EYE ON THE NEWS
May 4, 2020
Misplaced Benevolence
In Chicago and elsewhere, the bail-reform movement is putting the public at risk.May 4, 2020
Public safety
Politics and law
Two prominent Chicago criminal-justice advocacy groups—The Bail Project and the Chicago Community Bond Fund—work to get criminal defendants out of jail, irrespective of the threats those offenders pose to society. A recent report by the Chicago Tribune reveals that these organizations’ pursuit of “social justice” denies Chicagoans the valuable benefits associated with pretrial detention. Proactively posting bond for Chicago’s violent repeat offenders has resulted in serious and avoidable new crimes.
The costs of this “decarceration” project have been borne disproportionately by those living in the Windy City’s low-income, high-crime neighborhoods, some of which have homicide rates rivaling the most violent places on earth. The Tribune describes the case of 34-year-old Christopher Stewart, a “four-time felon” facing charges for illegal handgun possession. Stewart was the subject of an order of protection filed by an ex-girlfriend, who claimed that he had “shot a pistol into the ground at her 6-year-old son’s birthday party and threatened to kill her.” The Bail Project secured Stewart’s release. Four weeks later, reports the Tribune, “Stewart was charged with attempted murder after he allegedly set fire to the ex-girlfriend’s apartment while she was inside.” The Tribune reporters—among them, a Pulitzer Prize winner and multiple-time Pulitzer finalist, David Jackson—documented 162 individuals charged with felonies who have been bailed out by the advocacy groups since February 2017. More than one in five were subsequently charged with new offenses.
This should not surprise anyone who’s been following the debate about so-called mass incarceration. Chicago, like many other cities around the United States, is engaged in a policy experiment with bail reform. Such reform initiatives seek, to varying degrees, to reduce reliance on monetary pretrial-release conditions like cash bail, which has resulted in the pretrial release of defendants who might otherwise have been held in detention. The impact these initiatives can have on crime is shocking. One study, by researchers at Princeton, Harvard, and Stanford Universities, found that pretrial release increases the likelihood of rearrest prior to case disposition by more than 37 percent—and increased the likelihood of a defendant failing to appear in court by 124 percent.
New York is likewise experimenting, and the city, too, has seen a sharp uptick in crime attributed to its recently enacted bail reform, which, after just four months, was partially (if insufficiently) rolled back by new legislation. In 2018, Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights announced that it would bail out every jailed woman and minor in New York City. The charitable organization suspended its efforts after high-profile reporting about the release of violent criminals who went on to reoffend and skip court dates.
Unfortunately, news of the failure of mass bailouts in New York didn’t make it to Chicago. Assessing the city’s bail-reform initiative, University of Utah professors Paul Cassell and Richard Fowles found that “after more generous release procedures were put in place, the number of released defendants charged with committing new crimes increased by 45 percent.” Even more worrisome, they continued, “the number of pretrial releasees charged with committing new violent crimes increased by an estimated 33 percent.” The study was published in response to a more optimistic assessment of Chicago’s bail reform published by Cook County Chief Judge Timothy Evans. His analysis, as documented by the Tribune’s Jackson, Todd Lighty, and Gary Marx, was flawed in its design, leading many to believe that the reform had improved Chicago’s crime picture.
Organizations like The Bail Project and the Chicago Community Bond Fund may mean well, but facts impinge on even the best intentions. The reality of stubborn criminality and recidivism is illustrated by the Tribune’s reporting, as well as by the studies documenting the incapacitation benefits of pretrial detention. It’s hard to see how these organizations are being charitable in pushing forward with their missions without doing more to mitigate the costs that these efforts impose.
Chicago’s policymakers deserve the blame here. City policy determines eligibility for pretrial release. In an ideal world, the judiciary, along with Cook County State’s Attorney Kim Foxx—an advocate for “restorative justice”—would make better use of the government’s authority to detain dangerous defendants on grounds of public safety. But since this is not an ideal world, we must also ask more of organizations like the bail funds. It’s easy to condemn them for helping repeat offenders—whom these groups often regard as victims—get back on the streets. Perhaps a more constructive approach would be to ask them to consider the plight of other victims—the law-abiding residents of vulnerable communities.
