Time to Reach Out
No matter if you are a concerned citizen, community leader or head of a small group. Take any ideas you have to help improve your neighborhood and reach out with it. Attend community meetings, speak up and be heard. Most people have issues concerning their neighborhood and don’t realize just how many others have the same issues. Nothing will be done until each of us take the time and effort to reach out.
We are fortunate to live in an area that has a local community council for each police pct. (contact the community affairs officer at your local pct. for information on local meetings), as well as many local civic groups and block associations. Take advantage of what these groups have to offer and get involved. One voice may not get heard, but spoke in the right place the many followers will be heard. Also keep in mind that every action taken to improve our quality of living started out with one person speaking up. Be that one person. There is also something for everyone to do if they want to get involved. No matter if you’re a business owner that wants to offer your service or a handicapped person that can’t get out of the house much, the right community leader will be able to assist you in finding a way to donate some time and be a part of helping your community.
So, reach out, it really does make a difference.
Written by
A. Wallace

Miss communication at the West Virginia mines

Hearing of the survivors of the mining accident in W.Va. Tuesday night I felt a sigh of relief for their families. Upon awaking Wednesday morning I heard the news that there was only one survivor. Reflecting upon memories of Sept.11 I realized just how news from a far hits so close to home.

It made me recall one particular memory of an EMS worker. This worker arrived at the world trade buildings just as the first one fell. After experiencing medical issues was ordered to get checked out and then was told to go home. While home and trying to rest, his wife received a phone call notifying her that her husband was lost in the tragedy.

This problem of miss communication is not a new issue, but what is being done to deal with it. What about the families that is hurt by it? Who should be held responsible?

In every crisis situation the first rule is to set up a command center. From that command center every thing is controlled, including the release of information. The command center also has someone in charge to coordinate all functions of the crisis (including release of info). The coordinator should be held accountable for finding out just who leaked the false information and seeing that appropriate actions are taken on behalf of the families and the additional hardship they went through because of it.

Be it the mines in W.Va. or right here in the heart of NYC it is time the public stands up and demands answers! I am asking all readers to take the poll and/send your comments to localnews@worldbreak.com

Written by A. Wallace

Dateline does it again
Date line has done it again; Friday night they aired another episode of “To Catch a Predator”.
As much as I would have to commend them for their efforts, I would have to question their actions and miss information. If the NYPD did a set up like Dateline’s without obtaining a court order to do so, it would be entrapment. Yet Dateline not being a legal organization is permitted to continue with the entrapment procedures. I would also have to question their legal stand on promoting themselves on-line as minors to lure predators. Shouldn’t we leave police work to the police? What legal background do they have to conduct themselves in such a manner?
In contacting dateline I did not get into all these aspects. I simply approached them on the basis that they are showing one side of the coin. As much as there are sex offenders out there who will re-offend, there are those that wont. To tell the story and only show the one side is not doing justice to their viewers. In expressing this, I received a response rather quick. I was informed that on Friday nights show they would have an expert speaking of the other side. I watched the show and I am not sure just what other side they were trying to show, but it sure wasn’t what I contacted them about.
Their so-called expert needed to update his information. This expert gave some good information and point of views as well as some not that good. However he was wrong on one thing, it was stated that there is now where for someone with sexual deviant issues to get help, unlike an alcoholic who can go to AA or a drug addict who can go to a drug program. The truth is that there are places for people with improper (illegal) sexual thoughts to get help before their ends up being a victim. The problem is that society focuses on locking up those who commit sexual crimes, and spends no time focusing on helping those with thoughts of illegal sexual action prior to the crime. We see it on TV all the time, ads for gambling problems, drinking problems, drug problems, depression problems, the list goes on. There are even adds for those with problems performing, but where are the ads for people with improper (illegal) sexual thoughts? It’s time to make these places known and let those who need the help get it before they have a victim.
One of these places is located in Brooklyn, NY; it is called Mustard Seed. You can visit their web site at www.mustardseedforensic.com or call them at (718) 875-7411. They specialize in prevention counseling for sex offenders as will as those in fear of offending.

If you need help, please get it before you ruin your life as well as the life of someone else.

If you know of any other places to get help, please e-mail them to localnews@worldbreak.com I will be more then happy to share them with our readers.
Written by A. Wallace

Link to Dateline’s show last Friday http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/11152602/

Corruption within our system
(Part 2 of a 4-part article)

The second part of this article will focus on the on general areas of corruption within the Florida sheriff’s dept.
The third part will focus on a specific situation in the Tampa area (complete with interview), the forth (final) part will show how all this applies to us on a local level.

After continuing my research into corruption taking place within the Florida Sheriff’s dept. I spoke with many people from (and around) the Tampa area. In all I have been told of a Sheriff in the one area who’s son is one of the areas biggest drug users/sellers, found a major variation in responses between those involved in drugs and those not.

It seams that the particular club that is in question (Tampa Tobacco Company) that started this series brought some of the most interesting responses. The owner of the club has brought a few things to my attention (witch will be covered in part 3). The things range from illegal towing and harassment to trafficking of drugs. I have been able to verify a lot of the information through various resources and was a little shocked by my findings.

As for surrounding areas, it seams that when it comes to drugs, the Sheriff’s depts. are in control. The problem gets deeper. With my training in the area of community safety and organization of community watch programs, I know just how much community based programs can aid in the battle of drugs and crime. With this in mind, about two years ago, I was thinking of relocating to Florida to an area not that far from Tampa. At that time, I was put in contact with the local Sheriff’s Dept. and the Attorney General for the State of Florida. Reason for this is that the area I was looking to move to was attempting to start community watch programs. With my experience and the results of my work in this area, it would have been an asset to have me as an active part of setting this up for that area as well as surrounding areas. The Attorney General reviewed my training; references and seamed eager to have me assist in their efforts knowing I could get results. A local Sheriff’s Dept. received the same information on my and refused to allow my involvement. This was even after the Attorney General’s office found it to be helpful. This is the same sheriff’s dept. that later has arrested a person I know for drug use (when I know that person was not using drugs), refused to acknowledge a local teen having a problem with drugs, even after the same teen has displayed problems involving truancy, theft, trespassing, was found in a car with drug paraphernalia. It was later brought to my attention that the top sheriff from this same office is the one (mentioned above) whose son is heavily involved in drugs. Not that long ago the same office has started it’s first community watch program. I have been told that the training for this program is (in compression to the training I would have provided) is below standard. Is this so that neighborhoods can feel safe, yet not interfering with activities of the sheriff’s son? I can’t answer that, though it raises interesting questions.

Written By A.Wallace