Newburgh Perspectives. The Problem

 

Perspective:  The PROBLEM in NEWBURGH.

 

The rashes of murders in Newburgh are not the problem; they are a “symptom.”  The gangs, crime, drugs and urban decay are also symptoms of the same core problem. Other symptoms include high unemployment, the homeless, teen pregnancy, single parent households, child hunger and the depressing hopelessness of the people who live in the midst of the City’s problem.  That problem; Newburgh’s core issue from which all these visible and destructive “symptoms” fester and grow can be defined in a single word; Poverty. 

 

Personally I find it frustrating not one of the expert opinions voiced of late actually defines Poverty as the cause of Newburgh’s current condition.  An article a few months back in a daily paper had political leaders suggesting ways to “help Newburgh.”  The proposals made were, in fact, suggestions for treating symptoms of Poverty; job creation; more law enforcement; new business investment; and a desire for greater homeownership.  Not one of these community leaders specifically suggested addressing Poverty in Newburgh.  In point of fact, the word “Poverty” was not even mentioned in the article.  It was almost as if saying the word was “taboo;” as if speaking that one word was “politically incorrect” when discussing the City of Newburgh.   

 

Yet in Newburgh poverty is clearly and visibly “the” problem.  Walk or drive around the places where all these “symptoms’” fester; where murders have happened; where the crime is rampant and you can see it.  What makes it worse is, much like cancer, if this core problem of Poverty is not addressed, no solution proposed in Newburgh has a chance in hell of working; no solution to the many “symptoms” that make us all cringe will last.  If there is a momentary lull in the murders or crime because there are more cops on the street or a curfew is enforced, you can bet it will be in remission for only a short time.  Fail to address the Poverty and the symptom will be back sooner or later. Wait a month or a year or two it will reappear just as the song says; same as it ever was.   

 

Which leaves Newburgh’s with the reality that no effort to deal with the gangs, murders, crime and the other “symptoms” will succeed until it directly addresses the conditions that Poverty.   Without a solution to Poverty, all the destructive symptoms undermining the basic quality of life in Newburgh will continue and then same questions being raised now will be raised from different people 2 years; 5 years and 10 years in the future.  But  what should be feared even more, again using cancer as the metaphor, is if the Poverty is not addressed sooner or later it, and the symptoms, will spread to surrounding communities.

 

Of course defining a problem is only a first step in solving it.  It is, however, one of the most critical of steps in moving toward a solution. Another critical first step is a commitment to solve it; but it is a commitment that must last years, not weeks.  From my experience, however, unless a problem is clearly defined, it is impossible to effectively solve.  When it comes down to it, Poverty is Newburgh’s core problem and everything else is a consequence of that problem.  

 

Interestingly, the second step, what is required in order to solve the problem of Poverty can be defined in one simple singular word.  Unfortunately the solution and explanation require more than a single sentence or paragraph so it will have to wait for another essay.  I apologize for leaving readers hanging, but if you are really interested in helping this city, Newburgh, that so many people care and hope for; if you are truly interested in bringing it back to what it can be, might be and should be; I think the wait will be worth it.

 

 

Drew Kartiganer