Rafael A. Mangual is a fellow and deputy director of legal policy at the Manhattan Institute for Policy Research, and a contributing editor of City Journal.
Why are blacks in Chicago more than six times more likely than whites to die from Coronavirus?
Shot.
Black community leaders on Thursday unveiled a sweeping “right to recovery” plan to prevent the coronavirus pandemic from killing even more African Americans — both medically and economically.Among their demands:• Lift the ban on rent control and authorize a statewide moratorium on utility shut-offs for six months after the crisis ends.• Fill 2,000 vacant Chicago Housing Authority units with laid off Chicagoans struggling to pay their rent.• Dramatically increase paid sick leave, award “hazard pay” to front-line workers, open a coronavirus testing site on the South Side and give guaranteed treatment to those who test positive.• Waive city water fees for six months.• End all cash bonds at a Cook County Jail that has seen the nation’s largest known outbreak of the coronavirus and immediately release all inmates over the age of 50.• And above all, stop using the pandemic as an “excuse to double-down on racist policing” — like checkpoints, curfews and demands for identification — that they say have no place at any time, even if the goal is to flatten the curve by enforcing the statewide stay-at-home order.“In black neighborhoods on both the South and West Sides of Chicago, people are being told that there is a 5 o’clock curfew … and being pushed off the streets. Also being ticketed, held with cuffs and otherwise detained. There are basically like checkpoint signs in places on the West Side suggesting that folks have to show IDs to be able to travel back and forth,” said Amika Tendaji of Black Lives Matter.“These are the kinds of terrible behaviors that we saw out of some of the police during Hurricane Katrina. This is a time for police to rebuild trust … lost with the black community and restore faith to show the greatest humanity — not double down on the kind of racist policing practices we’ve seen for far too long.”Jawanza Malone, executive director of the Kenwood-Oakland Community Organizations said black Chicago is experiencing a “relentless assault.”“Double-digit unemployment is the norm in our communities. And even in the midst of a health crisis where black people bear the brunt of the deaths related to the coronavirus, we have four hospitals in the black community planned for closure. And Mayor Lightfoot’s response is to increase policing and traffic stops in black neighborhoods,” Malone said.“This response is beyond unacceptable. She should be using her power to marshal massive resources and develop concrete proposals to protect the most vulnerable, which includes pushing the governor to lift the ban on rent control.”Ald. Jeanette Taylor (20th) noted that 86,000 people applied for 2,000 city rental assistance grants. She urged the mayor to “do right by the homeless” — by opening up 2,000 vacant units the CHA has been “sitting on.”“Opening up hotels and YMCA’s — that’s great. But that’s putting a Band-Aid on a bullet wound,” Taylor said.Lightfoot campaigned on a promise to end to water shut-offs, calling water a “basic human right.” But that’s not good enough for Taylor.“The majority of my calls have been, `I’m not paying my rent. I’m not gonna pay my light and gas because I need to feed my children.’ … Why won’t the city not charge for water bills? For the next six months, what the city can do is to make sure that people don’t have to pay water,” Taylor said.Lightfoot has responded to the pandemic by shutting down the lakefront and the 606 Trail, cutting off citywide liquor sales at 9 p.m. and by personally breaking up crowds of people.She has created a $100 million small business resiliency fund and doled out $2 million in rental assistance grants.Earlier this week, the mayor outlined her own sweeping plan to bridge a racial divide tied to the coronavirus pandemic that mirrors the life expectancy gap between black and white Chicagoans: 72 percent of city residents who died from the virus are African-Americans.The mayor’s plan includes increased surveillance of groceries and corner stores; relocating articulated buses to South and West Side neighborhoods; and a so-called “racial equity rapid-response team” led by West Side United.
Chaser.
Chaser.CHICAGO PARTY: Another PACKED House …STRIPPER SWARMED, ZERO DISTANCING!!!, TMZ.C0M, APRIL 28, 2020
Forget the thirst trap — this packed house party in Chicago featuring a stripper is more like a potential coronavirus trap with all the guests blatantly ignoring quarantine guidelines.
