Fighting crime isn't just a local responsibility
Democratic attack ads have tarred Pat McCrory for Charlotte's crime rate.
That's politics.
A Charlotte Observer editorial today provides some reality: The story of a man arrested last week for allegedly raping a 12-year-old girl. He's been arrested more than 30 times in the past 10 years but never dealt with effectively.
Here's the point: Police make the arrests. That's a city function. Prosecution is up to the state -- and that's where the failure lies in this case, the Observer writes.
McCrory has been so frustrated that he and other municipal leaders have pushed the state for years to step it up. This year, Charlotte put $2 million of city money into the local court system -- a state responsibility -- to help see to it that criminals, once arrested by the police, aren't simply let go again to commit more crimes.
The Democrats are bashing the Republican mayor of Charlotte because he happens to be running for governor. But, because Democrats run state government, they would be more fair and truthful with the people of Charlotte and North Carollina if they acknowledged that fighting crime requires a bipartisan effort by state and local governments.
Comments (3)
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Doug, just read about Nifong's guitar auction. This is just not right. I was never a big fan but making him auction his guitars is just not human. There has to be a limit to punishment. What are we coming to, as a nation? First waterboarding, now making a guy auction off his guitars. I fear we are lost.
Posted on October 13, 2008 9:59 AM
And what's the story with keeping Blanche Taylor Moore on death row ???
She is now old and harmless plus she has cancer - can we please just forgive and forget ???
Posted on October 14, 2008 6:33 AM
"And what's the story with keeping Blanche Taylor Moore on death row ???
She is now old and harmless plus she has cancer - can we please just forgive and forget ???"
As long as she still has the energy to say, "I do", we need to keep saying, "No you don't."
Posted on October 14, 2008 12:30 PM