La redes (social media) is poppin’ right now with scenes of street takeovers, an exciting chill, drift and burn-out scene. It has erupted once again with coverage from local Ct news. News coverage are taking more of a political role. Most argue that people putting their own lives at risk, does not meet the satisfactory of others. The media has portrayed it all in a politically spun theme. The article Street takeovers damage roads, cause chaos in two Conn. communities written by the editors of Eye Witness News 3 summarizes how street takeovers were done in two different towns the same day, and how damaging these “street takeovers” are to public property. A similar article published by CT Insider speaks on how certain policies restrict police officers from pursuing “Criminal” elements. Windsor Police Chief Donald Melanson claims, “Elements of the police accountability bill have hampered law enforcement efforts to address the issue, including pursuit restrictions”. Connecticut Public act no. 19-90 gives the Police Officer Standard and Training Council (POSTC), along with other government agencies of Ct, the job of writing up the rules regarding the permission for when an officer can pursuit a vehicle.
While the policy does stop the cops from chasing people for minor infractions, property crimes and non violent misdemeanors and felonies, (See Section 4 part A-2) it does not stop cops from chasing people who have committed violent crimes. This is a proper way of stopping a chase frenzy on behalf of law enforcement, increasing the numbers of fatal results. Keeping the police from not doing the same thing as these young adults also ensures that less people are hurt during police interactions. The fact that politicians like State Rep. Gary Turco are already introducing bills to form a task force of authorities to address these issues proves that the end game is mostly always to help the public see cops as a solution. Hence the only reason for the media to spin this situation politically. Adding police to the problem can only add to the negative side of all this.
Is it truly impossible to come up with solutions that can proactively increase positive result? When politicians add more police to the mix not only does this bump up the odds for more abuse of power within community interactions, but also hurts the young population with records against them specifically young people of color. This significantly affects how these young individuals can integrate as “proper tax paying citizens”. While Side Shows may be adding to the amount of money it takes to repaint the lines of a particular street, adding police will hurt the amount of people who can become responsible citizens in the future. In retrospect it would have more of an affect on how that same public money arrives.
How do I know that this is coming? Never mind my experiences with police tactics as a young Boricua man but the media is already vilifying these young people. The Side Shows are being described with words like terrorizing, menacing and chaotic. One news coverage made them seems as if anti military because of the spot where they did their Side Show.
In this same coverage by Channel 3 they speak about the second location in Bristol, CT. The youth happen to gather in a location where there is monument for veterans. Quickly the article uses the sentiment of a veteran feelings of disrespect (as he should be feeling), on behalf of the youth burning rubber, drifting and enjoying themselves. Do I think these kids decided to show up at the monument with the intention to disrespect it? Nooo! Did the youth pick this location because they deemed it spacious enough and even because the monument gave them a cool backdrop for their social media post? Yes! By adding the sentiment of the veteran (who by the way won’t analyze the action of the youth as he would analyze the actions of his own children) media were successful in vilifying the young adults as people who terrorize memorial monuments. As if the intention was to disrespect every veteran purposely.
Community members, participants of Side Shows, politicians and police officers have to come together and find a solution to how these youth are displaying their curiosity, motivation and interest of cars. The use of parking lots at night when all businesses are closed can be use responsibly for most of these Side Shows. Small business owners should be in the conversation as well. Maybe out of these talks the youth can acquire venues where they can organize peacefully. I have been to various late night shows where organizers have spoken to business owners and have organized Side Shows. The more we stick an elbow to the youth the more rebellious they are going to become.
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