Violence and our Youth -- 3 October 2002

>> Michael: JUST AHEAD ON
"NEED TO KNOW," THE SHOOTING
OF A 13-YEAR-OLD GIRL LAST
MONTH HAS ANGERED A MAYOR AND
AWAKENED A COMMUNITY.
BUT AFTER THE EMOTIONS
SUBSIDE, HOW DOES ROCHESTER
DEAL WITH VIOLENCE AGAINST OUR
YOUTH?
WE EXPLORE THAT TONIGHT.
WE ALSO HAVE OUR WEEKLY
BUSINESS SECTION WITH ELLEN
ROSEN OF THE "DEMOCRAT AND
CHRONICLE."
IT'S ALL JUST AHEAD ON "NEED
TO KNOW."
>> TO BRING PEACE.
>> Children: TO BRING PEACE.
>> TO THIS COMMUNITY.
>> Children: TO THIS
COMMUNITY.
>> LET OUR CHILDREN.
>> Children: LET OUR CHILDREN.
>> BE SAFE.
>> Children: BE SAFE.
>> LET OUR CHILDREN.
>> Children: LET OUR CHILDREN.
>> FEEL SAFE.
>> Children: FEEL SAFE.
>> THIS IS "NEED TO KNOW," THE
ROCHESTER AREA'S ONLY IN-DEPTH
NEWS PROGRAM.
"NEED TO KNOW" IS A PRODUCTION
OF WXXI NEWS AND PUBLIC
AFFAIRS COVERING ISSUES,
POLITICS, EDUCATION AND
CURRENT EVENTS.
>> "NEED TO KNOW" IS MADE
POSSIBLE BY DORSCHEL LEXUS AND
THROUGH THE SUPPORT OF VIEWERS
LIKE YOU.
(Music)
>> Michael: THANK YOU FOR
JOINING US.
I'M MICHAEL CAPUTO.
"NEED TO KNOW" IS GOING TO
TAKE SOME TIME OVER THE NEXT
COUPLE OF MONTHS TO LOOK AT
THE CHALLENGES FACING THE
YOUNG PEOPLE OF ROCHESTER.
WE CALL THIS SERIES "CHILDREN
ON THE EDGE," AND IN THE
COMING WEEKS WE'LL LOOK AT HOW
POVERTY AFFECTS THE WAY
CHILDREN LEARN AND THE NUMBER
OF KIDS LIVING ON THE STREETS.
BUT TONIGHT WE FOCUS ON
VIOLENCE AND YOUTH.
YOU HEARD THE NAMES: TYSHAUN,
STEPHNE, LATESHA, STORIES OF
YOUNG CHILDREN WHOSE LIVES
WERE TAKEN BY RANDOM GUNFIRE
OR AT THE HANDS OF ANOTHER
YOUNG PERSON.
SOON AFTER THE SHOOTING OF
13-YEAR-OLD LATESHA PARSON,
MAYOR WILLIAM JOHNSON CALLED
FOR A MEETING OF COMMUNITY
ACTIVISTS WHICH WE HELD THIS
SATURDAY TO ADDRESS THIS
SEEMINGLY ENDLESS PROBLEM.
THERE ARE OTHER INITIATIVES
BEING DONE TO DEAL WITH
VIOLENCE AGAINST OUR YOUTH.
COUNTY EXECUTIVE JACK DOYLE
CONTINUES TO PUSH A JUVENILE
JUSTICE CENTER THAT HE
BELIEVES WILL KEEP PETTY
JUVENILE OFFENDERS FROM
BECOMING VIOLENT.
OVER A YEAR AGO, FAMILY COURT
EXPANDED ITS DRUG COURT
INITIATIVE TO INCLUDE THE
TEENAGE POPULATION.
BUT IS IT ENOUGH?
"NEED TO KNOW'S" MATT CUMMINGS
FIRST GIVES US A GLIMPSE OF
THE ISSUE THROUGH THE EYES OF
THOSE AFFECTED, OUR CHILDREN.
>> (Chanting:) ONE, TWO,
THREE, FOUR, FIVE, HELP THE
CHILDREN STAY ALIVE.
SIX, SEVEN, EIGHT, NINE, TEN,
BRING THE VIOLENCE TO AN END.
ONE, TWO, THREE, FOUR, FIVE,
HELP OUR CHILDREN STAY ALIVE.
>> Matt: OUT OF THE MOUTHS OF
BABES COMES THE OUTRAGE OF A
COMMUNITY.
>> (Chanting:) ONE, TWO,
THREE, FOUR, FIVE, HELP OUR
CHILDREN STAY ALIVE.
SIX, SEVEN, EIGHT, NINE, TINE,
BRING THE VIOLENCE TO AN END.
>> Matt: IT'S A FEELING HELD
NOT ONLY BY ROCHESTER'S
YOUNGEST BUT ALSO ITS LEADERS.
>> WE ARE NOT GOING TO SIT BY
AND WATCH THIS COMMUNITY BE
DESTROYED BY -- AT THE HANDS
OF A FEW PEOPLE.
SO TODAY I AM PISSED OFF;
QUOTE ME ON THAT.
I AM PISSED OFF BEYOND WORDS.
>> Matt: MAYOR JOHNSON'S
FRUSTRATION COMES WITH GOOD
CAUSE.
OVER THE PAST FEW YEARS,
ROCHESTER HAS MOURNED THE
DEATHS OF SEVERAL OF ITS
CHILDREN DUE TO VIOLENCE,
INCLUDING THE SHOOTING DEATH
OF LATESHA PARSON LAST MONTH
OUTSIDE OF HER SCHOOL.
>> I AM ANGRY AND I AM SAYING
THAT THE MEN OF THIS
COMMUNITY, THE PREACHERS,
REVEREND GRAVES, HE'S GOT TO
START SHOWING THAT HE IS A MAN
AND HE'S GOT TO STAND UP AND
HE'S GOT TO HOLD THESE
HOODLUMS INTO ACCOUNT THE SAME
WAY THAT HE WANTS TO HOLD
CHIEF BESSY TO A HIGH
STANDARD.
>> Matt: YOUNG VICTIMS OF
VIOLENCE COME IN MANY
DIFFERENT FORMS.
