Fewer Libraries, More Crime

"This state always finds a way to come up with more money to incarcerate blacks and Latinos. The same diligence should be demonstrated in procuring funds to prevent the downsizing of Hartford's already minuscule number of support services."

For a city of it's size, the city of Hartford has one of the most well developed support services programs in the Nation! As a consequense we have one of the largest numbers of citizens who have what is sometimes called an 'entitlement mentality'. While most of our citizens work hard for what they get in life a growing number of our residents think they are entitled to everything in life and as a consequense take little or no responsibility for bettering their selves. My own parents were perhaps the most irresponsi ble parents anyone could ever have, but I was able to see what their lives were like and decided that I would be different. Fortunately I had a number of very responsible adults whose responsible behavior served as a guide for me. My personal determination and their example helped me to get break away from my traditonal social and economic setting. If I can do it, so can others, it takes a fare amount of personal determinatoin, it helps to respectable people to look up to an from whom one can find inspiration. Anyone who is determined to get ahead will find a way and the cost of a newspaper shouldn't be a problem if one would take the money they are willing to spend on dope or smoking and invest it in a paper.

Clueless wrote:

"This state always finds a way to come up with more money to incarcerate blacks and Latinos. The same diligence should be demonstrated in procuring funds to prevent the downsizing of Hartford's already minuscule number of support services."
For a city of it's size, the city of Hartford has one of the most well developed support services programs in the Nation! As a consequense we have one of the largest numbers of citizens who have what is sometimes called an 'entitlement mentality'. While most of our citizens work hard for what they get in life a growing number of our residents think they are entitled to everything in life and as a consequense take little or no responsibility for bettering their selves. My own parents were perhaps the most irresponsi ble parents anyone could ever have, but I was able to see what their lives were like and decided that I would be different. Fortunately I had a number of very responsible adults whose responsible behavior served as a guide for me. My personal determination and their example helped me to get break away from my traditonal social and economic setting. If I can do it, so can others, it takes a fare amount of personal determinatoin, it helps to respectable people to look up to an from whom one can find inspiration. Anyone who is determined to get ahead will find a way and the cost of a newspaper shouldn't be a problem if one would take the money they are willing to spend on dope or smoking and invest it in a paper.

you're right, determination is key. I grew up with probably the same circumstances. My mom didn't bother me about school nor pushed me to go to college becuase she has a seventh grade education while I'm in college. I remember seeing some of my former high school friends who were in the same college as me for ONE semester and after they failed one class, decided to quit. I'm still there even after I failed one course, knowing that it's another thousand dollars I have to fork up, but it's for my future, and I've learned alot.

Pa'lante mi gente, pa'lante

we have to get out of this entitlement nonsense and start having some respect for your own poeple as well as those surrounding you who mean no harm

I grew up in the Blue Hills neighborhood and for many summers this particular branch was our summer program. I have so many memories of story tellers, arts and crafts, etc. The Blue Hill section is a working/middle class neighborhood but having access to books and responsible adults really makes a major difference.

It is not about entitlement but losing important institutions in your community.

This neighborhood has lost Mark Twain School and the Blue Hill Branch in the last few months. We need more and not less.

Peace

Clueless wrote:

"This state always finds a way to come up with more money to incarcerate blacks and Latinos. The same diligence should be demonstrated in procuring funds to prevent the downsizing of Hartford's already minuscule number of support services."
For a city of it's size, the city of Hartford has one of the most well developed support services programs in the Nation! As a consequense we have one of the largest numbers of citizens who have what is sometimes called an 'entitlement mentality'. While most of our citizens work hard for what they get in life a growing number of our residents think they are entitled to everything in life and as a consequense take little or no responsibility for bettering their selves. My own parents were perhaps the most irresponsi ble parents anyone could ever have, but I was able to see what their lives were like and decided that I would be different. Fortunately I had a number of very responsible adults whose responsible behavior served as a guide for me. My personal determination and their example helped me to get break away from my traditonal social and economic setting. If I can do it, so can others, it takes a fare amount of personal determinatoin, it helps to respectable people to look up to an from whom one can find inspiration. Anyone who is determined to get ahead will find a way and the cost of a newspaper shouldn't be a problem if one would take the money they are willing to spend on dope or smoking and invest it in a paper.

