The perception of the City of Newark is justifiably ambivalent. The former Mayor, Sharpe James, was recently found guilty of public corruption. The Chief of Police has been accused of frequenting an illegal after hour establishment. The crime rate is still rising. Yet, Newark has a new arena, "The Rock." If anyone was to attend an event at the "Rock" you would think that you were visiting another city. The "Rock" was the staging ground for the MMA and the infamous Kimbo Slice. Can the likes of more Kimbo's assure the City of Newark that its residents will be safe?The police presence is abundant and visitors are assured of their personal safety. However, just a few minutes ride outside of that comfort zone lies the true reality for most native Newark's. Drugs, gangs, and homicides are a daily occurrence for those who choose to make Newark their home. How can we have two different perceptions of one city? Why doesn't the same effort to secure the safety of the visitors effect the common folk? Is this a case of the haves and the have nots? Should the loyal taxpayers be afforded the same crime protection comparable to those who traverse the city for entertainment purposes? Not to mention the similar increased protection for those who visit the NJPAC. Am I missing something here? Kimbo can you help them? 
This blog was created solely for my students to generate intellectual dialogue with their classmates. Reach one and teach one. Peace.
Sunday, June 1, 2008
Newark: What a difference an arena makes.
The perception of the City of Newark is justifiably ambivalent. The former Mayor, Sharpe James, was recently found guilty of public corruption. The Chief of Police has been accused of frequenting an illegal after hour establishment. The crime rate is still rising. Yet, Newark has a new arena, "The Rock." If anyone was to attend an event at the "Rock" you would think that you were visiting another city. The "Rock" was the staging ground for the MMA and the infamous Kimbo Slice. Can the likes of more Kimbo's assure the City of Newark that its residents will be safe?The police presence is abundant and visitors are assured of their personal safety. However, just a few minutes ride outside of that comfort zone lies the true reality for most native Newark's. Drugs, gangs, and homicides are a daily occurrence for those who choose to make Newark their home. How can we have two different perceptions of one city? Why doesn't the same effort to secure the safety of the visitors effect the common folk? Is this a case of the haves and the have nots? Should the loyal taxpayers be afforded the same crime protection comparable to those who traverse the city for entertainment purposes? Not to mention the similar increased protection for those who visit the NJPAC. Am I missing something here? Kimbo can you help them? 
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11 comments:
Entertainment ceneters would always be more secured than the native community. However, when it comes to drugs,gangs,and homicides, police officers arent any different, they too are apart off the corruption. When illict acts happen, there are cops who turn the other cheek. C.O. 0424
NOW THAT THE ARENA IS IN NEWARK THE CITY OF NEWARK ESPEICALLY THE DOWN TOWN AREA IS LOADED WITH POLICE OFFICERS. IS THIS ALL IT TOOK TO PUT MORE POLICE OFFICER ON THE STREETS OF NWK?
Well I agree with the fact that you would have more security in an entertainment arena, for the fact that its more people going there and in a crimal view its more victims there. However I don't agree in the fact that in the outskirts of the arena deeper in newark the normal citizens are not provided with police officer who patrol their area in a normal basics and often as if they would be by an arena or sumthing like that. Safely and Service should be provided evenly to both the normal citizen and to outcoming citizens
1969
Well, don't believe everything that is written in the newspaper. Do I think the numbers are not real in respect to crime decline in NWK? Absolutely.
Sure on the outside of that comfort zone of DOWNTOWN NWK drugs, gangs, assaults, homicides, etc... continues. Business as usual. However, there are officers assigned to their sectors outside of the Arena- ROCK responding to calls and providing services to the residents.
But those officers around downtown are not corrupted. They are their with specific function as ordered by their superiors and many are on overtime.
ES 1810
I have to laugh because come on do you think they really care about the minorites living in newark? This just proves it they want us to kill each other. What they don't want is all these folks bringing money to them to die or be caught in any crimes that otherwise would occur. They protect their money thats it they don't care about us and its been proven time after time....
S.S.8161
I think they are trying to make Newark's reputation better. The people who live there already know what it's like but outsiders only know what they hear. If they come and see something positive they will have something positive to say but only the people who live there know the real deal and they have to suffer because image seems to be more important than duty.
SG 4591
Loyal taxpayers should be afforded the same crime protection .Let 's say officials fail to take that urgent step , you will see loyal citizens turn to crime for self protection, i am confident.
LJ 6631
They don't really care about the minorities Even though that, the minorities are considered as tax payers also.J.E, 9722.
Anyone can see the difference among some communities, Specially when citizens dial 911.If you are living in Irvington and other person lives at Maplewood, the one who lives at Maplewood have more chances to see cops in his way quickly.J.E9722
Did someone just compare Irvington to Maplewood?? What's next, comparing Mantoloking to Camden??
Any event involving a large gathering, increases the potential for incident. It make more sense to more heavily police these events.
I din't have a duel perception of the city when it comes to this regard. I believe "The Rock" is part of the progress being experienced by the city of Newark. (I was initially against the Arena)
The city as a whole has become safer, and great steps have been taken to make the whole city safer. Something as simple as keeping visitors safe, has a huge impact. Think of it from the "labeling theories" viewpoint.
People have a negative view of the city, so they proceed to label the residents in a negative way. The residents of Newark in turn adopt this negative view of themselves, and begin to act out according to what they believe is expected of them.
If the perception of the city changes, then the perception of the residents will follow. Once people start talking about Newark in a more positive light, the citizens will embrace that spirit and act accordingly. Its not an exact science and it certainly won't change overnight, but its positive.
Increased pride in one's community will result in greater community policing and a lower tolerance for crime by the community as a whole.
All is about money and this arena is no the difference 3580
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