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Braddock (PA) Mayor Gets Tattoo For Every Victim Of Violence
WPXI.com ^ | May 5, 2008

Posted on 05/07/2008 9:50:44 AM PDT by rightwingintelligentsia

PITTSBURGH -- The mayor of Braddock, John Fetterman, is on a mission to end violence in his town.

Fetterman has a unique way to remember every victim who’s died; the dates of their death are tattooed on his arms.

“On my right arm is a much more somber set. It's the souls we've lost in our community since I've been mayor through violent means," explained Fetterman.

“There are certainly saints and sinners on that list and we need to keep it as short as it already is," he said.

Fetterman is from York, Pa., and has lived all over. But Braddock is where he feels at home and he wants to make a difference.

“Every one of those instances has affected me deeply in a very personal way. In a community that is as relatively small as Braddock there is a good chance I’ll know either the victim or perhaps someone that committed the crime," Fetterman said.

(Excerpt) Read more at wpxi.com ...


TOPICS: Miscellaneous
KEYWORDS: braddock; pittsburgh; violence

1 posted on 05/07/2008 9:50:44 AM PDT by rightwingintelligentsia
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To: rightwingintelligentsia

I think Adrian Fenty (DC Mayor) should do this.

By the end of the year he would probably look like a gangbanger (if he still had any skin left to ink).


2 posted on 05/07/2008 9:53:11 AM PDT by dr.zaeus
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To: rightwingintelligentsia

This is the dumbest crime fighting idea I’ve ever encountered.

I wonder what the police chief is doing? Eating bullets and knives?


3 posted on 05/07/2008 9:54:16 AM PDT by RexBeach
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To: rightwingintelligentsia
If he were more than an exhibitionist and masochist maybe he would do something about crime .
4 posted on 05/07/2008 9:54:40 AM PDT by kbennkc (For those who have fought for it , freedom has a flavor the protected will never know)
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To: rightwingintelligentsia
Photo of the 6'8", 300 lb. hizzoner...


5 posted on 05/07/2008 9:57:08 AM PDT by Joe 6-pack (Que me amat, amet et canem meum)
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To: Joe 6-pack
The man's an interesting guy, Braddock is the epitomy of the steel decline.. once a boombing middle class steel town on the outskirts of pittsburgh town, it fell to beyond bust, interestingly even though the Mill that forged it is still operational The only one left in the Pittsburgh area. Doesn't employ nearly the work force it did back in the day, but its still there.

This guys committed to Braddock, and if they can get their violence and crime under control they may have a shot a turning the place around. A LOT of history happened in Braddock and it could become a destination point and tourist and history buffs. Home of a lot of colonial history as well as industrial age history. First Carnegie Library ever built... etc etc.

6 posted on 05/07/2008 10:03:20 AM PDT by HamiltonJay
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To: Joe 6-pack
The man's an interesting guy, Braddock is the epitomy of the steel decline.. once a boombing middle class steel town on the outskirts of pittsburgh town, it fell to beyond bust, interestingly even though the Mill that forged it is still operational The only one left in the Pittsburgh area. Doesn't employ nearly the work force it did back in the day, but its still there.

This guys committed to Braddock, and if they can get their violence and crime under control they may have a shot a turning the place around. A LOT of history happened in Braddock and it could become a destination point and tourist and history buffs. Home of a lot of colonial history as well as industrial age history. First Carnegie Library ever built... etc etc.

Guys not originally from the place, but seems very dedicated to it, I moved to the area in 86, and Braddock was my first exposure, it was clearly well in decline then, I hope he can turn the place around.. it truly is depressing place these days.

7 posted on 05/07/2008 10:04:27 AM PDT by HamiltonJay
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To: HamiltonJay

I’m familiar with it...I grew up just outside the ‘burgh. Actually, I’d like to know a little more about the mayor...I see he’s originally from York, and I could swear I saw him (or his double) leading up a band while I was at Gettysburg College.


8 posted on 05/07/2008 10:07:00 AM PDT by Joe 6-pack (Que me amat, amet et canem meum)
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To: Joe 6-pack
On Q did an expose on Braddock, and its mayor not too long ago... I'd go visit the WQED web site and see if you can find it, its worth watching. The guys interesting to say the least, and definately dedicated to Braddock... he's got the Borough's Zip Code tattooed on his one forearm.

He's been wroking on turning the abandoned industrial spaces into studios and things for artists and craftsman etc. If they can get the crime and violence under control Braddock may have a shot.

Checkout www.15104.cc for some interesting information etc.

Another big fight the borough is in right now is to keep the Mon Fayette Expressway from slicing the borough in half and causing even more issues/segregation etc.

9 posted on 05/07/2008 10:16:26 AM PDT by HamiltonJay
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To: rightwingintelligentsia

New Orleans Mayor Nagin does that too. Most people don’t know that he’s actually a white guy.


10 posted on 05/07/2008 10:24:37 AM PDT by Bon mots
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To: rightwingintelligentsia

I used to drive through Braddock every day on my way to and from work at the Westinghouse factory in nearby East Pittsburgh.

The only building on the main street that didn’t have bars in the windows and doors was the bakery. Always wondered about that.

Once had a car break down in the middle of town. This was before cell phones, and I was scared witless. Folks were real nice and helped me any way they could - that was a life-lesson that stuck with me.

Last time I visited the area, it looked like Homestead, a nearby town similar to Braddock, was dragging itself out of the muck a bit. Braddock didn’t give that impression. Hope this guy can make a difference.


11 posted on 05/07/2008 10:35:31 AM PDT by Some Fat Guy in L.A. (Nope. Not gonna do it.)
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To: rightwingintelligentsia

What a retarded moron.


12 posted on 05/07/2008 10:41:29 AM PDT by Niteranger68 (If you find yourself in a fair fight, your tactics suck.)
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To: rightwingintelligentsia

If things haven’t changed since I was practicing criminal law in the area not so very long ago, he’s going to need some very long arms.


13 posted on 05/07/2008 11:16:53 AM PDT by mak5
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To: mak5

Or extremely tiny tattoos.


14 posted on 05/07/2008 11:18:41 AM PDT by Dante3
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To: HamiltonJay

I drove out through Braddock to get to the Waterfront on several occasions. It always struck me as sad, how far the town had fallen.

I also had a bad time trying to watch for stoplights, they were all mounted on street corners and almost invisible.


15 posted on 05/07/2008 11:24:44 AM PDT by JenB
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To: HamiltonJay
If they can get the crime and violence under control Braddock may have a shot.

you could say the same thing about detroit.
16 posted on 05/07/2008 12:15:19 PM PDT by absolootezer0 ( Detroit: we're so bad, even our mayor is a criminal)
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To: absolootezer0

Detroit doesn’t have any chance of getting enough economic base to recover in my lifetime. Braddock is a much smaller proposition.


17 posted on 05/07/2008 1:15:46 PM PDT by HamiltonJay
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