Last week, Indianapolis witnessed seven homicides in five days. Sadly, that violence was only a small portion of the killings our city has seen this summer, putting Indy on target to match the homicide rate of 2014, the deadliest in eight years.
Like every Hoosier, I am outraged by this violence. It is time for history to stop repeating itself. We must be honest about the problem facing our community. It is time to acknowledge that there is no single cause of violence and no simple solution to bring peace to our streets. Our system is broken. Whether it is law enforcement to keep our neighborhoods safe or education to start our kids on the right path, nothing should be free from scrutiny and reform. We must tackle every contributing factor if we hope to succeed.
According to the Indiana Institute for Working Families, nearly half (46 percent) of Marion County residents are low-income or not economically self-sufficient, and 22 percent of our city’s children live in poverty. While certainly not a predictor of criminal activity, it is clear that poverty is a significant contributing factor. This study makes clear that children growing up in poverty face tremendous challenges to their long-term economic and social well-being. Poverty often results in decreased earnings and a greater struggle to make ends meet. It leads to poor educational outcomes, which lead to high dropout rates and increased unemployment. And it increases the likelihood of spending time in jail or prison.
To address our crime problems, we need to be doing more, not just to support those in poverty but also to permanently raise them from it. Work is the key to economic self-sufficiency, but simply having a job in not enough. Hoosier workers need quality jobs that pay well enough to support a family’s most basic needs, such as child care, housing and food. Yet, at 27 percent, Indiana has the highest percent growth of “low-wage” jobs of any of its neighboring states. In the midst of our economic recovery, too many Hoosier families are stuck with low-paying or part-time employment.
Now is the time for solutions — new approaches that reflect we’ve learned from our past. Our solutions must create an environment that gives each person the opportunity to climb the income ladder and build a better life for themselves and their families. This is not an easy or fast fix. But if there is one certainty, it is that your community leaders and your government cannot do it alone. There are many good ideas on the table, but we must come together as a community to make them a reality.
Lowering crime is a top priority. I am willing to meet with any state, local or non-profit agency that is willing to join the fight. Who’s with me?
For more information, visit Carson.house.gov.