TAKIA ALEXANDER HAS
EXPERIENCED VIOLENCE CLOSE TO
HOME
TEN YEARS AGO, WHEN SHE WAS
JUST 7 YEARS OLD, HER
16-YEAR-OLD UNCLE, RALIK
HENTON, WAS CAUGHT IN THE
CROSSFIRE OF RIVAL GANGS ON
FROST STREET.
>> HE WAS COMING. SOMEBODY
WAS FIGHTING.
HE WALKED INTO HIS GATE INTO
HIS HOUSE, AND HE GOT CAUGHT
IN THE CROSSFIRE.
HE WAS SHOT FOUR TIMES.
HE GOT SHOT IN HIS NECK, HIS
ARM AND HIS LEG.
THEY CALLED MY MOTHER AND MY
MOTHER DIDN'T GET -- MY MOTHER
GOT THE MESSAGE THROUGH A
FRIEND AND SHE THOUGHT, LIKE,
THEY GOT THE MESSAGE WRONG,
LIKE IT'S NOT POSSIBLE.
AND WHEN SHE FOUND OUT, I
DIDN'T KNOW WHAT WAS GOING ON
AT THE TIME.
SHE WAS ON THE PHONE AND ALL I
JUST SAW HER DROP THE PHONE
AND START CRYING.
>> Matt: RALIK HENTON'S DEATH
SHATTERED TAKIA'S CHILD-LIKE
VIEW OF THE WORLD.
>> IT MADE ME SCARED,
ESPECIALLY TO BE AROUND THAT
NEIGHBORHOOD, EVEN IN THE
HOUSE, WHEN WE CAME BACK,
BECAUSE WE WERE LIVING IN
VIRGINIA.
AFTER THAT HAPPENED WE MOVED
UP HERE, AND I DIDN'T EVEN
WANT TO BE IN THE HOUSE, AND
THEN OVER TIME IT HAS GOTTEN
BETTER, BUT EVEN AROUND THAT
NEIGHBORHOOD, I WOULD NEVER
WANT TO LIVE THERE EVER AGAIN.
IT'S SOMETHING THAT HAPPENED.
YOU KNOW, MY GRANDPARENTS,
THEY MOVED, BECAUSE IT WASN'T
ONLY THE MEMORY BUT THERE WAS
THE FEAR, FEAR SOMETHING ELSE
COULD HAPPEN.
>> Matt: TAKIA'S FEAR BEGAN
TEN YEARS AGO.
TODAY IT STILL LINGERS.
>> IT'S NOT SOMETHING THAT I
THINK I THINK ABOUT EVERY
SINGLE DAY, BUT IT IS -- LIKE
I SAID, WHEN SOMETHING
HAPPENS, YOU KIND OF THINK
ABOUT IT, AND SOMETIMES IT'S
-- ESPECIALLY IF I'M LIKE
RIDING DOWN THE FOREST OR IF
I'M AROUND, YOU MAYBE KIND OF
THINK ABOUT IT.
IT'S SOMETHING THAT I TRY TO
DEAL WITH BECAUSE I DON'T WANT
TO ALWAYS HAVE TO TURN MY BACK
ALL THE TIME.
BUT AT THE SAME TIME YOU JUST
HAVE TO BE AWARE OF YOUR
SURROUNDINGS.
>> Matt: HOW DOES VIOLENCE
VICTIMIZE OUR CHILDREN?
IN THE WAKE OF THE RECENT
SHOOTING DEATHS OF SEVERAL
ROCHESTER AREA YOUTH, IT'S A
QUESTION OUR COMMUNITY'S
LEADERSHIP HAS BEEN FORCED TO
CONSIDER.
WHILE EMOTIONS RUN DEEP,
ANSWERS ARE DIFFICULT TO FIND.
FORMER SCHOOL NUMBER 17
PRINCIPAL RALPH SPEZIO SAYS
SOLUTIONS TO THE VIOLENCE MUST
START WITH A COMMUNITY EFFORT
TO ELIMINATE THE POVERTY
CRISIS GRIPPING SECTIONS OF
THE CITY.
WHATEVER THE SOLUTION, SPEZIO
SAYS THEY MUST HAPPEN QUICKLY
TO GIVE KIDS A CHANCE TO
SUCCEED.
>> WE NEED TO HELP KIDS COME
TO SCHOOL WITHOUT THESE
BURDENS THAT THEY HAVE ON THEM
SO THAT THEY CAN REALLY
CONCENTRATE ON LEARNING.
IT REALLY WEARS CHILDREN DOWN
EMOTIONALLY.
I MEAN, I'VE HAD CHILDREN THAT
SLEPT UNDER THE BED BECAUSE
THEY WERE AFRAID OF GUNSHOTS
GOING THROUGH THE WALL.
AND THEY'VE COME TO SCHOOL
READY TO LEARN.
>> Matt: TAKIA SAYS SHE HAS
HEARD MAYOR JOHNSON'S CALL FOR
COMMUNITY EFFORTS TO END THE
VIOLENCE, BUT SHE IS
FRUSTRATED WITH THE LACK OF
ACTION UP TO THIS POINT.
>> I FEEL LIKE ROCHESTER'S
LIKE A BARREL OF CRABS.
LIKE EVERY TIME SOMEONE'S
TRYING TO DO SOMETHING, WE TRY
TO PULL THEM BACK.
I NEVER EXPECTED TO LOSE MY
UNCLE AT 16 YEARS OLD, BUT I
DID, AND THAT WAS A WAKE-UP
CALL FOR MY FAMILY.
BUT I DON'T WANT IT TO JUST BE
A WAKE-UP CALL FOR MY FAMILY.
I DON'T WANT EVERYONE TO HAVE
TO MOVE SOMEWHERE IN ORDER TO
SAY WE NEED TO DO SOMETHING.
THIS IS OUR COMMUNITY.
WE'RE ALL FAMILY.
SO WHEN ONE PERSON IS GONE,
THEN THAT'S WHEN WE NEED TO DO
SOMETHING ABOUT IT.
>> Matt: TEN YEARS AGO, TAKIA
HAD HER VIEW OF THE WORLD
CHANGED FOREVER.
