During an interview with Tania Duarte, the mother of the young man killed on Ninth Street last week, she took a moment from her grief to say (and we quote), “I want the community and the police to realize how much is happening.  Be cautious; we must be watchful of who is being moved here.”  The reputed killer of her son had been moved to Old Colony three weeks back.  In other words, Ms. Duarte tried to warn us of housing policies gone wrong, and violent people being brought to South Boston as a result.  Despite her pain, she thought of doing that for her community’s benefit.

     It took a long while, but South Boston now realizes that drugs have become part of our street culture.  For some reason, we are still in denial about guns and violence.  Possibly, that’s because we haven’t had the killings that have occurred in other neighborhoods.  But don’t kid yourself - the guns and violence have always been here in South Boston.  And now, a death has resulted.  

     How comfortable are you that the guns and violence here will be controlled and eliminated? 

     Take a look at some government actions at all levels over the last 12 months.  At the federal level, the response to Hurricane Katrina was a disaster by any measure.  At the state level, all we have to say is “Big Dig”.  The oversight by state agencies of that project – the largest ever in the U.S. – was non-existent. 

     Which brings us to our city.  We have a marvelous city, with many equally marvelous institutions and attractions.  But our streets are more dangerous than they have been in years (and not just because of the potholes).  For more than a year and a half, the City of Boston has endured a sharp increase in the murder rate and shootings.  And now the problem has come to South Boston.  Actually, it was brought here by the housing authorities, our so-called “public servants”.

     Very few of these killings have been “cleared”, to use the bureaucratic word.  On network television news programs last week and this week, elected officials publicly admitted the problem is getting worse, but they have no idea what to do.  Well, someone has to figure out an answer. 

     In the opinion of South Boston Online, Boston has entered “no excuse land”.  We pay public servants first and foremost to insure the public safety, so they must begin doing just that.  And fast.  No more excuses!

     Election season is nearly upon us.  When you vote – and please make sure that you do – ask yourself how comfortable you are before you press that lever.  Remember an inviolate rule of politics:  you will end up getting what you vote for. 

     Most important, it appears we’ll have to do much of this job ourselves, but first, we have to stop the denials and start taking action.  Don’t get too comfortable.  South Boston is a small, compact neighborhood.  Robberies and violence are happening within blocks of our own homes.  We are shopping, walking, and going to the beach next to people with soiled and bloody hands.  Join the Crime Watch.  Be vigilant.  Drop a dime. 

     And above all, don’t ever again say, “It can’t happen here.”  It already has!