Murder rap

It's not a big secret.
Some music venues in Trenton are reluctant to book rap acts because they fear they will draw a crowd that could get out of hand.
This morning's news about the rap performance followed by a murder could stoke those fears.
It's important to note, however, that this was more of a Karaoke performance gone bad than an incident in which professional musicians were drawing a bad crowd or inciting violence in some way.

Coming tomorrow: L.A. Parker on Trenton murders

Coming in tomorrow's Trentonian, columnist L.A. Parker writes about Trenton's murder rate and how we lose track of the lives and people behind the numbers.
Here's a sneak preview:
"What we also know now is that people living in South Trenton with agendas — whether they are political or parochial — will kick, yell and march when an officer is taken away from his post but when in this case a young African American woman is removed from this world, they remain silent.
"Desiree E. Napper-Jones deserved a better man than the one she got and her life and death should receive more attention than their current reception.
"Unfortunately, in Trenton, like so many other urban areas, the lives of black gangsters or dark-colored girlfriends are reduced to numerical identification.
"Napper-Jones garnered a murder No. 15 tag while alleged gang member Arnold Poole is No. 16, etc.
"Jose-Duran Almonte, 28, of Reading, Pa., shot and killed during an incident in a Centre Street bar, is No. 17.
"Whether you care or don’t, these people were once real life human beings."

Will it take Newark-style crime to wake up Trenton?

Trenton Mayor Doug Palmer's comments about the horrific execution-style killings of three students in Newark are important as the city grapples with its own problems.

The Newark case (click here for latest update) hits home in these parts because, as unimaginably horrible a crime as it is, it's not much of a leap at all to think that it could have happened right here in Trenton. The pages of The Trentonian are filled daily with godless violence that gives the impression the city borders on chaos some nights.

What will it take to get some real action to bring our personal mayhem under control? A spectacularly high-profile crime like the Newark case?

Coming tomorrow: L.A. Parker on Newark killings

Coming in tomorrow's Trentonian, columnist L.A. Parker tackles the media swarm around the execution-style killings of three students in Newark.

"Every report refers to the three dead students and wounded survivor, Natasha Aeriel, 19, as 'good' kids," Parker writes. "The inference in the description is that if they were 'bad' children then somehow we could all handle the the quadruple shooting and triple killing. If they were 'bad' kids we could all head back to the beach, TV, or bar with exclamation that all is right in our world. It’s not."

Parker argues that anger at Newark Mayor Cory Booker is misplaced.

"Mayor Booker can only say so much, attempt so much and do so much to effect change in Newark," he writes. "The realization is that black people must accept responsibility for our share of a daily deadly destruction. At some point, we must stand and say — enough."

The war on gangs

A huge percentage of the crime news we write about in the Trenton area is connected to gangs or involves gang members.

Several stories over the past few days offer a perspective on the local and national effort to put a dent in this problem. None of it leaves us encouraged.

- A Trenton Blood was sentenced last week after unsuccessfully arguing that he suffered from something called "Battered Gangster Syndrome," and that's why he shouldn't be held responsible for taking part in the firebombing of a house that left a man and his two young daughters murdered. For those who've argued recently that putting gang crimes on the front page of The Trentonian glorifies these thugs and helps them recruit, hopefully Saturday's headline, "See You in 2037," is a clear enough message to young gangster wannabes. Do the crime and you'll be doing lots of time.

- A story out of Newark details how difficult it is for law enforcement to make a case against gangs, as gang members and people in the community fear being branded as a "snitch."

- And finally, in other parts of the country, small cities facing gang problems similar to Trenton's are trying a new approach. They're suing.

Assault ... with a bullet

It was not quite Orwellian, but certainly using language to put the best possible spin on things.

A press release from the Trenton Police Department today referred to three "aggravated assaults" over the weekend in Trenton.

We were expecting to read about people getting beaten up. But in each of the incidents, the victim was actually shot.

"Assault" sounds like some Trenton folk got into fistfights this weekend. In reality, bad aim was the only thing keeping us from murders #15, #16 and #17.

Palmer in national spotlight as violence makes news again in Trenton

It was supposed to be Trenton Mayor Doug Palmer's weekend to shine.

But while he was basking in the limelight of being sworn in as president of the U.S. Conference of Mayors and rubbing shoulders in Los Angeles with the likes of presidential hopefuls Hillary Clinton and Bill Richardson, back home some all-too-typical problems were plaguing his city.

Palmer's coronation as a spokesman for the nation's cities would have made front page news in The Trentonian today, but instead the city was hit with its 14th murder. Another possibly gang-related death. This time, in broad daylight.

And more troubling to some, violence was even hitting a Trenton neighborhood that typically is an oasis from the rest of the city's problems. A shooting in the Mill Hill section of the city has merchants on edge.

As he rubs shoulders with some of the most powerful politicians in the country, what does Palmer have to say about the problems back home?

And perhaps more importantly, what can Palmer's newly important status do to help him fix some of those problems?

When's the last time you heard Hillary Clinton, Barack Obama, Bill Richardson or even Jon Corzine make news calling attention to the plight of small, troubled urban cities such as Trenton or Camden? Or offering some real solutions.

They're in a position to bring the resources of the state and federal governments to Trenton to help.

Maybe Palmer's rise to prominence and all that out-of-town hobnobbing with the rich and powerful can be used to get some help for the city.