TODAY SHE REMAINS SKEPTICAL
AND WONDERS IF HER FEAR WILL
EVER GO AWAY.
>> I DON'T EVER THINK THAT
THERE WILL BE LIKE A WORLD
PEACE.
I DON'T EVER BELIEVE IN THAT.
BUT I DO THINK THAT THINGS
COULD BE BETTER, BUT I'M NOT
-- I CAN'T QUITE PUT MY FINGER
ON WHY.
I DON'T THINK THAT I COULD
EVER FEEL SAFE BECAUSE THAT
WAS KIND OF A WAKE-UP CALL TO
KNOW THAT, YOU KNOW, THINGS
LIKE THAT DON'T JUST HAPPEN TO
BAD PEOPLE.
SO I FEEL, OVER TIME, I MEAN I
FEEL SAFER, BUT I DON'T FEEL
COMPLETELY SAFE AND I DON'T
THINK THAT I EVER WILL.
(Music)
>> Michael: THANKS, MATT.
HERE IN STUDIO TO TALK ABOUT
COMBATTING YOUTH VIOLENCE ARE
THREE EXPERTS.
KEENAN ALLEN, DIRECTOR OF
MAYOR JOHN'S PATHWAYS TO PEACE
YOUTH VIOLENCE PROGRAM AND AN
ORGANIZER OF SATURDAY'S
SUMMIT; JIM MULLEY, COUNTY
EXECUTIVE DOYLE'S SPECIAL
COUNCIL AND POINT PERSON FOR
THE JUVENILE JUSTICE CENTER
PROJECT; AND ANTHONY SCIOLINO,
A MONROE COUNTY FAMILY COURT
JUDGE WHO HEADS UP THE TEEN
DRUG COURT INITIATIVE.
THANK YOU ALL FOR COMING.
I'D LIKE TO START, IF I COULD,
WITH YOU, Mr. ALLEN.
A QUESTION THAT'S BASED ON
SOME OF THE RESEARCH THAT MATT
CUMMINGS DID.
HE FOUND AN ARTICLE TEN YEARS
AGO, AN ARTICLE AFTER TAKIA'S
UNCLE WAS SHOT AND KILLED, AND
IN IT A COMMUNITY ACTIVIST
SAID "NEVER AGAIN."
NEVER AGAIN.
YET WE STILL SEE THIS
HAPPENING.
WE STILL SEE IT OCCURRING.
WHY ARE WE UNABLE TO STOP THE
VIOLENCE?
>> WELL, I THINK IT'S A WHOLE
LOT OF DIFFERENT REASONS.
ONE OF THE THINGS IS,
UNFORTUNATELY, AFTER SOMETHING
LIKE THAT HAPPENS, PEOPLE
BECOME VERY UPSET AND EXPRESS
THEIR FRUSTRATION, BUT THEN IF
THERE'S ANY KIND OF CALM, WE
KIND OF FORGET WHAT HAPPENS,
AND ANY STRONG EFFORTS OR
MOVEMENTS GO BY THE WAYSIDE.
I THINK THAT WHEN WE START
THINGS, WE NEED TO SUSTAIN
THEM.
WE SEE IMPROVEMENT DOESN'T
MEAN THAT WE SLACK OFF THE
THINGS THAT WE DO.
>> Michael: HOW DO YOU DO IT?
HOW DO YOU SUSTAIN THAT
MOVEMENT?
IT'S NOT EASY.
PEOPLE HAVE THEIR DAILY LIVES
TO LIVE.
>> WELL, IT'S NOT EASY BUT I
FEEL THAT, IF SOMETHING IS
IMPORTANT ENOUGH TO YOU, AS
OUR COMMUNITY AND OUR CHILDREN
ARE, WE NEED TO MAKE THE
SACRIFICE.
YOU KNOW, THINGS HAVE CHANGED
HERE IN THIS COUNTRY.
OUR LIFESTYLE HAS CHANGED, AND
WE HAVE TO STEP OUT OF OUR
COMFORT ZONE.
MYSELF, THE MAYOR, MY STAFF,
WE'RE VERY PASSIONATE ABOUT
THIS.
ONE OF THE FRUSTRATIONS IS
THAT, YOU KNOW, OTHERS AREN'T
ALWAYS AS PASSIONATE AND, YOU
KNOW, YOU HAVE TO GO AT THIS
WITH YOUR HEART.
YOU HAVE TO REALLY WANT
CHANGE.
YOU HAVE TO REALLY CARE AND
YOU HAVE TO REALLY PUT SOME OF
YOUR THINGS ASIDE AND STEP
OUTSIDE OF YOUR COMFORT ZONE
AND DO SOMETHING FOR THE
GREATER GOOD FOR THE BIGGER
PICTURE.
AND I DON'T THINK ANYTHING IS
MORE VALUABLE THAN OUR
CHILDREN.
IT'S RIDICULOUS THAT WE HAVE
PEOPLE WHO JUST DO NOT CARE
ABOUT INNOCENT LIVES AND WILL
HAVE, YOU KNOW -- SHOOT, NOT
CARING WHO'S AROUND.
WE HAVE TO SAY ENOUGH IS
ENOUGH.
THE CODE OF SILENCE HAS TO BE
BROKEN.
PEOPLE KNOW WHO'S DOING THESE
THINGS.
THEY NEED TO SPEAK UP.
IT'S AS SIMPLE AS THAT.
>> Michael: THERE'S FEAR.
I MEAN THERE'S FEAR.
LET ME THROW THAT QUESTION OUT
TO THE REST OF MY GUESTS, TOO,
THE SAME QUESTION I JUST
ASKED: HOW DO YOU GET BY THAT
FEAR, TO BREAK THAT CODE OF
SILENCE?
HOW CAN YOU DO IT?
>> THERE'S NO EASY SOLUTION.
I MEAN, YOU SAY TEN YEARS AGO
WE'VE HAD THIS PROBLEM, BUT WE
GO BACK TO THE SIXTIES WITH
THE KERNER REPORT.
