Yesterday’s Protection Racket
When we think of a Protection Racket, we think of the 1970’s movie “The Godfather” with Marlon Brando. In the film small “Mom & Pop” stores were being shaken down by the “foot soldiers” of La Cosa Nostra. The sales pitch for protection was very simple, “Either pay up or you or your business will be busted up”. Everyone understands this is extorsion.
When I watched "The Godfather" and the foot soldiers were collecting the protection money, I always asked myself, where are the police? The police were either paid to look the other way or ordered to avoid the area. The protection racket preys upon law-abiding citizens when law enforcement is non-existent.
Today’s Protection Racket
Today’s protection racket is run by the homeless. They walk in with an outstretched hand looking for the basics for life. For some, it is just a request but for others, it is, “pay up or you’re going to get busted up”.
Police spokespersons describe muggings as just aggressive panhandlers. They are describing today’s protection racket and providing cover for their political bosses. This is not aggressive panhandling; this is extortion of the residents and is ignored by the police, district attorneys, and mayors.
When police, district attorneys, and mayors with their city council members decided to tolerate shoplifting they left business owners on their own. Recently an Albuquerque store manager had enough of shoplifting by the homeless and put his foot down. Days later the store was burned to the ground after the second attempt by an arsonist. City leaders could breathe easier that customers and staff were not injured. The arsonist was described to me as one of many local homeless. To law enforcement, they are an unknown person or persons. To me, they are extortionists. Either pay up or get busted up or in this case, burned down.
What Happened to Our Public Protection?
District attorneys proudly publicize their office will no longer prosecute misdemeanor crimes. The homeless comply by keeping the value of stolen goods within the DA’s limits of tolerable theft. Mayors and city council members view the police as problem creators. The police’s priority becomes avoiding problems and completing police reports for the victim’s insurance companies.
We elected our district attorneys to prosecute those who violate our laws not to give tacit approval to those who steal our property. Nor did we elect our mayors and city council members to relegate our police to push paper for the insurance industry.
Our mayors, city council members, and district attorneys have abandoned those that we count on for our food, clothing, and everyday items, our retail stores.
Support Your Local Police
Today the lawless are ignored until someone of consequence suffers great bodily injury or is murdered.
Law enforcement begins with the men and women keeping our neighborhoods safe for us and our children. Our mayors and city council members are responsible for the safety of the community and the actions of the police. Our district attorneys are expected to prosecute those who are arrested for breaking our laws. The judge’s job is to make the punishment fit the crime.
Mayors and city council members, district attorneys, and judges were elected to office by you and your fellow citizens. If those individuals are not keeping you and your children safe and protecting your property, then work to elect an individual who will.
MICK RICH is host of the public affairs broadcast “To the Point with Mick Rich,” which will air statewide in New Mexico on KCHF-TV and in Albuquerque on 96.9FM / 700AM.