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Following an increase in violent and other crime in Covington, two neighborhoods hope to rally the others. Leaders from Helentown and Eastside have issued a letter to all residents of Covington. It reads as follows:
To All Residents of Covington,
As I'm sure you are all aware criminal activity seems to be on the rise in our city. Unfortunately, some of this has been extremely violent. The Helentown and Eastside Neighborhood Associations have decided it is time for us to take action.
On Monday Nov 21st we will have a parade through our neighborhoods to show we are determined to put a stop to this violence. We will be gathering in The Carnegie parking lot at 6pm that evening for a short rally and then will begin our march. We will wind through the streets ending at The Covington Hub parking lot at 15th and Garrard St.
Our perception and reputation is on the line. Much like Mainstrasse's "Night Out" and The City's response to the methadone clinic we need all of Covington's 18 neighborhoods to participate. If you have neighborhood banners please bring them and represent! Hopefully we will have sign's and other banners made by Covington school students and Carnegie's art program, but please feel free to make more. We want the city and the region to know that there are Covington residents who care and we are the majority. All TV and other media outlets will be contacted about this event. For those who would like to participate but can't walk this distance, we will have vans so you can be in the parade. Also transportation will be provided to return you to your vehicles at The Carnegie.
This night has the potential to be very powerful but we need to galvanize the entire city. This may not be a crossroads for us but it is a crucial time to show our unity. Although some of these crimes have been horrendous, we look for this to be a very positive and uplifting atmosphere. Below is a flyer with the details that we encourage you to copy and get out to all your neighbors. Please push this event at your meetings, on your websites and facebook pages. Feel free to contact Bennie Doggett or Tom Wherry with any questions you may have. We appreciate your participation and look forward to seeing you on the 21st.
Stand Up Covington Stop The Violence!
As I'm sure you are all aware criminal activity seems to be on the rise in our city. Unfortunately, some of this has been extremely violent. The Helentown and Eastside Neighborhood Associations have decided it is time for us to take action.
On Monday Nov 21st we will have a parade through our neighborhoods to show we are determined to put a stop to this violence. We will be gathering in The Carnegie parking lot at 6pm that evening for a short rally and then will begin our march. We will wind through the streets ending at The Covington Hub parking lot at 15th and Garrard St.
Our perception and reputation is on the line. Much like Mainstrasse's "Night Out" and The City's response to the methadone clinic we need all of Covington's 18 neighborhoods to participate. If you have neighborhood banners please bring them and represent! Hopefully we will have sign's and other banners made by Covington school students and Carnegie's art program, but please feel free to make more. We want the city and the region to know that there are Covington residents who care and we are the majority. All TV and other media outlets will be contacted about this event. For those who would like to participate but can't walk this distance, we will have vans so you can be in the parade. Also transportation will be provided to return you to your vehicles at The Carnegie.
This night has the potential to be very powerful but we need to galvanize the entire city. This may not be a crossroads for us but it is a crucial time to show our unity. Although some of these crimes have been horrendous, we look for this to be a very positive and uplifting atmosphere. Below is a flyer with the details that we encourage you to copy and get out to all your neighbors. Please push this event at your meetings, on your websites and facebook pages. Feel free to contact Bennie Doggett or Tom Wherry with any questions you may have. We appreciate your participation and look forward to seeing you on the 21st.
Stand Up Covington Stop The Violence!
The Helentown and Eastside Neighborhood Associations
I can not help but to shake my head every time, I read about crime and the proposed Methadone Clinic. If you are using illegal drugs like pills and heroine you are most likely failing in your duties as a person. Why? Because your first priority of the day is to get a fix so you won't go into withdrawl . You are most likely going to commit crimes to feed your habit, that runs anywhere from $150.00 to $1500.00 a day. (Where do you think they get this money) Copper thefts, car break ins, burglary etc.
ReplyDeleteSo what happens at a Ky Methadone Clinic?? You are given a random monitored drug screen every week, to make sure you are compiling with the regulations of the clinic. You are assigned a certified drug and alcohol counselor, that you meet with weekly. You are given a physician ordered dose of Methadone every day. You must go to an AA/NA meeting weekly. You must be working or going to school or pursuing work . Average stay on Methadone 18 months.
Now the knee jerk reaction is to lock them all up. Ain't going to happen, not enough room at the jail. Besides it does not work, because they were never stabilized before the were locked up. So when they get out they do the same thing, commit crime.
So until Covington gets progressive in its thinking like other city's that have a heroine epedemic. The crime problem won't go away. Below is a link where you can read about Ky Methadone clinics. And the positive documented results that hey have had on crime.
And by the way according to the Kenton County Coroner we lose a person every 7 days to Opioid overdose in our county. There is no doubt that YOU know someone that this awful problem has had an personal affect on.
[PDF]
CDAR KORTOS cdar.uky.edu/kortos/Jul 27, 2011 – The Kentucky Opiate Replacement Treatment Outcome Study (KORTOS) was established in 2007 by the Kentucky Department of Behavioral ...
Kentucky Opiate Replacement Treatment Outcome Study (KORTOS ... cdar.uky.edu/.../KORTOS%20brief%20outcomes%20report_ April%202010%20Rev.pdf
Great story about the commendable efforts of Bennie & Tom as well as the informative follow up on illegal drugs!
ReplyDeleteNow, lets stop, step back and take a look at The Cov beyond their front doors... To be truly inclusive, embrace our Diversity and rally the entire City I would suggest the theme be amended to "Stand Up Covington! Stop The Violence & Hate!" And regarding Drugs that damage our prospects for the future, we must also consider the legal ones like Alcohol...
Two examples should be sufficient: HATE as expressed by the flyer posted by the "National Alliance" aimed at our Immigrant friends & neighbors.
Alcohol abuse as I see daily on W 7th St. & in "CrazyJack" my alcoholic, pill poppin', pot smokin' mentally retarded neighbor who awakes daily to pursue his "Daily Beer", often forgetting about his "Daily Bread"...
"We have advocates for civil liberties who have decided that principle should overcome pragmatism when it comes to involuntary committal and treatment of mentally ill individuals.
On the other hand we have people who believe that severely mentally ill individuals are incapable of self determination while under the influence of their illness, and should be - in the name of their own well being and the well being of others - able to be committed or forced to receive treatment, so that their ability to self determine can be returned to them.
Both of these positions are principled and can be understood from various vantage points. Protecting the rights of those who are least able to advocate for themselves is a hallmark of the human services and liberal movements and should continue to be so. The principle that underlies the current law and popular thinking is admirable; but it has left a vacuum in care for individuals who are unable to self determine under the burden of their mental health issues..."
http://news.cincinnati.com/article/20111021/EDIT02/110210364/Guest-Column-New-approach-needed-care-mentally-ill?
There is a division in thinking among mental health service providers and civil rights activists that has led to stagnation rather than solutions.