I had a BA and all the requirements of a Masters’ Degree when I was a Baltimore cop. And now I teach some NYPD and many students who want to be police officers. So I am a bit partial to the idea that college is good for everybody, cops included (or else what am I doing in my school office…
War on Prostitution
Really? Does anybody really think the problem is Craigslist? Don’t we have better things to do?
Good news in (ending) the war on drugs
From the UK’s Observer (sister paper of The Guardian). One. Two. And three articles about the war on drugs, or lack thereof, in Portugal. Excerpts: Drugs have not only been decriminalised for almost a decade, but users are treated as though they have a health and social problem. … Nor has it seen its addict population markedly increase. Rather it…
Not a good way to go
Just doing your job. Delivering bread in the hood. Driving in your bakery truck. Minding your own business. Next thing you know. You’re dead. Shot. Just like the bad old days. Seems like some idiots were playing with guns on the roof of the Marlboro Projects. Probably just shooting for kicks. Who would think that one of these idiots would…
911 is still a joke
So late last night a saw a man (who was not a worker) walking on the elevated subway tracks around a parked subway train. I saw him duck under the train and go to the other side. Perhaps a graffiti guy. But I don’t know. I figured he was up to no good. As the poster tells me, I saw…
American Ethos
“In America, individuals, not groups, act; and individuals, not groups, should be held accountable.” Most of you would probably agree with that statement. I do, too. But I would be quick to add that culture and background matter. A lot. Background isn’t destiny, but it’s a damn good predictor of your future. You can tell an amazing amount of information…
News Bueno or News Malo?
You want the good news or the bad news? Good news! “Mexico arrests drug trafficker Edgar ‘Barbie’ Valdez.” Pop the corks! But I wasn’t even going to post on that cause who the f*ck cares? It’s not like it will change anything or win the war on drugs. From the NYT: Mr. Valdez, who was born in Laredo, Tex., faces…
My Hood
Of all the places for heaven on earth, people rarely think of Queens. I was just about to get to work when a friend called and said to meet him in the park for a picnic. So off we went to meet him and his son. My friend, a restaurant owner from Egypt (he’s been featured on all the big…
Las Vegas Shooting “Justified”
As predicted, the killing of unarmed Trevon Cole in Las Vegas, based on bad tactics, a bad warrant, bad flashlight batteries (?!), a bad track record, misinformation, mis-identification was found to be justified. Despite contradictory statements by nearly everyone else who testified, Yant stood by his story that he fired the fatal shot only after Cole stood up, turned and…
Mayor Mike’s Mosque Matters
New York Mayor Mike Bloomberg usually makes sense. I particularly like it when he berates citizenry over common sense issues. “People,” he whines, “You gotta stop [fill in the blank].” Makes me all sheepish and look at my toes and mumble, “Sorry, Mister Mayor.” And I didn’t even do what he’s complaining about! Of course it’s not cool to like…