The infrastructure we really need

It is a beautiful Easter Sunday this April 4th, temperatures in the 70°s F a second straight day. But one wonders if, along with the crocuses, those pop-up memorials to the dead will sprout on utility posts to memorialize young men shot in the line of gang warfare. Usually with balloons, posters, and a photo of the deceased.

Like the one in the middle of Schroeder Road, here on Madison’s west side. Disputed turf between two rival gangs. Two homes and a parked car struck by bullets 08-24-2020 in a shoot-out between five “younger Black males,” according to the police account, near the pop-up memorial for homicide victim Maurice Bowman Jr. from a month earlier. Police recovered 20 spent shells.

Just last week, a Madison police gang expert told us, “It is getting worse and worse. We have to find a solution.”

• 250 shots fired incidents last year compared to 144 in 2019.
• 11 homicides compared to 3 in 2019.
• 744 vehicles stolen — up from 639 in 2019. 

Yes, our juvenile court judges are too lenient but there is some truth to their plaint that they have few options. Juvenile detention is a stopgap measure. A week in Juvie amounts to a refresher course in crime and bragging rights. The State wants to close down Lincoln Hills, way up in northern Wisconsin. A series of regional institutions have been mentioned. We propose:

Re-purposing the vacant Oscar Mayer plant on Madison’s east side to

a secure, residential youth rehabilitation center.

• The time is right: President Biden proposes $2.3 trillions of dollars of “stimulus” infrastructure spending. WI Republicans are asking for input at comments@legis.wisconsin.gov.
• Overhaul state law regarding adjudication of minors — something like 5 contacts with law enforcement triggers involuntary commitment.
• Amend criminal law to automatically charge parent(s) guardians every time their child is arrested.
• Offer voluntary commitment as an option to such parents and others.
• Dane County’s would be one of several around the state operated by county consortiums under state authority. 

The old meat packing plant is a white elephant

Just half of the 72-acre site could serve as a middle- and high school for boys. Tear up some of the asphalt for growing produce and flowers. With small tractors!! Support a small livestock operation (chickens and dairy cows). Teach welding, automotive repair, electronics, food preparation, the building trades. (MATC is nearby.) Participants would cook their own food, bus their own tables, scrub halls, do the laundry. They would also have organized sports — even compete with some of the smaller schools in the area. Wear blazers for special occasions. Generous family visiting hours.

The need is growing exponentially. 

According to a Madison police gang expert, we have Black Disciples, MS-13, Latin Kings. A new gang of upstarts called “Thot-up” has attracted 135 members. Their game is stealing cars and purses from older women in retail parking lots. The total membership of youth gangs in Madison in the low thousands. The thousands!

They pose on social media with firearms and rolls of one hundred dollar bills. Many of the 14 and 15 year olds already have 40 or more contacts with police. In 2019, 165 juveniles accounted for 55% of the 953 physical arrests.

Name the new rehabilitation center after Anthony M. Chung, age 22, a National Merit Scholar and former student rep on the Madison school board. He was killed and his fiancé grievously injured 09-17-2020 when his car was T-boned on Mineral Point Road by another driven 91 mph by Maurice M. Chandler, age 18. At the time of the accident Chandler had seven open felony and misdemeanor cases against him. Police found a “submachine-gun-style firearm” in the vehicle. Or name it for Anisa Scott, the innocent 11-year-old girl shot dead by a gang that couldn’t shoot straight.

Bottom Line goes to Madison Police Captain Mike Hanson: “We have a problem that we’re arresting a 14-year-old for his fifth time stealing a car. We have a problem where these youth are committing shootings where innocent people are struck or even killed. Until that message resonates at higher levels than I — in the state legislature and the state government — we’re going to still be here at Groundhog’s Day.”

Tell the legislature you want this done!