It turns out there was even more reckless behavior going down in Chi-Town over the weekend — this party seemed to have several dozen guests swarming around a stripper wearing a top, but nothing down below. The partygoers, packed in shoulder-to-shoulder, made it rain on her and even got a little handsy. That might be great for her bottom line, but not so great for health. The video shows no one was thinking a thing about COVID-19, face coverings or maintaining six feet between each other.
This is clearly a trend — as we reported, another Windy City house party had more than 1,000 guests… even as the city struggles to flatten the curve, and combat the disproportionate COVID-19 mortality rate in the black community.
As we reported … Chi-Town officials slapped the owner with fines, and cited her for disorderly conduct — namely, violating the state’s stay-at-home orders. Meanwhile, the stripper party had the potential to get even bigger. A woman who appears to be the homeowner was on video — live on Facebook, mind you — inviting anyone watching to come through.
Unclear if city officials will track her down and fine her ass too.
Chicago is one of America’s most segregated cities, with fatal/nonfatal shootings clustered in communities of color. Just as the violence is found exclusively in black communities in Chicago, so is the Coronavirus.
Naturally, both problems are white people’s fault.
Again, when you understand white flight was the original social distancing, you are immediately capable of comprehending all of post-Shelley vs. Kraemer history in America.
Just as white people have virtually nothing to do with gun violence in Chicago, they have little to do with the outbreak of the Coronavirus in the Windy City.
Segregation, freedom of association outside of state coercion, continues to save lives.
Even in an pandemic.
When it comes to black people whining about the Coronavirus disproportionately impacting their community, we are not only expected to believe race isn’t a social construct (normally, we are told to believe it is on a daily basis), but the virus from Wuhan is specifically targeting black people causing the so-called disparities. [Lead NIH coronavirus researcher suggested pandemic could be ‘genocide’, said doctors would let blacks die, Fox News, April 19, 2020]:
If one story illustrates why the black community is purportedly being hit harder, this tale out of Pensacola, Florida is all you need to read.
Police break up large Easter party in Florida due to coronavirus safety guidelines, KATU.com, April 14, 2020Pensacola Police broke up a large Easter gathering in Pensacola, Florida Sunday evening that was taking place amid the coronavirus pandemic.WEAR received a tip about a large Easter party happening in the Attucks Court community in Pensacola.Our news crew captured video from afar of a large gathering of about 150-200 people — this despite social distancing guidelines amid the coronavirus pandemic and a “Safer at Home” order implemented by Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis.Channel 3 spoke to several attendees at the event who shared no concerns about the coronavirus or the need to social distance. Only a handful of the attendees were wearing masks. An event organizer said the party was an Easter cookout for kids in the community.“Why are we going to be scared to come outside when we don’t even know what we’re looking for?” said Wilbert McNeal, one of the party’s organizers. “Corona, COVID-19 — it ain’t coming this way.”Channel 3 spoke to the Pensacola Police Department about the large gathering.Officer Mike Wood tells us Pensacola Police sent officers out to the party. Chief Tommi Lyter was also on scene.“It took our officers about two hours to end the party,” Wood said.Wood says the party was dispersed by about 7 p.m. No citations were issued and no arrests were made.“The officers were really just educating those at the party about the importance of social distancing,” Wood said. “Many of those in attendance were young and we were trying to explain to them that while they may think they’re not at high risk for the virus, they can bring it home to their older family members.”Wood says many attendees left the party after the officers spoke to them.Wood also says if a Pensacola resident witnesses a large gathering, they can call the police department and they will send officers out to help disperse it.
“Why are we going to be scared to come outside when we don’t even know what we’re looking for? Corona, COVID-19 — it ain’t coming this way.”
Again, it’s all white people’s fault for the highly-publicized racial disparities in Coronavirus deaths. Don’t believe me? Check out Dr. Ebony Hilton [Email her] who Tweeted:
2,804 Americans died yesterday from #COVID19. Blacks have mortality rates nearly 3 times other races. Systemic racism leading to increased risk of chronic illnesses along with being the bulk of “essential workers” puts us at greater risk. “Opening the economy” costs us our life.