You need to get out more. Meaning out of your moms basement.

Interesting...so the folks who are lecturing about "responsibility" think that it's okay that Hartford is closing its library branches? Because that's the context in which this discussion is occurring.

Funny thing about responsibility...it's always something that is recommended to people who have nothing else. If you're rich...hey, you don't have to take responsibility because you have money...If you're the head of a big corporation, why worry, you can always hire lawyers and politicians if you make a mistake.

But when you have nothing else, the one thing that people are sure to expect you to have is responsibility.

I guess because lecturing people about responsibility doesn't cost anything.

Revolted by the Right wrote:

Interesting...so the folks who are lecturing about "responsibility" think that it's okay that Hartford is closing its library branches? Because that's the context in which this discussion is occurring.
Funny thing about responsibility...it's always something that is recommended to people who have nothing else. If you're rich...hey, you don't have to take responsibility because you have money...If you're the head of a big corporation, why worry, you can always hire lawyers and politicians if you make a mistake.
But when you have nothing else, the one thing that people are sure to expect you to have is responsibility.
I guess because lecturing people about responsibility doesn't cost anything.

I'm a NHartford resident and I has seen the guy who wrotew this op-ed in working in our community. He's a great guy and committed. He is exactly right on this issue. I never saw the numbers put out that way. we always get messed over in N. Hartford. Like 2Pac said "they don't give a F--- about us."

It's clear. This country has seen better days. 100's of billions for war for the oil companies/haliburtan execs who can clear millions in profit; and they are closing neighborhood libraries because they are an excessive luxury for poor innercity youth.

Great letter and statement! Got to make sure that every time they want to cut human services, we remind them that they ALWAYS seem to have money to throw people into jail.

I'm surprised that something as strongly worded as this made it into the Courant. I thought this was an incredibly powerful statement.

Revolted by the Right wrote:

Interesting...so the folks who are lecturing about "responsibility" think that it's okay that Hartford is closing its library branches? Because that's the context in which this discussion is occurring.
Funny thing about responsibility...it's always something that is recommended to people who have nothing else. If you're rich...hey, you don't have to take responsibility because you have money...If you're the head of a big corporation, why worry, you can always hire lawyers and politicians if you make a mistake.
But when you have nothing else, the one thing that people are sure to expect you to have is responsibility.
I guess because lecturing people about responsibility doesn't cost anything.

Maybe if people took more responsibility for themselves they wouldn't have nothing

North Hartford CT wrote:

<quoted text>
I'm a NHartford resident and I has seen the guy who wrotew this op-ed in working in our community. He's a great guy and committed. He is exactly right on this issue. I never saw the numbers put out that way. we always get messed over in N. Hartford. Like 2Pac said "they don't give a F--- about us."

That's because you constantly demonstrate your don't give a F***** about YOURSELF!!!

Rosco wrote:

<quoted text>That's because you constantly demonstrate your don't give a F***** about YOURSELF!!!

This is because……we are losing a community library?

""This state always finds a way to come up with more money to incarcerate blacks and Latinos."

But will not increase funding for programs to help inner city children break the path to self destruction.

Years of isolation, inferior school systems, lack of community pride and the failure of the family creates generations of uncaring illerate young people.

The loss of a library, while important, will not cause a sudden increase in crime.

I am sure there ARE children in Hartford who will miss a chance to visit the library and these are the ones we should be trying to reach.

GrayPlayer wrote:

""This state always finds a way to come up with more money to incarcerate blacks and Latinos."
But will not increase funding for programs to help inner city children break the path to self destruction.
Years of isolation, inferior school systems, lack of community pride and the failure of the family creates generations of uncaring illerate young people.
The loss of a library, while important, will not cause a sudden increase in crime.
I am sure there ARE children in Hartford who will miss a chance to visit the library and these are the ones we should be trying to reach.

man, what the hell is wrong with you, every damn school has a library within the building, unless I'm mistaken, I always used it

No problem spending $7 1/2 million on new sidewalks and planters on Trumbull Street. Guess pretty sidewalks are more important than educated people.