Murder rap

It's not a big secret.
Some music venues in Trenton are reluctant to book rap acts because they fear they will draw a crowd that could get out of hand.
This morning's news about the rap performance followed by a murder could stoke those fears.
It's important to note, however, that this was more of a Karaoke performance gone bad than an incident in which professional musicians were drawing a bad crowd or inciting violence in some way.

Coming tomorrow: L.A. Parker on Trenton murders

Coming in tomorrow's Trentonian, columnist L.A. Parker writes about Trenton's murder rate and how we lose track of the lives and people behind the numbers.
Here's a sneak preview:
"What we also know now is that people living in South Trenton with agendas — whether they are political or parochial — will kick, yell and march when an officer is taken away from his post but when in this case a young African American woman is removed from this world, they remain silent.
"Desiree E. Napper-Jones deserved a better man than the one she got and her life and death should receive more attention than their current reception.
"Unfortunately, in Trenton, like so many other urban areas, the lives of black gangsters or dark-colored girlfriends are reduced to numerical identification.
"Napper-Jones garnered a murder No. 15 tag while alleged gang member Arnold Poole is No. 16, etc.
"Jose-Duran Almonte, 28, of Reading, Pa., shot and killed during an incident in a Centre Street bar, is No. 17.
"Whether you care or don’t, these people were once real life human beings."

Will it take Newark-style crime to wake up Trenton?

Trenton Mayor Doug Palmer's comments about the horrific execution-style killings of three students in Newark are important as the city grapples with its own problems.

The Newark case (click here for latest update) hits home in these parts because, as unimaginably horrible a crime as it is, it's not much of a leap at all to think that it could have happened right here in Trenton. The pages of The Trentonian are filled daily with godless violence that gives the impression the city borders on chaos some nights.

What will it take to get some real action to bring our personal mayhem under control? A spectacularly high-profile crime like the Newark case?

Coming tomorrow: L.A. Parker on Newark killings

Coming in tomorrow's Trentonian, columnist L.A. Parker tackles the media swarm around the execution-style killings of three students in Newark.

"Every report refers to the three dead students and wounded survivor, Natasha Aeriel, 19, as 'good' kids," Parker writes. "The inference in the description is that if they were 'bad' children then somehow we could all handle the the quadruple shooting and triple killing. If they were 'bad' kids we could all head back to the beach, TV, or bar with exclamation that all is right in our world. It’s not."

Parker argues that anger at Newark Mayor Cory Booker is misplaced.

"Mayor Booker can only say so much, attempt so much and do so much to effect change in Newark," he writes. "The realization is that black people must accept responsibility for our share of a daily deadly destruction. At some point, we must stand and say — enough."

The war on gangs

A huge percentage of the crime news we write about in the Trenton area is connected to gangs or involves gang members.

Several stories over the past few days offer a perspective on the local and national effort to put a dent in this problem. None of it leaves us encouraged.

- A Trenton Blood was sentenced last week after unsuccessfully arguing that he suffered from something called "Battered Gangster Syndrome," and that's why he shouldn't be held responsible for taking part in the firebombing of a house that left a man and his two young daughters murdered. For those who've argued recently that putting gang crimes on the front page of The Trentonian glorifies these thugs and helps them recruit, hopefully Saturday's headline, "See You in 2037," is a clear enough message to young gangster wannabes. Do the crime and you'll be doing lots of time.

- A story out of Newark details how difficult it is for law enforcement to make a case against gangs, as gang members and people in the community fear being branded as a "snitch."

- And finally, in other parts of the country, small cities facing gang problems similar to Trenton's are trying a new approach. They're suing.

Assault ... with a bullet

It was not quite Orwellian, but certainly using language to put the best possible spin on things.

A press release from the Trenton Police Department today referred to three "aggravated assaults" over the weekend in Trenton.

We were expecting to read about people getting beaten up. But in each of the incidents, the victim was actually shot.

"Assault" sounds like some Trenton folk got into fistfights this weekend. In reality, bad aim was the only thing keeping us from murders #15, #16 and #17.

Palmer in national spotlight as violence makes news again in Trenton

It was supposed to be Trenton Mayor Doug Palmer's weekend to shine.

But while he was basking in the limelight of being sworn in as president of the U.S. Conference of Mayors and rubbing shoulders in Los Angeles with the likes of presidential hopefuls Hillary Clinton and Bill Richardson, back home some all-too-typical problems were plaguing his city.

Palmer's coronation as a spokesman for the nation's cities would have made front page news in The Trentonian today, but instead the city was hit with its 14th murder. Another possibly gang-related death. This time, in broad daylight.

And more troubling to some, violence was even hitting a Trenton neighborhood that typically is an oasis from the rest of the city's problems. A shooting in the Mill Hill section of the city has merchants on edge.

As he rubs shoulders with some of the most powerful politicians in the country, what does Palmer have to say about the problems back home?

And perhaps more importantly, what can Palmer's newly important status do to help him fix some of those problems?

When's the last time you heard Hillary Clinton, Barack Obama, Bill Richardson or even Jon Corzine make news calling attention to the plight of small, troubled urban cities such as Trenton or Camden? Or offering some real solutions.

They're in a position to bring the resources of the state and federal governments to Trenton to help.

Maybe Palmer's rise to prominence and all that out-of-town hobnobbing with the rich and powerful can be used to get some help for the city.