young African American males, young males of color], deciding to live a life of crime, getting in conflict with others who have decided to live a life of crime, and putting your precious babies in the car with you.”")
![In reality, other outlets included Brown's quote "[This is about young African American males, young males of color], deciding to live a life of crime, getting in conflict with others who have decided to live a life of crime, and putting your precious babies in the car with you.”](https://pbs.twimg.com/media/E0EyspwXsAMU57L.jpg "In reality, other outlets included Brown's quote \"[This is about young African American males, young males of color], deciding to live a life of crime, getting in conflict with others who have decided to live a life of crime, and putting your precious babies in the car with you.”")
Kass is actually guilty of downplaying part of Brown's message.
He conveniently omitted this Brown's comment: “But all of this is colored in race, poverty, social justice, investment on the West and South sides — this despair we feel when we are in impoverished conditions.”
He conveniently omitted this Brown's comment: “But all of this is colored in race, poverty, social justice, investment on the West and South sides — this despair we feel when we are in impoverished conditions.”
After all, the argument that interpersonal violence in cities could be solved if young POC males would simply act responsible is very attractive to Kass's older, white suburban fans. It lets them feel morally superior while opposing social programs that actually prevent crime.
If we're serious about preventing urban violence, the answer isn't sanctimonious moralizing, but rather investing in programs that help people live safe and rewarding lives. Better funding for schools, affordable housing, job training, mental health, addiction counseling...
...healthcare, arts program, etc. Reallocating some funding from the CPD's bloated budget to other violence prevention strategies like more social workers and mental health crisis outreach workers.
Good overview of the issues in this new @joravben column: https://www.chicagoreader.com/chicago/chicagos-plan/Content?oid=88142326
Good overview of the issues in this new @joravben column: https://www.chicagoreader.com/chicago/chicagos-plan/Content?oid=88142326
But rather than actually propose constructive solutions, it's easier for Kass to throw red meat to his tax-hating, cop-loving readers by misrepresenting a Black man's remarks.
End of thread. Here are screenshots if you want to read Kass's piece without giving him hate-clicks.
End of thread. Here are screenshots if you want to read Kass's piece without giving him hate-clicks.
