People who blog about their cities have positive outlooks. We are boosters. We wear rose colored glasses. We show our cities as better than they are.
Well, that can't always be done. This small grove of trees on Hartford's Asylum Hill was
planted a year ago as a memorial to the too-many people in Hartford who have
been mowed down in senseless gun violence.
Well, it didn't work. This year is even worse. Two days ago the Mayor of Hartford asked the Governor of Connecticut for more state resources to staff a task force intended to intervene with the idiots thugs worthless pieces of trash (ahem) residents who have so far in 2015
accounted for 17 unsolved homicides.
Although overall crime has been dropping nationally and statewide, Hartford has seen a spike in killings. The 17 homicides cover about half a year, while the full-year total for 2014 was 19.
The number of homicides places Hartford as the highest among large cities in New England — ahead of Boston, Worcester, Providence, Bridgeport and others. As of one week ago, Boston had 12 homicides, Providence nine. Bridgeport has recorded eight homicides.
Worcester had its fourth homicide on June 25.
Hartford is way out in front, in first place. Shame on Hartford.
15 comments:
That is tragic, Jack, no amount of memorials will comfort those who mourn.
Are these homicides gang and/or drug related? It is indeed a sad commentary on contemporary life.
Very sad! Makes me wonder why this is happening there...or anywhere, for that matter.
It is disappointing to read such sad news about Hartford. My ancestors were amongst Hartford's early settlers and I'm sure their expectations for the future of this City did not include record breaking gun violence and crime. Local government priorities need to be revisited - something is not right here. Well done, Jack, for telling it as it is. Genuinely hope your City becomes safer.
Sad, sad, sad, no words...
I don't think I could say it any better than LOL.
This is heartbreaking to read!! And I can't help but ask WHY does this happen -- anywhere, but Hartford is one of the last places I would suspect -- from where I came from originally in Texas, it would still be sad, but not that surprising! Well done indeed, Jack, for telling it like it is and I, too, hope your city becomes safer!! Take care!
We see some homicides here, but far, far less in a given year.
Gun violence is ubiquitous throughout our country, which is a very sad commentary on our society. It's a very real social problem.
Hopefully this is just a spike and the rest of the year will be calm, Jack! I doubt that anything will ever be done about the gun situation.
Albuquerque is the same way crime is on the rise. Here unfortunately drugs and DWI are the big killers.
For sure, a race you don't want to win, let alone be in the 'race'. However, you first image is soothing.
Love the memorial. But very sad that it is needed.
Horrible with so many lost lives.
I know that many, many people believe that they must have and deserve to have guns but to me it just makes killing and dying that much easier. Some places, Arizona, for instance, have "open carry" laws that allow people to walk around with guns on their hips. Does a civilized society really need that? Really?
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