“The only way we’re going to clean up this street is to get rid of the spics and niggers” — A quote from Bernie Goetz before the shooting.
It’s always dangerous to simplify injustices into the self-serving, self-help wankery way its been shoe-horned into Gladwell’s theory (which has been greatly disputed and in the instance of NYC, found to be exaggerated or even completely wrong). Goetz was not a catalyst for the “glaziers being called in” as you put it. It was attempted murder and escalated due to Goetz’ racism.
It’s debatable how much the strong enforcement of misdemeanor laws had in reducing crime and graffiti. The economy also improved greatly which always has an impact on petty crime.
What is undeniable is that the misdemeanor laws resulted in a generation of black and hispanic men targeted by police.
I’d avoid these kinds of simplifications unless you’re prepared to discuss the wider issues at hand.