THAT WAS A SPECIALLY
COMMISSIONED REPORT THAT
LOOKED AT VIOLENCE IN THE
COMMUNITY, AND NOW WE'RE
TALKING, YOU KNOW, 40 YEARS
LATER, AND THE SITUATION
HASN'T GOTTEN BETTER.
IT'S GOTTEN WORSE IF ANYTHING.
I THINK THAT THE MAYOR IS
RIGHT ON WITH WHAT'S CALLED
FOR IS A COMMUNITYWIDE
RESPONSE TO DEAL WITH THE
ISSUES THAT ARE FEEDING THE
CYCLE OF VIOLENCE, THE
ATMOSPHERE OF VIOLENCE WHERE
PEOPLE THINK IT'S OKAY TO
SHOOT PEOPLE OR TO, YOU KNOW,
WHEN YOU'RE FRUSTRATED, YOU'RE
ANGRY, YOU PICK UP A ROCK AND
THROW IT OR YOU PICK UP A GUN
AND SHOOT IT OR A KNIFE AND
STAB SOMEBODY.
CULTURE, VIOLENCE IS A LEARNED
ACTIVITY, AND WHAT WE NEED TO
DO IS MAKE SURE THAT WHAT OUR
KIDS ARE LEARNING IS NOT
VIOLENCE.
IT SEEMS TO ME THAT ALL OF US
IN THIS COMMUNITY, YOU KNOW
THE AFRICAN PROVERB; IT'S
BECOME A CLICHE BUT IT'S
ABSOLUTELY RIGHT ON: IT TAKES
A VILLAGE TO RAISE A CHILD.
AND IT'S ALL OUR
RESPONSIBILITIES.
>> Michael: JUDGE, YOU SHOWED
I THINK VARYING DEGREES OF
VICTIMIZATION.
THE OBVIOUS AND THE WORST KIND
IS THE CHILD WHO IS KILLED.
THERE'S ALSO THE CHILD LIKE
TAKIA WHO HAS TO DEAL WITH A
FAMILY MEMBER BEING KILLED.
BUT THERE'S ALSO THE CHILD
WHO'S AFFECTED BY VIOLENCE WHO
THEN EMULATES THAT VIOLENCE,
AND THERE ARE A NUMBER OF
FACTORS I GUESS THAT GO INTO
PLAY HERE.
THERE'S GLORIFICATION OF
VIOLENCE IN THE MEDIA, PERHAPS
THE BREAKDOWN OF THE FAMILY.
WHAT IS THE ONE THING THAT WE
COULD ATTACK NOW, THAT WE
COULD CURE NOW?
WHAT FACTOR COULD WE GO AT
RIGHT NOW AND CHANGE?
>> THERE'S ANY NUMBER OF
THINGS THAT WE CAN DO, BUT IF
YOU HAD TO LOOK AT ONE THING,
YOU NEED TO UNDERSTAND I'VE
BEEN IN A FAMILY COURT JUDGE
-- I'M IN MY SIXTEENTH YEAR.
THE ONE THING THAT FRUSTRATES
ME PROBABLY MORE THAN ANYTHING
ELSE I DEAL WITH DAY IN AND
DAY OUT IN MY COURT, IS THE
LACK OF GOOD, PROPER,
WHOLESOME PARENTING FOR THE
KIDS WHO FIND THEMSELVES IN MY
COURT.
IT IS A TREMENDOUS
RESPONSIBILITY TO BE A PARENT
OF A CHILD, AND UNHAPPILY TOO
MANY PEOPLE IN OUR COMMUNITY
ARE NOT TAKING THAT
RESPONSIBILITY TO HEART AND
ARE NOT DOING A GOOD JOB OF
PARENTING.
NOW THAT BEING THE STATE OF
CIRCUMSTANCES, WHAT DO WE AS A
COMMUNITY DO TO HELP THE
PARENT BE A BETTER PARENT?
AND THIS IS WHY, FOLKS, IT'S
NOT ENOUGH TO WRITE THE CHECK
TO THE UNITED WAY OR IT'S NOT
ENOUGH TO, YOU KNOW, TO PUT
MONEY IN THE COLLECTION
ENVELOPE AT CHURCH ON SUNDAY.
YOU HAVE TO BECOME PROACTIVE.
FOR EXAMPLE, IN OUR TEEN DRUG
COURT, OUR JUVENILE DRUG
TREATMENT COURT, WE HAVE
PARTNERED WITH COMPIER, A
LOCAL AGENCY, TO PROVIDE
YOUNGSTERS WITH MENTORS.
SO MANY OF OUR KIDS IN FAMILY
COURT LACK GOOD, POSITIVE
ADULT ROLE MODELS.
SO OUR RESPONSE TO THAT IS TO
TRY TO BRING IN A GOOD,
POSITIVE ADULT ROLE MODEL.
SO IF PEOPLE LISTENING TO THIS
PROGRAM SAY WHAT CAN THEY DO?
THAT'S ONE THING THEY CAN DO.
THEY CAN VOLUNTEER TO MENTOR
A YOUNGSTER, VOLUNTEER TO
TUTOR A YOUNGSTER.
THERE ARE ANY NUMBER OF THINGS
THAT NEED TO BE DONE AND WE
NEED TO DO THEM ALL.
>> Michael: JIM, I WANTED TO
-- PLEASE GO AHEAD.
>> I THINK THE RESPONSE FROM
THE COMMUNITY HAS BEEN
POSITIVE.
THERE'S WAS A GREAT INCREASE
IN VIOLENCE, ESPECIALLY YOUTH
VIOLENCE BETWEEN '85 AND '95,
AND I THINK OUR COMMUNITY HAS
ACTED APPROPRIATELY SINCE THAT
TIME.
WE GET TOGETHER AND
COLLABORATE.
WE HAVE A JUVENILE JUSTICE
COUNCIL THAT THE COUNTY HAS.
WE GET TOGETHER AND WORK AND
PLAN NEW EFFORTS.
AND THE EFFORTS THAT WE'VE
PLANNED TOGETHER WITH THE CITY
I THINK HAVE BEEN SUCCESSFUL.
WE HAVE INTENSIVE SUPERVISION
PROGRAMS AND PROBATION THAT
DIDN'T EXIST BEFORE.
