An analysis of community-based actions in poor, problem-infested neighborhoods in the U.S., in particular the problems of drug trafficking in the neighborhood of Allerton Avenue in the Bronx, New York.
This paper focuses on the problems of drug trafficking in the poverty-stricken neighborhood of Allerton Avenue in the Bronx, New York and how drug trafficking is a very common issue in most poverty-ridden neighborhoods in the United States. It evaluates the lack of education and incentives of the youths in these areas who seek refuge in the delusional world of drugs and how drug-curtailing efforts by the police and other law-enforcement agencies are not successful. It discusses how the solution seems to be community involvement through citizen-driven programs which give citizens a chance to participate directly in those government actions, which aim at providing relief to poverty-stricken people of a particular neighborhood.
“Recruiting the right community members for the task force may often become a major problem, as people do not want to become part of an active campaign. Therefore the more discreet and low profile a campaign is, the better are the chances of its success. People join action committees when they are certain others would not be able to find out. This is because oft-times news of such an action committee may leak out which alerts the drug-dealers and they stay on the lookout for those who support such committees-illegal activities in poverty-stricken areas. We have seen that usually in more affluent areas, there are social networks that regularly arrange social events for the community. This is done both for recreational as well as educational purposes. People in the community gather at one place and get a chance to discuss various problems. It is here that they can come up with effective solutions to eliminate neighborhood problems.”