Pastors and public take on young violence in west end

Hoping to stem the gun violence that recently brought the west end of the city of York into the headlines, about 50 people congregated at Shiloh Baptist Church on Thursday evening to offer some opinions and ideas.

The group, almost entirely over the age of 40, largely African-American, and peppered with pastors from area churches, pretty much agreed on the causes behind the violence -- kids with guns and attitudes.

The real question was what to do about it. And, that was more difficult to pin down.

Here are some of the comments members of the York community made at the "I Just Want to Be Heard'' West York City Community Meeting.

"The problem starts at home. A lot of people are friends with their children, not parents. We are failing and our kids are dying. I'm tired of putting on T-shirts and going to funerals."

"We lost the village. We've got to get back to the village mentality."

"Nonviolent criminal activity is taking the neighborhood down bit by bit."

"Men need to step up and be fathers. Be a big brother to a little brother."

"You've walked away from your kids. Our children have nothing to do. They're running up and down the streets and there's not a parent in sight."

"How do we hold our kids accountable if we don't hold ourselves accountable?"

"It's a delicate dance. As long as you challenge the one thing they have -- 'I'm a tough guy'  -- they won't listen."

"Kids seem to be angry for whatever reason."

With that said, the meeting, moderated by Shiloh Baptist Senior Pastor Larry Walthour and Brother Fred Walker moved on to ask for ideas to address the problem of violence among the city's young people.

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Already, Walthour, Walker and others have been walking through the far west end of the city, the first few blocks east of Richland Avenue, south of Market Street and north of  Bantz Park, where two people recently were shot.

Their idea is not a new one -- to enlist community captains for each of the 20 blocks in that area surrounding and including Salem Square. Those volunteers would be the liaisons between the neighborhood residents and the police. And, between unruly, defiant and law-breaking children and their mothers.

The neighborhood walks also are an attempt to break the ice with the young people who are the source of much of the neighborhood violence. 

Another consideration that was raised was identifying what resources -- community centers, block parties, job training, church, sports and other activities -- are available to reclaim the city's youth from the streets.

"We've got to connect the dots," Walthour said. "If we don't turn the page on this, we're  going to have another meeting in six months saying the same things."

The meeting organizers have put out a call from volunteer community (block) captains, who will receive training on how to deal with the area's troubled and trouble-making youngsters.

York Mayor Mike Helfrich told the crowd, "I heard 'Organize, organize organize' over and over again tonight and that's what we haven't been doing."

A second meeting continuing the dialogue is set for Aug. 2.