WE HAVE A CEASEFIRE PROGRAM
THAT WE DO WITH YOUNG
OFFENDERS.
WE HAVE A NIGHT WATCH PROGRAM
TO HELP ENFORCE CURFEWS.
A LOT OF EFFORTS THAT HAVE
BEEN DEVISED OVER THE LAST
FIVE TO SIX YEARS.
I THINK SOMETHING KEENAN
TOUCHED ON IS VERY IMPORTANT,
AND THAT IS WE HAVE TO SUSTAIN
THESE EFFORTS.
>> Michael: WE'VE TALKED AND
YOU'VE TALKED FOR NOW GOING ON
FIVE YEARS ON AN IDEA,
JUVENILE JUSTICE CENTER.
WE'RE GOING TO KEEP THE KIDS
IN THIS COMMUNITY.
WE WON'T SEND THEM FAR AWAY.
WE'LL KEEP THEM RIGHT HERE.
WE'LL BE ABLE TO KEEP THEM
CLOSE TO THE TREATMENT
CENTERS, TO THE FAMILIES.
IT HAS NOT HAPPENED.
WHY HASN'T IT HAPPENED?
>> WELL, IT'S A FUNDAMENTAL
CHANGE IN THE WAY WE DO
BUSINESS, AND I DON'T THINK
YOU CAN EXPECT FUNDAMENTAL
CHANGE OVERNIGHT.
THIS IS A SYSTEM THAT'S TAKEN
YEARS TO CREATE.
WE CERTAINLY SEE SOME PROBLEMS
WITH IT.
WE HAVE -- WE KNOW THAT THE
KIDS WHO ARE GOING THROUGH THE
JUVENILE JUSTICE SYSTEM AND
THE FAMILY COURT SYSTEM,
THEY'RE COMING OUT AND THEY'RE
COMMITTING NEW CRIMES.
THEY'RE GRADUATING TO THE
ADULT SYSTEM.
WE'VE SPENT 75 TO $85,000 A
YEAR TO SEND YOUNG PEOPLE
AWAY; THEY ARE REMOVED FROM
OUR COMMUNITY, AND THE
RECIDIVISM RATE IS 75%.
THREE OUT OF FOUR ARE
COMMITTING NEW CRIMES.
WE KNOW THIS IS A GROUP WE
NEED TO FOCUS ON.
WE NEED TO HAVE MEANINGFUL
INTERVENTIONS FOR THESE YOUNG
PEOPLE.
THE JUVENILE JUSTICE CENTER
WAS PROPOSED BY THE COUNTY
EXECUTIVE DOYLE IN 1998 IN HIS
STATE OF THE COUNTY ADDRESS,
AND WE'VE BEEN WORKING AND I
THINK MAKING A LOT OF PROGRESS
TOWARD IT.
IN THIS PAST JUNE, IN THE
SESSION, WE HAD THE ASSEMBLY
AND THE SENATE PASS VERSIONS
OF THE BILL.
UNFORTUNATELY IT WASN'T THE
SAME BILL SO WE COULDN'T SEND
IT TO THE GOVERNOR, BUT BOTH
HAVE PASSED VERSIONS OF THE
BILL.
WE KNOW WE HAVE SUPPORT IN THE
LEGISLATURE, AND NEXT SESSION
WE'RE LOOKING TO GET THIS
DONE.
>> Michael: LET ME GO BACK TO
THE ISSUE OF PARENTING, AND
YOU WERE KIND ENOUGH TO SHARE
SOME STUDYING THAT YOU DID FOR
A DISSERTATION, SOME --
>> ...INSTITUTE, WORKING ON A
MASTERS OF THEOLOGY DEGREE,
YES.
>> Michael: AND WHAT YOU SAID
WAS -- AND I WANT TO TAKE A
LITTLE QUOTE OUT OF IT.
"SOCIETY REQUIRES A LICENSE TO
DRIVE AN AUTOMOBILE.
PERHAPS IT ALSO SHOULD
REQUIRE, FOR CERTAIN OF ITS
MEMBERS, A LICENSE TO
PROCREATE."
SHOULD YOUNG ADULTS IDENTIFIED
AS A RISK OF BEING POOR
PARENTS BE MADE TO ATTEND
PARENTING CLASSES?
>> YES, YES.
I THINK PARENTING IS NOT AN
INHERITED SKILL.
IT'S A SKILL THAT YOU LEARN,
YOU NEED TO LEARN.
TOO MANY PEOPLE ARE PARENTING
CHILDREN WHO DON'T HAVE A CLUE
ABOUT HOW TO RAISE CHILDREN.
THEY'D HAVE PROBLEMS RAISING
PUPPIES, QUITE FRANKLY.
AND, UNFORTUNATELY, IF YOU
GROW UP IN A DYSFUNCTIONAL
FAMILY WHERE NEGLECT AND ABUSE
IS ENDEMIC, THEN THAT'S YOUR
STYLE OF PARENTING.
WHEN YOU GET OLD ENOUGH TO
BECOME A PARENT, YOU'RE GOING
TO PARENT THE WAY YOU WERE
PARENTED.
AND UNLESS WE BREAK THAT CYCLE
OF DYSFUNCTIONAL PARENTING,
WE'RE GOING TO CONTINUE TO GET
THE SAME RESULT.
IF WE KEEP DOING THE SAME
THING THE SAME WAY, WE'RE
GOING TO GET THE SAME RESULTS.
WE NEED TO TRY TO BREAK THAT
CYCLE AND HELP PEOPLE BECOME
BETTER PARENTS.
>> Michael: HOW FAR DO YOU
THINK WE COULD GO IN TERMS OF
THAT REQUIREMENT?
WOULD WE MAKE IT KIND OF A
HEALTH COURSE?
WOULD WE TRY AND FIND THOSE
TROUBLED CHILDREN AND TRY AND
GIVE THEM THE COURSES THEY
NEED?
HOW WOULD YOU -- HOW COULD WE
IMPLEMENT SOMETHING LIKE THIS?
>> YOU KNOW, WHEN I WAS GOING
TO FRANKLIN HIGH SCHOOL IN THE
SIXTIES, WE HAD A HYGIENE
COURSE THAT TALKED ABOUT THE
MECHANICS OF PROCREATION.
