[Excerpt]

Re: “City murders far from random; Bluecollar city with plenty of drugs a recipe for violence” by Todd Babiak, Feb. 26.

Todd Babiak’s column was notable for its genuine insight into one of Edmonton’s most serious problems.

Gang activity, and its accompanying issues of drug addiction, prostitution and violence, have been a serious problem in Edmonton for years.

I’m not sure if it is due to either apathy or a genuine lack of understanding of the politics of central Edmonton communities, but it has only been in the last few months I have heard our media attempt to discuss this problem in an open and insightful way, and I appreciate that effort.

While I appreciate the candour and insight of The Journal’s attempt to explore this city’s most serious social issues, more needs to be done to focus the public discussion on the possible ways to correct this dysfunction.

The main weakness of this column was that, after identifying the main causes of Edmonton’s large year-by-year per capita murder rates (gang violence and domestic abuse), Babiak does little to present a prescriptive solution to the issue.

[End Excerpt]

For more on this story …

http://www.edmontonjournal.com/news/Lots+cash+sense/4393962/story.html

Source: Edmonton Journal