I am and have been an unusual one to write about the state of America's urban areas. If you've been reading my work for more than the last six minutes, I grew up in a rural setting in Iowa. I'm a happy rural dweller myself these days, and have little time for cities, despite having lived in them for four decades. I find them unpleasant; crowded, noisy, and, to be honest, they smell bad. I like the clean country air of the Susitna Valley, and if that means I have to put up with the long, dark, cold (but beautiful) winters, that's fine.
With that being true, why am I still worried about America's cities? Because our cities are still the beating hearts of our nation. Much of the country's economic activity happens there. Urban areas contain a lot of the country's industry and academia. Moreover, our cities used to be the pride of the nation, but that's no longer the case. Rampant open-air drug use, huge homeless encampments, and rampant crime are taking their toll.
Case in point: Yet another street takeover, this one in Boston.
Now, as a preface, let me say I've spent some time in Boston, most recently in 2016. I've wandered around on the Common, in Little Italy, visited the Boston Public Market, Beacon Hill, and yes, I've even done the touristy thing of hoisting a couple of beers in "Cheers," which doesn't look much like its portrayal on the television show of the same name. I enjoyed Boston, despite my usual dislike of cities; not only is there a huge amount of American history there, but I found the people friendly, the food and local beers great; I had a good time wandering around Boston on a Saturday afternoon.
Things have changed. On Tuesday, we learned that yet another "street takeover" happened in Bean-town, and the resulting law enforcement response was underwhelming.
According to the Boston Police Department, over 100 people were involved in the takeover that involved street racing just after 2 a.m. on October 5. Officers found more than 100 people trying to attack police cruisers with fireworks, cones, poles and other items.
One police cruiser was destroyed by flames and needed to be towed away from the area, officials said.
Boston Police Patrolmen's Association President Larry Calderone told Fox News Digital that those participating in the street takeover were focused on attacking officers.
Note that last part: The "participants," which in a sane world we would call rioters, were "focused on attacking officers." This would imply that the takeover - the riot - was planned specifically for this purpose, to draw law enforcement out so that they could be attacked in force.
This is a serious business, and warrants a serious response.
Here's the underwhelming part:
Two people were arrested during the street takeover – Julian Bowers, 18, of Cumberland, Rhode Island, and William Cantwell, 19, from Warwick, Rhode Island. They were charged with assault and battery on a police officer, resisting arrest, disorderly conduct and malicious destruction of property over $1,200.
Over 100 people were involved. Two were arrested. Two.
Read More: The Downfall of America's Cities: Are Our Cities Self-Destructing?
The Downfall of America's Cities: Why Are Our Streets Out of Control?
Boston isn't the only place this is going on. We've seen them, in increasing numbers, in cities from Maryland to California. The goblins organizing these events do so with relative impunity, knowing they have the advantage of numbers, and as we have seen in this recent event in Boston, that few, if any, arrests and prosecutions will result.
One state, Maryland, appears to be moving in the right direction.
In July 2024, Maryland State Police established a regional task force that includes state police, the Maryland Transportation Authority Police, and local county and city departments.
The task force has made 61 arrests, recovered 37 handguns and 13 stolen vehicles, and dismantled 99 takeovers as of Sept. 23, according to state police.
Only enforcement will put a stop to this. The consequences of these kinds of takeovers must be serious enough to deter future attempts at the same thing. The trouble is, things have gone on for long enough that it may be difficult to assemble a large enough law enforcement presence to deal effectively with these, yes, riots. It's gotten to the point where hundreds of people are involved. Most of them show up, knowing their odds of being arrested and prosecuted are slim. The organizers plan and promote the events with relative impunity.
We are still a nation of laws. There are laws against impeding traffic, against blocking intersections, and against pulling stupid automotive stunts on public roadways. There are certainly laws against attacking cops, and against planning and promoting these street takeovers. Granted, in this Boston event, we don't yet know the whole story on why only two arrests were made; were they the ringleaders? If not, will they be pressured to turn on the organizers of this disturbance?
Whatever the answers are here, the underlying issue is vexing many of our cities today: A lack of rigorous law enforcement. Big-city prosecutors have revolving doors in their offices; big-city judges, too often, let serious criminals off with a slap on the wrist. That happens in street crime, and it happens in the case of these organized riots. That's what has to be fixed. We are either a nation of laws or we are not, and part of the downfall of our major cities lies in just this: a lack of enforcement.
It is one of the few legitimate roles of government to protect the liberty and property of the people. These riots, these street takeovers, threaten the citizens' liberty and property. This must not be allowed.
