The Alternative Press

Dear Editor:

For millions of people around the country, violence, or the fear of violence, is a daily reality. Much of this violence concentrates in urban cities in every state.

In many cases, the scale of violence in urban communities eclipses those of suburban communities. It is a known statistic that most of the nations highest homicide rates occur in urban areas. 

This study emerged out of a growing recognition that urban communities themselves are an integral part of understanding the causes and impacts of urban violence and of generating sustainable violence prevention initiatives. 

The study used a mix of qualitative and quantitative methods to understand how urban residents experience and cope with high levels of violence every day, and to develop strategic orientations for how to better support existing initiatives. 

The study found a variety of coping mechanisms, most of which were individual-level strategies to avoid victimization such as staying at home more, changing routes to school or work, or simply "doing nothing." 

Many strategies actually undermine long-term prevention, including strategies like joining a vigilante group or militia, or using other extra-legal forms of justice.

Recommendations from the study focus on creating the basic conditions that urban communities need to be able to come together collectively to address violence, from upgrading basic infrastructure, to better harnessing the energies of youth and increasing coordination across levels and sectors of government and civil society.

I believe that a study of this magnitude should be conducted in the City of Paterson. We must come together and develop an effective strategy to combat, deter and ultimately eliminate violence, because too many of our children are dying as a result of this nonsense. 

[Editor's Note: Corey Teague is running for a seat on the Board of Education in April's election.]