I THINK PEOPLE GOT THE
MECHANICS DOWN PRETTY GOOD,
BUT WE NEED TO KNOW HOW TO
DEAL WITH THE KIDS ONCE
THEY'RE HERE.
AND TO DO THAT YOU NEED TO BE
TRAINED; YOU NEED TO BE
SKILLED.
KIDS NEED TO GROW IN AN
ATMOSPHERE OF LOVE.
THEY NEED TO UNDERSTAND LOVE.
THEY NEED TO LEARN LOVE.
THEY NEED TO LIVE IN AN
ATMOSPHERE OF LOVE.
AND WHEN THEY DON'T HAVE THAT
AND, YOU KNOW, WHEN THEY HAVE
THE OPPOSITE, WHEN THEY LIVE
IN AN ATMOSPHERE OF VIOLENCE,
AN ATMOSPHERE OF IGNORANCE, AN
ATMOSPHERE OF POOR PARENTING,
THEN IT'S INEVITABLE THAT
THAT'S GOING TO TAKE ITS TOLL
ON THESE KIDS AS THEY GET
OLDER.
>> Michael: Mr. ALLEN, I WANT
TO ASK YOU, TAKIA SAYS WE'RE
NOT -- THE GOVERNMENT LEADERS
AREN'T TALKING TO THE RIGHT
PEOPLE.
THEY'RE NOT TALKING TO THE
KIDS WHO ARE AFFECTED.
THEY'RE NOT GETTING DOWN TO
THE STREET LEVEL.
DO YOU AGREE?
>> I DON'T AGREE WITH THAT
BECAUSE THE PROGRAM THAT I RUN
DOES JUST THAT.
AS A MATTER OF FACT, PATHWAYS
TO PEACE WAS FOUNDED AS A
RESPONSE TO YOUTH VIOLENCE,
AND IT WAS THE MAYOR'S
CONTRIBUTION TO A YOUTH
VIOLENCE INITIATIVE WHERE HE
BROUGHT TO THE TABLE SEVERAL
ENTITIES, THE COUNTY, THE
COURTS, THE FEDERAL
GOVERNMENT, LOCAL LAW
ENFORCEMENT, COMMUNITY
AGENCIES TO WORK TOGETHER ON
THIS PROBLEM.
AND I HAVE A TEAM OF FIVE
OUTREACH WORKERS WHOSE JOB IT
IS TO BUILD RELATIONSHIPS ON
THE STREET WITH OUR MOST
VIOLENT YOUNG PEOPLE, ANYWHERE
FROM AGES 13 TO 25, GANG
MEMBERS, TO GET THEM TO A
POINT TO WHERE THEY CAN DO
SOMETHING DIFFERENT, TO MAKE
SOME CHANGES, CONNECT THEM TO
RESOURCES, TO HELP TURN THEIR
LIVES AROUND.
SO THEY'RE OUT THERE ON THE
FRONT LINE IN PRETTY MUCH
SOMETIMES VERY DANGEROUS
SITUATIONS AND CIRCUMSTANCES
DOING THIS, BASICALLY WITH THE
SKILLS THAT THEY HAVE AND THE
PASSION THAT THEY HAVE.
I THINK THAT, AS JIM SAID, THE
GOVERNMENT'S RESPONSE HAS
DEFINITELY BEEN THERE.
I DON'T SEE THIS AS A
GOVERNMENT THING.
I DON'T THINK THAT PEOPLE
SHOULD CONTINUE TO LOOK AT
WHAT IS GOVERNMENT AND WHAT
ARE THE POLICE DOING?
I THINK WHEN PEOPLE SAY
SOMEBODY NEEDS TO DO
SOMETHING, THEY NEED TO LOOK
IN THE MIRROR.
I THINK THAT IT'S EVERYONE'S
RESPONSIBILITY TO MAINTAIN A
QUALITY OF LIFE AND A SAFETY
FOR THEMSELVES AND FOR OUR
CHILDREN, AND TO ALLOW THINGS
THAT YOU KNOW ARE WRONG TO
HAPPEN AROUND YOU, TO ME, IS
NEGLIGENT UPON THAT INDIVIDUAL
THAT DOES THAT.
>> Michael: LET ME THROW THIS
OUT TO -- GOVERNMENT IS IN A
PLACE WHERE THEY HAVE TO CUT
BACK.
I READ WHERE 3 TO 6 p.m. IS
WHEN CHILDREN WILL COMMIT ACTS
OF -- COMMIT CRIMES, RIGHT
AFTER SCHOOL.
AFTER-SCHOOL PROGRAMS ARE
BEING CUT RIGHT NOW, AND IT'S
UNDERSTANDABLE.
BUDGETS ARE TIGHT.
BUT WHAT DO YOU DO?
DO YOU BITE THE BULLET?
JIM MULLEY, DO YOU BITE THE
BULLET?
DOES GOVERNMENT BITE THE
BULLET AND PAY FOR THESE
PROGRAMS ANYWAY, OR DO THE
TAXPAYERS SAY, HEY, WE'VE HAD
ENOUGH?
>> WE HAVE AN IMPORTANT ROLE
IN PUBLIC SAFETY AND WE HAVE
TO FULFILL THAT ROLE, AND I
THINK WE AREN'T DOING THAT.
YOU TALK ABOUT YOUNGSTERS IN
THAT THREE-TO-SIX TIME FRAME.
WE JUST STARTED THIS YEAR AN
EVENING REPORTING CENTER FOR
YOUNG KIDS WHO ARE INTO THE
SYSTEM WHO -- JUDGES DON'T
LIKE THE IDEA OF THEM JUST
RUNNING AROUND AFTER SCHOOL.
SO WE SAID LET'S HAVE AN
EVENING REPORTING CENTER WHERE
THEY'RE SUPERVISED BY
PROBATION OFFICERS TO WATCH
THESE KIDS.
WE HAVE TO DO A GOOD JOB WITH
THESE YOUNG PEOPLE WHO ARE IN
THE SYSTEM.
