We can solve our own problems

What will help Albany in the long run?

Better student accountability. Teaching a work ethic. At school when you are supposed to be, no lateness tolerated. Be prepared for class. Actually do the homework, or suffer the penalty of after-school detention to assure it is done. Classroom control by the teacher, not the rowdy few. Mandated parental involvement, find and utilize all resources to force this issue. Make schools safe for everyone, even if that involves more police presence. Don’t be bashful about dealing with problem students in the harshest possible manner allowed. Produce a marketable graduate that industry, employers are looking for.

Clean up Albany. Don’t sit there and wait for someone else to pick up the trash. Catch and fine the litterbugs. Use those cameras for evidence; at least they would then be of some use. Sort of like Giuliani’s Broken Windows concept.

Don’t profile. However, if they chose to dress like a thug, act like a thug and talk like a thug, make the assumption that they just might be thugs. Deal with them, there are all sorts of codes on the books that could make life really interesting for them. Especially involving their vehicles.

Gently remind all the good citizens that if they made police aware of problems, the police could deal with those problems on a much better basis. In street terms, it is OK to snitch.

Remind our judiciary they are not social workers, but judges who are sworn to enforce the rule of law. Not compensate and allow exceptions for individuals they feel society has let down.

Working together, it would be possible to improve Albany. Isn’t that the goal we all have? Whether we live in Lee County or Dougherty, one affects the other.

Walt Specht

Leesburg