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Birmingham {Alabama} tries blocking streets to reduce crime. Is it working?
AL.com ^ | Aug. 20, 2024 | Alaina Bookman

Posted on 08/22/2024 6:48:33 AM PDT by Salman

...

Project Safe Streets is a City of Birmingham four-month pilot program that aims to make the neighborhood and city safer by controlling and limiting access points to the neighborhood. Officials hope to deter speeding, shootings, theft, prostitution and violent crime. City officials also are identifying abandoned properties and illegal dumping sites for cleanup and revitalization. The city has put up barriers at 18 entry points and alleys within the neighborhood.

...

Marquis Tucker has lived in Eastlake for 23 years and was one of the artists who painted the barriers with black and red abstract shapes, green peace lilies and children. He said the barriers represent a future for his 2-year-old son.

“Painting the children onto these barriers not only reminds us of the losses we’ve had to violent crimes but shows that there’s a future that is still living in these communities that deserve to see tomorrow,” Tucker said.

...

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


TOPICS: Crime/Corruption; Government; News/Current Events; US: Alabama
KEYWORDS:

1 posted on 08/22/2024 6:48:33 AM PDT by Salman
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To: Salman

What’s next - Check Point Charlies on the only 2 entrances?


2 posted on 08/22/2024 6:50:47 AM PDT by Abathar (Proudly posting without reading the article carefully since 2004)
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To: Salman

There’s always water hoses......just sayin’.


3 posted on 08/22/2024 6:51:54 AM PDT by dfwgator (Endut! Hoch Hech!)
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To: Salman

I always considered the presense of “urban art” to be a warning to strangers to stay out of the area due to crime. Certain street names also serve that purpose.


4 posted on 08/22/2024 6:54:46 AM PDT by Jeff Chandler (THE ISSUE IS NEVER THE ISSUE. THE REVOLUTION IS THE ISSUE.)
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To: dfwgator

Exactly.


5 posted on 08/22/2024 7:06:45 AM PDT by No name given ( Anonymous is who you’ll know me as)
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To: Salman

That’s just depressing.


6 posted on 08/22/2024 7:22:07 AM PDT by leaning conservative (snow coming, school cancelled, yayyyyyyyyy!!!!!!)
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To: Salman

BTTT


7 posted on 08/22/2024 7:25:02 AM PDT by nopardons
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To: Salman

Looks like a good spot to sit and smoke crack


8 posted on 08/22/2024 7:28:26 AM PDT by bigbob
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To: Salman

So, the residents have to pass through check in/check out barriers? I don’t think I like that idea. Sounds like a Soviet or East German or 1984 solution.


9 posted on 08/22/2024 7:29:26 AM PDT by libertylover (Our biggest problem, by far, is that almost all of big media is AGENDA-DRIVEN, not-truth driven.)
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To: libertylover

My condo has a guard gate with an attendant 24x7. Visitors have to show ID and also be expected to get in. Exceptions for FedEx etc.


10 posted on 08/22/2024 7:36:50 AM PDT by armourenthusiast (I capitalize everything related to South)
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To: Salman
It may cut down on drive-by shootings specifically, but probably not much effect on other crime.

OTOH, making troubled 'hoods into gated communities, at least as motor traffic goes, might work.
It's worth an experiment.
If anyone starts screaming "Racism", then we know it would have worked.

11 posted on 08/22/2024 8:24:26 AM PDT by BitWielder1 (I'd rather have Unequal Wealth than Equal Poverty.)
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To: Abathar

It is worth a try. Nothing is perfect but at least the locals recognize the problem and it is something they OWN as a solution.


12 posted on 08/22/2024 8:35:52 AM PDT by PeterPrinciple (Thinking Caps are no longer being issued but there must be a warehouse full of them somewhere.)
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To: Salman

Speed bumps work real well too.


13 posted on 08/22/2024 8:36:16 AM PDT by kaktuskid
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To: Salman

If people in white neighborhoods did that to block out those committing most the crimes, it would be considered discrimination. If blacks do it, it’s considered okay.


14 posted on 08/22/2024 8:52:10 AM PDT by boycott
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To: Abathar
I'd suggest something like this as the next step... but I doubt Birmingham's town elders will go for it:

Nick Shirley - Inside CECOT The Mega Prison Full of Deadly Gangsters | El Salvador

15 posted on 08/22/2024 9:01:24 AM PDT by Boogieman
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To: libertylover

In my culture, we call it a gated community.


16 posted on 08/22/2024 9:08:18 AM PDT by Romulus
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To: armourenthusiast

Yes, but probably the guard gate was there when you chose to live in a gated community for extra security.

Of course, the residents of this area of Birmingham could move, in theory at least but in reality, that may be a lot easier said than done.


17 posted on 08/22/2024 9:08:38 AM PDT by libertylover (Our biggest problem, by far, is that almost all of big media is AGENDA-DRIVEN, not-truth driven.)
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To: Salman

Criminals fleeing back to their crib want direct access. Neighborhoods with access choke points are a discouragement.


18 posted on 08/22/2024 9:11:08 AM PDT by Romulus
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To: PeterPrinciple

As long as she thinks the problem is “violent crime” and not violent criminals she is doomed.


19 posted on 08/22/2024 9:11:19 AM PDT by cgbg ("Our democracy" = Their Kleptocracy)
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