The billboards have screamed the message at motorists and pedestrians in New Jersey’s largest city for more than a year: “HELP WANTED: Stop The Killings In Newark Now!“
For the first time in more than four decades, the killings in Newark have stopped — for the last month, at least — and the billboards are coming down.
Newark marked its 33rd day Friday without an official homicide, a startling fact for a city that has averaged about two killings a week over the last few years and saw homicides spike 50 percent from 2002 to 2006.
“I said when I saw some reduction, I would begin the process of taking them down,” said Newark Teachers Union president Joseph Del Grosso, whose organization paid for the signs.
No magic bullet. A lot of good policing going on everywhere in the city. For every kind of crime. Finally.
Congrats Newarkies for not killing each other!
I doubt good policing has anything to do with it. If this is the first time that its been a month then take it as a one off.
They should put up a sign in Baghdad !
@#2 I am not from Newark itself but close enough to know more details. New Mayor based his campaign on reducing the crime and community policing above all else. He does what he preaches (he himself arrives on the murder and serious crime scenes among first responders frequently, and not with the goal of show-off [it is rarely reported that he does that]).
It takes time to turn around from previous corrupt administrations. So, this is not an isolated glitch but the result of long and slow effort.
They should try this in Camden, NJ. Its far, far worse then Newark.
33 days?! I wouldn’t start bragging yet.
So your happy about the tradeoff of less crime in exchange for a police state?
There is something uncomfortable in getting praise for doing something that should be done anyway. But, having said that, I really hope Newark makes it all work.
Nice, now just gotta work on Paterson, Camden, and Trenton. All shit holes.
I’m glad I now live in Austin, Texas which is one of the safest cities in the country.
I remember not being able to walk 5 blocks without being asked to buy drugs or sex. I mean why else would a white dude be walking through East Paterson at night?
[Newark Freecycle] Taken: “Stop The Killing” Billboards. Pending pickup by Oakland, CA.
Thanks for all the replies