Black Lives Matter releases its policy platform

[bedstuy]

There are a lot of good ideas here.

I don't think we should end broken windows policing though.  Broken windows isn't something that should be implemented everywhere, but it works in areas that are out of control.  In neighborhoods where people don't feel safe to even go outside, the police need to establish a basic sense of security for the people.  Broken windows policing did that here in NYC and helped us reduce crime a tremendous amount.

Also, I wish we could talk about reducing gun violence and crime.  The biggest reason that black people are killed more often by police is that black communities have more crime.  If we reduce the crime rate and gang membership among young black men, that would go a long way towards solving the problem here.  Obviously, it's not a sexy issue because there's no good political angle and the victims are mostly black.  But, this should go hand and hand with changing police tactics.

[bedstuy]

I don't think we should end broken windows policing though.  Broken windows isn't something that should be implemented everywhere

Yeah, I ought to be protected from criminals, but feel free to finks over those hicks in flyover country!  I mean we Democrats can all agree on that, right you guys?

I guess I shouldn't be picking on you too much since you clearly aren't a complete raving lunatic/ultra-naive child, which means you are in the top ten percent of posters here on this issue, but the stereotypical New Yorker selfishness is a bit grating.

I don't know what you mean.

My point is that broken windows policing is best designed for certain types of neighborhoods with certain patterns of crime.  You don't police a neighborhood with rampant murders the same way you police a neighborhood with little to no violent crime.  I'm not a fan of broken windows policing in a neighborhood without a crime problem, that's more just bothering people for no reason.  And, that's when you get into the nuisance policing where you try to raise money by busting people for victimless crimes.

Broken windows is more about getting people to trust that basic notions of order will be enforced.  If a neighborhood doesn't have a crime problem or rampant quality of life annoyances, the cops should step back. 

[bedstuy]

bedstuy, I agree that reducing gang membership for young blacks would make a difference. Do you have any suggestions that would break the cycle of gang membership, which is often built into families?

Economic solutions that decrease the 51% unemployment rate among black youth is what's needed. Bernie Sanders wants new infrastructure programs that will help with that.

Kids get involved with gangs between 10 and 15 though.  That's the age where you lose kids.  Once those kids are old enough to work, they already have a rap sheet and a gun. 

[bedstuy]

What's "broken windows policing"?

Look it up on wikipedia.