Author: Moskos

Broken Windows Works

Researchers, working with police, identified 34 crime hot spots. In half of them, authorities set to work – clearing trash from the sidewalks, fixing street lights, and sending loiterers scurrying. Abandoned buildings were secured, businesses forced to meet code, and more arrests made for misdemeanors. Mental health services and homeless aid referrals expanded. In the…
Read more

Was that all a dream? Or Baltimore?

My wife, a friend, and I were on the 10:05 train to Baltimore this morning. Twelve hours and one Bull & Oyster Roast later, we’re back in New York City. It’s a shame we couldn’t stay longer, but a good time was had by all. On the menu: About 2 1/2 dozen delicious Maryland Oysters.…
Read more

A story of 6 immigrants

I hate anti-immigrant people. Really. And I don’t hate easily. No, we’re not full. Just think of all the depopulated cities in this country. Those are the places that need people: Baltimore, St. Louis, Detroit, Camden, South Dakota. The list goes on and on. The very least we could bring these places back up sustainable…
Read more

One man. No vote.

Prison-based gerrymandering.

Drug free ain’t gonna be

The New York Daily News has a story about police raids in the Queensbridge Homes. 59 people arrested in a “lengthy undercover probe” that “brought down an extensive drug-dealing operation. Interesting, I thought. And not just because I live nearby and often ride my bike past The Bridge. No, it rang a bell. Ah, yes,…
Read more

Dump Kellogg’s

Ethan “Rabble-Rouser” Nadelman has a clever idea. A “Call Kellogg’s Campaign” that lets the corporation know that their dumping Phelps is good reason for us to dump Kellogg might just make the point that more and more Americans are sick and tired of this particular spectacle. Just say No to Kellogg’s. Call them at 800-962-1413…
Read more

Same old same old

After a Howard County police raid on his house three weeks ago, Mike Hasenei says he has a sprained wrist, a dead dog, a bullet hole in his bed and a 12-year-old daughter who is scared every time she hears a knock on the door. No one was arrested in the raid.

Turkey leg killing

I mentioned the turkey leg killing story to my classes today. Many of the NYPD officers in my class had heard the story! How? I don’t know. It really is like a police urban myth. None claimed it as a New York City story. But none had any idea where it was from.

Phelps and weed

Read The Agitator’s letter that Phelps should say. Brilliant.

Bong Hits for Phelps

Too bad it’s illegal. The News of the World has the scoop: A picture of Gold Medal swimmer Michael Phelps (gasp!), smoking marijuana (gasp!) from a bong (double gasp!) So what? Most people (at least young Americans) have smoked marijuana. Many from a bong. You can smoke marijuana and live a perfectly functional, even gold-medal…
Read more