RIGHT NOW WE HAVE OVER 500
YOUNG PEOPLE, JUVENILES, ON
PROBATION, AND WE HAVE TO DO A
GOOD JOB WITH THOSE YOUNG
PEOPLE.
WE HAVE TO TURN THEM AROUND.
BECAUSE IF WE DON'T, IF WE
JUST IGNORE THAT POPULATION,
THERE'S NO QUESTION THEY'RE
GOING TO CONTINUE TO COMMIT
CRIMES AND THEY'RE GOING TO
GRADUATE INTO THE ADULT
SYSTEM.
SO I THINK WE HAVE AN
IMPORTANT ROLE AND WE ARE
FULFILLING THAT ROLE.
>> Michael: WHAT'S YOUR
THOUGHTS ON THAT, Mr. ALLEN,
OF JUDGE SCIOLINO?
>> WE SPEND LOTS OF MONEY IN
THIS COUNTRY DEALING WITH THE
AFTEREFFECTS OF CRIME.
IT SEEMS TO ME WE'RE NOT
SPENDING ENOUGH MONEY DEALING
WITH PREVENTATIVELY WITH NOT
GETTING THE STATE OF AFFAIRS
OR THE SITUATION THAT BREEDS
THE VIOLENCE.
I SAW A STUDY.
IN THE LAST 25 YEARS, $800
BILLION HAS BEEN SPENT ON, YOU
KNOW, THE SYSTEM, THE JUSTICE
SYSTEM, TO ARREST THEM, TO TRY
THEM, TO PUT THEM IN JAIL.
$800 MILLION -- $800 BILLION,
EXCUSE ME, WITH A "B," AND YET
THE CRIME RATE CONTINUES TO GO
UP, AND KIDS ARE MORE VIOLENT
AT A YOUNGER AGE, DOING MORE
HEINOUS SORTS OF BEHAVIORS.
WE NEED TO DEAL
PREVENTATIVELY.
WHAT IS CAUSING, WHAT IS
POWERING, FUELING THE
ATMOSPHERE THAT MAKES VIOLENCE
AN ACCEPTABLE ALTERNATIVE
CHOICE?
AND IT SEEMS TO ME THIS IS NOT
THE TIME TO BE CUTTING BACK ON
PREVENTATIVE PROGRAMS.
WE NEED TO BE DOING MORE, NOT
LESS.
>> Michael: WE HAVE A FEW
SECONDS LEFT.
I REALLY WOULD LIKE FOR YOU,
Mr. ALLEN, TO LET EVERYONE
KNOW AGAIN ABOUT THE EVENT ON
THIS SATURDAY.
>> ABSOLUTELY.
WE'RE HAVING AN
AFRICAN-AMERICAN MALE
IN-GATHERING.
THIS CAME ABOUT FROM SOME
MEETINGS THAT THE MAYOR HAS
HAD WITH HANIF ABDUL WAHID AND
Dr. RICHARD WILLIAMS AT
DIFFERENT TIMES, AND THEY WERE
EXPRESSING THEIR CONCERN ABOUT
WHAT'S GOING ON IN THE
COMMUNITY, AND SO HE CALLED
TOGETHER MEMBERS OF HIS STAFF,
MYSELF AND RODRIC COX-COOPER
TO TALK ABOUT WHAT WE CAN DO.
AFTER A PRESENTATION FROM
Dr. WILLIAMS, WE CAME OUT WITH
THIS IN-GATHERING.
BASICALLY WHAT WE'RE SAYING IS
THIS: IT'S BLACK CHILDREN
BEING KILLED BY OTHER BLACK
CHILDREN, AND WHEN WE'RE
LOOKING AT THE HOMICIDE, WHICH
WE LOOK AT ALL THE TIME, IT'S
MOSTLY AFRICAN-AMERICAN MALES
WHO ARE BEING KILLED AND WHO
ARE THE SUSPECTS IN THESE
HOMICIDES.
SO WHAT WE'RE SAYING, NOT EVEN
-- I DON'T BELIEVE THE MAYOR
IS COMING AT THIS AS A MAYOR
BUT AS A MAN, IS SAYING THAT
WE HAVE, AS BLACK MEN, HAVE
DROPPED THE BALL IN OUR
RESPONSIBILITY TO NURTURE OUR
CHILDREN AND TAKE CARE OF OUR
COMMUNITY, AND SO HE'S CALLING
US TO COME TOGETHER TO TAKE
ACTION IN DIFFERENT WAYS USING
WHAT WE HAVE AT HAND AND ALSO
TO TAKE PERSONAL
RESPONSIBILITY FOR TAKING CARE
OF OUR COMMUNITY.
>> Michael: THAT WILL BE AT
FRANKLIN?
>> THAT WILL BE AT FRANKLIN ON
THIS SATURDAY.
REGISTRATION STARTS AT 8.
THE PROGRAM RUNS FROM 9 TO 12.
WE'RE CALLING EVERYONE OUT,
ALL BLACK MEN WHO CARE NEED TO
COME OUT.
>> Michael: OUR TIME HAS RUN
OUT.
I WANT TO THANK MY GUESTS FOR
COMING.
FOR MORE INFORMATION ON THIS
TOPIC, VISIT OUR WEB SITE AT
www.wxxi.org/ntk.
WHILE YOU'RE THERE, YOU CAN
TAKE PART IN OUR WEEKLY
INTERNET POLL, AND FOR THE
LATEST ON POLITICS AND
GOVERNMENT, INCLUDING COLUMNS
FROM WXXI NEWS REPORTERS, IT'S
nycitizens.org.

NOW IT'S TIME FOR THIS WEEK'S
EDITION OF "THE BUSINESS
SECTION" WITH THE "THE DEMOCRAT AND CHRONICLE."

(Music)

BACK IN STUDIO WITH US IS
ELLEN ROSEN, EDITOR OF THE
BUSINESS SECTION FOR THE
"DEMOCRAT AND CHRONICLE."
ELLEN, GARY WINNICK WAS IN
WASHINGTON.
GARY WINNICK, THE GLOBAL
CROSSING CHAIRMAN WHO SAID $25
MILLION I THINK OF HIS OWN
MONEY HE WOULD GIVE IN ORDER
TO MAKE WHOLE THOSE EMPLOYEES
WHO WERE HURT BY THE FALLOUT
WITH GLOBAL CROSSING.
