Zero tolerance

July 22nd

I thought that I hate Rudy Giuliani, former Mayor of New York City, but that is too strong of a word to describe my emotions. I rather pity him — for throwing away his legacy just to stay relevant and in the spotlight. For changing his somewhat dignified persona into a joke of a Donald Trump’s boot licker and enabler. But for a while in the 1990s I had nothing but the utmost respect for him (and his Police Commissioner William Bratton) for the work they initiated and implemented in New York City to bring crime under control. I remember the early 1990s when there were no places in Manhattan where anyone could feel safe, and there were so many neighborhoods in the City where a visit was always inviting danger and anxiousness. Slowly, but surely that changed — the seedy stores and buildings were gone, streets were well lighted and police presence was noticeable enough to deter and push small-time crooks into the shadows. From the mid-1990s I felt very safe everywhere and anytime I was in the City.

All that had to do with the application of the “zero tolerance” approach to the violence problem and crime solving. The idea is actually very simple — treat every crime or violation, no matter as small, as something to be noticed and checked and written down into a system and make an effort to solve it. Of course, a broken window or new graffiti on the wall is not a priority for police, but the fact itself that a patrol shows up and checks what happen, makes a report, and takes names will reassure the general population that the police is doing something and will show those breaking the law (again, no matter as small a transgression) that there is someone who will make a notice of it. That brings lawfulness and awareness to everyday actions of those who might think about doing something out of the scope of law or decency or something that is in this gray zone between allowed and not specifically disallowed.

That brings me to observations from the last weeks and months. I started to notice small wrongdoings that happen or are being talked about openly around my scope of vision of other people and situations. Basically — people are breaking the law, openly and without any pangs of consciousness and habitually. And they are not even trying to hide it, or at least be a little embarrassed by it. And those misconducts are ranging from not following driving rules, which is becoming just unbearable now (like yesterday when I saw a constant stream of cars ignoring posted signs about road works and shown detours, driving right by the machines and excavators working on my street, and that included a police car as well). Cars speeding up, not adhering to the right of way, not paying attention to pedestrians and bicyclists, parking everywhere blocking sidewalks and streets. Another thing I notice more and more is having two prices in small business establishments — one for paying cash (lower) and one for a debit card (higher). Of course, it is done to avoid paying taxes and fees and everybody just seems to go with it. And even from conversations with my coworkers, it seems clear that most of them are engaging in the black market, an underground economy where cash is the king. They seem not to understand that not paying taxes will only weaken the country from the safety and military standpoint and push those who already have next to nothing even deeper into poverty. Of course, the example comes to us from the top — from imbecilic and greedy politicians to brazen and greedy CEOs and everything in between. They were screwing us for years, and now they don’t even pretend or try to keep some resemblance of fairness. And the population is just following, trying to get something, some crumbs, or some experience of satisfaction from getting the upper hand against someone, anyone. I believe the fabric of society is being irreparably torn and that idea of a strong and lawful society is just a utopia. Of course — those who have morals and ethics NOT to be involved in any law-breaking will be the most misused and hurt by those who have morals only for show. I am in this group who will not and cannot do things outside the law. I wonder if that is unfortunate or actually fortunate for me and my well-being?