This Tweet was not from a parody account.
When the Coronavirus/China Virus/Wuhan Virus hysteria fades away and America opens back up, we will see an increased attempt to blame white people, systemic racism, implicit bias, the historical legacy of slavery, Jim Crow, redlining, and environmental racism as the reason for the so-called racial disparities in deaths among blacks.
Race is only a social construct, until billions of dollars can be extorted from white taxpayers and siphoned directly to people of color. Then race is all that matters, especially when the corporate media can inculcate whites into believing people of color “disproportionately” dying is all because of white racism.
[Comment at Unz.com]
Imagine if two white teenagers were hanging out with their black friend. In the Deep South, this would be a sign of racial progress.
Of tolerance and of inclusion.
Only, it wasn’t like this. The two white kids decided to murder their black friend. These two white teens would also steal the car he was driving, which belonged to his black father, only to ditch it and try and run away from the consequences of their actions.
Once caught, don’t you think this story would be the lead of every network nightly news broadcast, from ABC, NBC, CBS, and FOX, to endless, 24/7 coverage on MSNBC and CNN?
Stop imaging for a brief moment and learn the story of what happened to 17-year-old Logan Allen Stacks, a white teenager murdered by two black teens in the Deep South.
Second arrest made after slain teen’s body left on side of gravel road in Lancaster Co.,WSOCTV.com, April 3, 2020]
An 18-year-old man has been arrested and charged in connection with the shooting death of Logan Allen Stacks, age 17, of Fort Lawn, the Lancaster County Sheriff’s Office said Friday morning.
Akime Lee Truesdale, of Lancaster, was arrested on March 31 and charged with accessory after the fact of a felony of murder.
Earlier in the week, Arthur Jeremiah Fisher III, 19, of Lancaster, was placed into custody and charged with murder and grand larceny.Deputies said they found Stack’s body around 8:30 a.m. Sunday on a gravel road, just off Potter Road, near Kirk Air Base.About 30 minutes later, a car was reported in a ditch off of Kershaw-Camden Highway. Deputies said it was the victim’s car.
Fisher, Truesdale and Stacks were together Saturday night into Sunday morning, officials said.They were traveling in a 2001 Saturn sedan owned by Stacks’ father.At about sunrise, Fisher drove the Saturn with Stacks and Truesdale as passengers onto Kirk Air Base Road.Fisher stopped the car and the three got out.Fisher fired a handgun killing Stacks, whose body was left on the side of the road.Authorities said Fisher drove the Saturn toward Kershaw until it had mechanical problems and that’s when he drove the car into a ditch off the southbound lane of Kershaw-Camden Highway, north of Landmark Pentecostal Holiness Church.Truesdale removed the car key, investigators said Friday in a news release.After that, Fisher and Truesdale fled on foot before they caught a ride back to Lancaster that afternoon.Authorities found Fisher at his home Sunday afternoon and he was taken into custody. On Tuesday, investigators caught up with Truesdale at his home.Both are in the Lancaster County Detention Center.“The members of the criminal investigations division received valuable information from the folks they talked with early in this investigation and did an outstanding job running down those leads and putting this case together,” said Sheriff Barry Faile in a news release Friday. “Although we have additional work to do and will not receive the results of forensic testing of the evidence for a while, we believe the bulk of the investigation is complete. We appreciate the cooperation, assistance, and patience we received from Logan’s family and continue to remember them in this difficult time.”
Faile said earlier in the week, “This is not over. We still have a several investigators actively pursuing leads and gathering evidence. It is possible that others will be charged with crimes related to the events leading to and following Mr. Stacks’ death. We will release additional information as appropriate as developments occur.”
Logan Allen Stacks.
You’ll never hear this name on any national television program.
Never on CNN.
Never on MSNBC.
Never on Fox News.
Never, anywhere.
Logan Allen Stacks was a white male, murdered by two blacks.
Races reversed, every white southerner (and white American) would have shared in the guilt of those two white males who murdered their innocent black friend.
As is, near silence from the media in South Carolina for a story of a white teenager murdered by his (ostensibly) black friends.
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