>> WELL, HE WON'T MAKE THEM
WHOLE.
IT WILL GO FAR FROM MAKING
THEM WHOLE.
AS A MATTER OF FACT, THE
LAWYERS REPRESENTING SOME OF
THE PEOPLE THAT HAVE BROUGHT
THE CLASS ACTION SUIT SAID
THAT, IF YOU DO THE MATH ON
THAT, THE $25 MILLION ALLOWS
Mr. WINNICK TO KEEP ABOUT 95%
OF WHAT HE CASHED OUT IN
GLOBAL STOCK AND ONLY WILL PAY
UP MAYBE 5% OF THE MONEY THAT
THESE PEOPLE LOST, THESE
WORKERS LOST IN THEIR 401(k).
THE INTERESTING THING IS
THERE'S A REPORT OUT TODAY
THAT THIS WHOLE THING ABOUT
HIS CONTRIBUTING, WHICH IS
VERY CONTROVERSIAL; A LOT OF
OTHER C.E.O.s AND CHAIRMEN ARE
REALLY NERVOUS IF HE'S SETTING
A PRECEDENT OR WHATEVER.
THIS HAS BEEN DISCUSSED
EARLIER, AND HIS LAWYERS HAD
SORT OF VETOED IT SAYING IT
MIGHT HAVE BEEN KIND OF A
TANTAMOUNT ADMISSION OF GUILT
AND THEY REALLY WEREN'T SURE
THEY WANTED TO GO DOWN THAT
ROAD.
THEY WEREN'T PREPARED TO DO
IT, AND HE SURPRISED THEM BY
DOING THIS IN FRONT OF
CONGRESS.
ACCORDING TO WINNICK, WHAT
MOTIVATED HIM WAS THE
TESTIMONY OF LYNETTE PUMPER
WHO'S FROM HENRIETTA, WHO
WORKED HERE FOR FRONTIER
TELEPHONE COMPANY.
>> Michael: REPRESENTATIVE
SLAUGHTER BROUGHT HER HERE.
>> YES, REPRESENTATIVE
SLAUGHTER BROUGHT HER TO
TESTIFY.
SEEING THIS WOMAN SAY: I'M A
SINGLE MOM.
I LOST $86,000 BECAUSE OF YOU.
I BELIEVED WHAT YOU'VE SAID
THAT THIS COMPANY WAS GOING TO
GROW AND I'M WIPED OUT.
IT WAS THE FIRST TIME, I
GUESS, THAT HE HAD PUT A NAME
-- THE FACE WITH A PERSON, A
REAL PERSON WITH THIS
SITUATION.
AND HE SURPRISED HIS OWN
ATTORNEYS BY COMING UP WITH
THAT OFFER.
>> Michael: AND IT SURPRISED,
I THINK, THE FOLKS FROM -- IN
WASHINGTON ON CAPITOL HILL AS
WELL.
>> RIGHT.
>> Michael: ARE THEY SWAYED BY
THIS, DO YOU THINK?
>> WELL, I'M NOT SURE THEY ARE
BECAUSE, AGAIN, IT'S A VERY --
WELL, $25 MILLION TO ANY ONE
PERSON IS A LOT OF MONEY.
WHEN YOU DIVIDE IT BY THE
NUMBER OF PEOPLE THAT ARE OWED
MONEY OR LOST MONEY, RATHER,
THROUGH ALL OF THIS, IT'S
REALLY GOING TO BE A SMALL
FRACTION OF WHAT THEY LOST, SO
IT'S KIND OF LIKE A BAND-AID
ON A REAL BIG GASH.
>> Michael: STRONG MEMORIAL
HOSPITAL, U of R, LOOKED LIKE
THEY WERE BREATHING DOWN THE
BARREL OF A STRIKE WITH LOCAL
1199.
WHERE IS THAT NOW?
>> WELL, THEY SETTLED VERY
EARLY THIS MORNING.
AFTER ALL-NIGHT NEGOTIATIONS.
THEY SETTLED WITH S.C.I.U.,
WHICH IS THEIR SUPPORT
SERVICES UNION, THE PEOPLE
THAT DO MAINTENANCE AND A LOT
OF OTHER THINGS WITHIN THE
HOSPITAL.
THEY DID SETTLE THE CONTRACT
TODAY.
SO THEY HAVE AVERTED THAT
STRIKE.
THE OTHER THING IS THAT THE
SAME UNION, THE FOLKS THAT ARE
ON THE RIVER CAMP, THEIR
CONTRACT'S UP WEDNESDAY; SO
I'M NOT SURE IF IT'S DECIDED
HOW THAT'S GOING TO WORK OUT.
>> Michael: THERE'S NO
PARTICULARS ON THIS AS OF YET.
WHAT COULD IT HAVE MEANT FOR
THE REST OF THE STAFF?
I'M ASSUMING THE REST OF THE
STAFF WOULD HAVE HAD TO HAVE
PICKED UP ALL THAT WORK HAD
THESE PEOPLE GONE.
>> WELL, SURE.
NOT ONLY THAT, BUT PATIENT
CARE AND THE THINGS THAT MAKE
YOUR HOSPITAL STAY
COMFORTABLE, GETTING YOUR
MEALS, GETTING YOUR ROOM
CLEANED, ALL THESE OTHER
THINGS, THAT WOULD HAVE GONE
BY.
>> Michael: JUST BRIEFLY, JUST
GIVE US A LITTLE FLAVOR OF
WHAT WE'RE SEEING ON SUNDAY IN
THE BUSINESS SECTION.
>> THIS SUNDAY, WE HAVE A
STORY ON THE -- XEROX IS ABOUT
TO LAUNCH ITS LARGEST AND MOST
EXPENSIVE PROJECT EVER, iGen3,
ITS NEW DIGITAL COLOR COPIER.
IT'S THIS ENORMOUS 6,500-POUND
8-FOOT-TALL UNIT XEROX IS
REALLY BANKING ITS FUTURE ON.
WE'RE GOING TO TELL YOU A
STORY OF THREE PEOPLE THAT ARE
BEHIND IT.