Monday's Vindicator says:

"Youngstown fights back"   [again?]

Y-town Police Chief Jimmy Hughes said.: "It was just wrong place, wrong time, wrong car,"

Youngstown Mayor Jay Williams issued a reward of up to $10,000, for information leading to the arrest and conviction in the shooting death Saturday of Thomas J. Repchic, 75, the city’s 17th homicide of 2010.

Saturday afternoon Thomas J. Repchic, 75  picked up his wifeJacqueline A. Repchic, 74,  from St. Dominic's Church at about 1 p.m..   They drove a few blocks down Southern Boulevard and then, according to police reports, someone in a red Dodge Durango opened fire, killing him and wounding his wife.  Police said-12 shots were fired at their car at the intersection of Philadelphia Avenue,

Mayor Williams said :

“The actions that transpired were absolutely reprehensible. There’s no reason on Earth that this should have happened to two truly innocent victims.”

Hmmmm,TRULY innocent victims??? (and the other victims of murder?)

I haven't seen nor heard this much from 'leaders' since  the  23 Jan. murder of 80-year-old Angeline Fimognari.

Hmmmm,TRULY innocent victims??? (and the other victims of murder?)

Regular listeners to my radio show have heard weekly updates from V Grip-ers' Lt Kevin Mercer(YPD)  Nick Vouvalis(U.S. ATF) and , occassionally,  United States Attorney David M. Toepfer. 

Last week I asked YPD Chief Hughes if the VGrip programme was going to continue. It's my understanding that the committment to  the programme expires at the end of this month-this Thursday at midnight. Chief Hughes was 'non-committal'. "Louie,can you write me a check?" Well, here's how I see it:

1) ATF Agent Vouvalis and US Atty Toepfer are already on US salaries - this IS their job.

2) YPD Lt Mercer is already on YPD payroll.This IS his job.

3) These guys have PROVEN to be EXTREMELY effective in a VERY brief period of time:

Over the past 10 weeks, (theVGrip-ers) Violence, Gun Reduction Interdiction Programme took 119 guns off Mahoning County streets and resulted in many federal indictments and  arrests.

I know this crew,The VGrip-ers, want to continue their good work for OUR community.

ATF Agent Vouvalis and US Atty Toepfer will be on the show Tuesday(28 Sept).

I do not think this community need wait - any longer - for a confimation that the VGrip's work will continue.

I  also cannot help to think that It 'feels' as if,somehow, someway - when  urban blacks are murdered - mum's the word, but when there's red blood on white skin, well, 'leadership's' outraged -- at least for a minute or two... After all, we wouldn't want red  blood to colour the  renaissance.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MbGS2TQ8QSE" rel="nofollow">Mcgruff the crime dog!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X-eUSzl3gEI" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Tom Waits - Romeo Is Bleeding