暴乱之后的巴蒂摩尔

暴乱之后的巴蒂摩尔

BALTIMORE, MARYLAND— Government officials in Baltimore, Maryland, estimate $9 million in damage was caused by violent demonstrations 1 and riots against police last month. Angry residents took to the streets in the predominately African-American city following the suspicious death of Freddie Gray, a black man, while in police custody 2.

Six police officers, including three African-Americans, face criminal charges in connection with the death. Residents are looking toward the future and solutions to uplift the entire city.

Life has returned to normal in the riot-torn West Baltimore neighborhood. Police are still fighting high crime, and on nearly every corner are signs of economic despair. The recent riots only compounded the problem.

在暴乱盛行的巴蒂摩尔西部社区，生活已经恢复常态，警察仍在打击高犯罪率，这里几乎每个角落都透露出经济绝望的迹象，最近的暴乱只是加重了这一问题。

Many businesses damaged

More than 280 businesses were damaged in the area where 23 percent of black men are unemployed 3. University of Maryland School of Social Work Assistant Dean Bronwyn Mayden was born in Baltimore, and she said securing jobs for blacks is key to the city's future success.

该地区有280多家企业受到破坏，有23%的黑人男子失业。马里兰大学社会工作助理主任布朗文·梅登都出生在巴蒂摩尔，她说为黑人找到就业机会对该市未来的成功来说很关键。

"We also need people that are ready to be trained for jobs. And right now in this community we have a lot of issues where we need to work on getting people ready to be able to hold onto jobs," said Mayden.

“我们还需要立即能接受培训并上岗的人员，目前这个社区有很多问题，我们需要努力让人们做好准备并能够抓住工作机会。”

Maryland state lawmaker Antonio Hayes, who represents this neighborhood, said people here want a better Baltimore.

该社区代表、马里兰州议员安东尼奥·海斯说人们希望巴蒂摩尔变得更好。

"Being better means seeing justice in our criminal justice system, having better opportunities for fair housing, and, you know, having better wages," Hayes.

“变得更好意味着我们的刑事司法体系能更公正，在公平住房和提高工资方面能有更好的机会。”

One out of four blacks in the neighborhood do not have a high school diploma. Brittany Davis blames city officials, including Baltimore Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake, for not making educational investments in black neighborhoods.

该社区每四个黑人就有一个没有高学历，布列塔尼·戴维斯指责包括巴蒂摩尔市长洛林·布莱克在内的市政官员，称他们没有在黑人社区进行教育投资。

"She has taken away our taxpayers 4' money and given it to a builder downtown to build condos, but our schools are lacking resources that they need for our children," said Davis.

“她弄走了我们纳税人的钱，然后拿去在市中心建造房屋，但我们的学校缺少孩子们所需的资源。”

Seeking progress

Community leaders say regaining 5 trust with the police also is essential to moving the city forward.

社区领袖们称，重建对警察的信任对该市的发展来说也是至关重要的。

Former Baltimore police officer Rob Weinhold said, "You have to be engaged with the folks that you are sworn to protect and serve, and understanding what the core issues are so you can, as a public servant, figure out how to be a terrific convener, facilitator and problem solver to improve the quality of life. "

前巴蒂摩尔警察罗布·温霍尔德说，“必须与那些我们誓言要保护和服务的人群进行接触，了解核心问题所在，这样作为公务员就可以明白，如何做一个能够改善生活质量的很棒的召集人、协调者和问题解决者。”

Linda Kees wants the police to do more to fight crime in the neighborhood and dreams of a better quality of life for her family.

琳达·凯斯希望警方在打击该社区犯罪方面加大力度，并梦想自己的家人能享有更高质量的生活。

"I hope they really build the community up like they [city officials] say they will. With that being said, I will do everything in my power to help. I do not have a problem going from door to door asking anybody if they want to help," said Kees.

“我希望他们能建立起市政官员所承诺的社区，因此我愿意尽自己的能力来提供帮助，我不介意挨家挨户了解人们是否需要帮助。”

Kees and others believe positive change can happen with a stronger determination to invest more money in the community and the people who live here.

凯斯和其他人都认为，只要有增加投资该社区和社区居民的更坚定决心，那么就能发生积极的变化。