> On Thu, 9 Nov 1995, Kay (?) wrote:
> And perhaps it is time for thecity and county officials to get off of
> there collective butts andfind a way, without involving policing
> **literally** to give the young people of this town something to do
> other than drinking **a major contributor to population growth** and
> hanging out at the not so friendly friendship square. Perhaps if those
> who are full-time employees of city and county weren't so overpaid
for an under done job we could afford to build a
recreational/entertainment/refuge for this 'communities' youth!!!!!!!
>
Well, I don't think underage drinking is generally a contributing
>factor in population growth but I think I get what you are driving at.
>In Coeur d'Alene, my former hometown (before Moscow), that seemed to be
>the major outlet for us disaffected youth.
>There are arguably more recreational outlets in Cd'A than Moscow (the
>lake, proximity to skiing, etc.) but the 'youth problem' was there. I
>get the impression that Moscow is not nearly as troubled by 'troubled
>youth' as Cd'A (which was about the same size then as Moscow is now.) I
>admit to being pretty out of touch: what is the scope of the problem
>in Moscow? .
Where to begin. When I was a teenager and growing up here in Moscow the
most distructive thing that teenagers did was vandalizm (nothing major)
and some hemp usage and yes drinking, (the drinking age was still 19 when
I was a senior). In twelve years I we have seen a huge turnaround in
the type of trouble our kids get themselves into. A huge factor
contributing to this is saveer bordom. We now have a small band (gang)
of teens who brake into cars and take everything from sterio's to food
stamps. Another troop is into taking other peoples cars for joy rides.
We also have the son of a well know Doctor, know to have an excellent
bedside manner, who has introduced heroin to our fair town. Something
else that seems to be all the rage are gun totting teens. Sure kids had
guns when I was in school but most of them stayed hanging in the rack of
their pick-up trucks while they were in class.
We also have a huge amount of children who don't really live anywhere.
Parent's no longer know how to deal with their children so they don't and
kids don't understand parent's so they leave home. They stay at one
friends house for a couple of nights then at anothers and so on and so
fourth.
The M.P.D. would have us beleiving that all of the teens who hang out in
friendship square are all delinquents. This is not the case. If the
C.O.P.S. in this town, particularly those transplants from the large
Cal. state cities, would stop treating the youths like hardend criminals
perhaps they wouldn't try to pretend to act that way. This is not
California and the streets of Moscow are safe for the most part. The
transplants from the above mentioned state came here because of that
reason, however they are still using the same tactics, to deal with not
only teens but adults as well, as they were forced to in Calif. The need
to stop and take a breath every once in a while.
As an example: Several months ago I was at a going away party where there
were several live bands. The house was located near a large apartment complex
and someone called in a complaint about the noise level. When the police
arrived, several people went to talk with the police. The police were
for the most part unwilling to listen to anything that was being said.
When a police officer was asked what the complaint was a bout he in a
very agitated state claimed that it was because of the noise. When
asked if he had a decible meter, again in a very agitated state claimed
that if he could hear the noise outside of the house he didn't need one.
By this time he was no more than 3 or 4 inches from the young mans face
to whom he was speaking. I then interveend stating that I thought they
both needed to calm down and take a big breath. When I asked the officer
where he was from guess what he said? California. I then proceeded to
point out that the decible level of sound was, as he was quite aware, a
very fresh issue, i.e. decible levels in the park. And that I felt his
agitation was only going to insight a situation that was not necessary.
An that without a decible meter he, (they), could not issue any tickets
without proof of ordinance miscompliance. As he spoke to me I also
suggested that he not treat this situation as he would one in
California. Although he did not appreciate my comment he did seem to
calm his vocal influxtions as well as his body language. The matter was
finally closed with no confrontation on either side. However the threat
was there simply because of the attitude that the M,P.D. brought with them.
Basically what I am trying to say is that kids will be kids. They need
something to keep them entertain. They are also going to make mistakes
as they journey down lifes roads. It is these mistakes that will give
them wisdom an help to form them into rounded adults. But if the M.P.D.
had there way about it they would through everyone they perceive to be a
delinquent into jail. They continually harras the same people over and
over. In most cases without just cause. This constant harassment only
makes young people even more rebelious towards authority!!!!!
I was once asked by Gary Young, city council candidate, how I thought the
teens of friendship square could be reached. He was of coarse asking
with a Christian agenda in mind. At that time I did not have an answer
for him but, later I it came to me that like Jesus if you want to
understand what people are about and where they are coming from then you
have to meet them on their level. Go to where the people are and don't
expect them to come to you.
To sum up this long blabber, Our community is responsible for the
citizens that it creates, i.e. our youth, and if we don't create a place
for them to go for reasons of: entertainment, refuge from parents,
encouragement, and council, then we will surely have failed then as if we
had taken them out into the woods and left them to fend for themselves
with no food or protection.
That's my two cents worth.
Kay Sodorff-Henson
p.s. please excuse the spelling