A few weekends ago my day began like no other. I woke up grumpy and I couldn’t find any of my stuff. But luckily, I made it out to the cab I had called at 6:30 a.m. sharp so I wouldn’t be late for work. Easy, right? Wrong.
That’s just not the way Murphy’s Law works.
When I stepped out of my house, I saw a little girl in the front seat of the cab and thought, “This is a little strange, but maybe the driver couldn’t find a babysitter.” After all, we are all human.
I opened the car door and I was immediately hurled backward by the stench of cigarettes. It was bad. I mean, it was so bad that I think I might have increased my risk of lung cancer by 20,000 percent.
Even then, I didn’t mind that much. I mean, I was up, on time to work and feeling good. I should’ve known better.
The cab driver then said, “Hey, honey, do you mind if we go to Manley’s?”
I awkwardly glanced at the time and stuttered. I mean, I didn’t want to be late.
“We won’t be long, I promise. Some guy just tried to attack my daughter and she’s hiding in the gas station.”
I’m sorry. What?
Turns out the cab driver’s 34-year-old daughter was roaming the streets of Binghamton at 6 a.m. in her cartoon pajamas when “some guy” attacked her. She locked herself in the gas station and naturally, the gas station attendant was hesitant to let her leave.
While we were waiting, the cab driver kept me entertained with stories of her multiple family members who have gone missing, some of whom have turned up dead. I’m not kidding. Very “Law and Order: SVU.”
Finally, the woman in pajamas came out to the car, swearing up a storm about the guy that attacked her. Her younger sister listened enthusiastically.
As we finally made our way to the gym where I work, the little girl told me I was pretty. She asked if I was a student. I answered, “Yes, I am a student. That’s how I got pretty, actually. Please stay in school. Promise me. Please.”
This little anecdote is not meant to offend that cab driver or any of her family members. Rather, I think it illustrates a few issues in today’s local culture that need addressing.
First and foremost, I am appalled that a young woman was assaulted at 6 in the morning.
According to Neighborhood Scout, a company that tracks and reports crime, school and real estate data, Binghamton has a crime index rating of seven. In other words, Binghamton is safer than only 7 percent of all U.S. cities.
Second, I am shocked that a young woman was alone on a street that doesn’t have a great reputation to begin with. An argument can be made that this woman shouldn’t have to worry about her safety, and I agree wholeheartedly. But unfortunately, this is not a perfect world and we need to take informed precautions when it comes to our safety.
My solution to the crime and safety issues in Binghamton is simple: education.
Children need to be taught how to meander around the city in a safe, secure manner. In addition, they need to be shown the negative effects of choosing to lead a life of crime.
Honestly, I fear for the future of the little girl from the cab. Her mother clearly worked very hard to support her family and didn’t have much time left for any sort of home-education. This is not effective.
Schools often offer crime prevention and safety programs, but if students aren’t reminded of these lessons on a daily basis, they aren’t likely to follow them. Children need strong role models both in and out of the classroom.
While these issues will not be rectified overnight, a consistent education both at school and at home will eventually decrease them significantly.