Back in the 1990s New York City was plagued by, “Squeegee Men,” those out of work entrepreneurs who plied their trade of standing in streets, at stoplights, spraying Windex or splashing dirty water on windshields, then rubbing them with dirty cloths and demanding money for their labor from hapless drivers who felt intimidated and frightened. They’re back! This time there can be no excuse that joblessness has forced these guys to the streets. There are now plenty of jobs for those who wish to earn an honest living, rather than risking their lives in traffic, harassing others and as well, breaking the law.
The inner city of Baltimore has been infected with this same criminal disease. A city group, the Downtown Partnership, together with the Mayor, have stretched the limits of governing credibility by allocating 2 million dollars to employ “ambassadors” in green vests, not law enforcement officers, to key Baltimore intersections at busy times of the day, to counsel the “Squeegee Men” to avail themselves of job training services and other resources to get them off the streets and to help meet their needs. A spokesman for this “help” group stated, “We have trained them to be hospitality and tourism ambassadors.” Good luck to them when they start counseling these guys, some of whom are under the influence of drugs or alcohol, while in the middle of traffic.
Our former Mayor Guiliani realistically understood that to prevent violent crimes, the lower level misdeeds must be swiftly and efficiently addressed. He called that his “broken windows” theory of protecting his citizens. We now see the city very quickly being downgraded to the levels of other large cities that have lost control of the growth of violence and misbehavior on the part of some residents. Crimes of all levels must be handled firmly and immediately.
We have discussed, in the past, on these pages, the recent changes in the laws that have criminals sent back out on to the streets with slaps on the wrists to continue their unlawful behavior as soon as they leave the courtrooms. They merely chuckle and shrug off their promises to return to have their cases adjudicated. In a sense, they are encouraged to continue their crime sprees until locked up….if ever. We must send the signal to those who violate the laws at all levels, that our city will not stand for their behavior. Jobs and training for them are readily available. Better for people to spend time in classrooms or in workshops rather in the streets, intimidating, annoying and menacing our citizens and valuable tourists with their pails of water, squeegees and outstretched hands. Handle the problem now before it gets out of hand!!!!
