This past week it was revealed that almost half of the children in Rochester live in poverty. This grim statistic gives Rochester the dubious ranking of SECOND in the nation. (As a side note, Syracuse holds is the title holder in child poverty, ranking first.) You can read more about this grim report here.

For context, the ranking is related to cities with 100,000 or more residents.

I moved to Rochester from a small town near Utica, NY in 1990 to attend college.

Being from a small town near a small city, I was captivated by all Rochester had to offer, but I was also stuck by the crime and the poverty. While there was certainly crime and poverty in my home town, it was nothing on the scale I saw in Rochester (of course Rochester is a much larger place than Utica).

Fast forward 30 years, and it seems that things have slowly continued to degrade, especially in the past couple years as the pandemic has taken hold and changed everything.

Some will say this is just a cynical perception on my part, but I don’t think so. I believe there is data that shows that crime has continued to worsen, and that poverty is still a terrible problem.

To me, the debate over how we got here, why it’s like this, and how to fix it has long since past.

Half of our community’s children live in poverty.

How can anyone read that and not get pissed?

Last year there were violent protests in the city over policing on our community. Cars were set on fire, businesses destroyed, people arrested and injured.

The community was angry about policing and they showed it. (I’m not getting into the debate over that situation, this post is not about police policy.)

People have every right to demand change and reform from their government, but when it comes to our children living in poverty, there is no protest. No outrage. No visible anger.

The article I reference above essentially says (among other things) that we all know it’s a problem, and it’s always been a problem.

Really?

It’s always been this way, so it’s ok?

I know it’s a huge problem with many causes. I know many communities around the country are dealing with similar situations. I’m aware that people feel hopeless and helpless. They are frustrated, worn down. Many have given up and accepted that this is how it is, for many it’s all they’ve ever know.

Maybe that’s why there are no protests. People are too tired and frustrated to bother. Or they are too busy simply trying to survive day to day to worry about anything else.

But I’m still amazed that there is no anger.

Why doesn’t someone lead a march and a protest to the front door of the Rochester City School Board demanding better outcomes for students (barely half of kids in city schools graduate from high school). If the graduation rate in Webster was 50%, you can guarantee the community would tie the school superintendent up and drag him through the streets.

Why aren’t people outside City Hall demanding the government do something? Why aren’t there protests at the county legislature. Why aren’t there full blown riots demanding our leaders find ways to break the cycle of poverty.

I know my words are simplistic, and probably the ramblings of an ignorant white suburbanite.

If I feel so strongly, why don’t I lead a protest, or burn some cars. I’m all talk, of course. I can sit comfortably in my home, reasonably sure I won’t get shot walking out my front door and where I can walk to the fridge and grab a snack any time I please.

Obviously it’s not for me to tell people in Rochester how to think or act or feel.

I certainly don’t condone violence, crime, or other harmful means to effect change.

But I sincerely don’t understand where the anger is.

After a child was shot getting off his school bus a few weeks back, it would have been nice to see someone, the mayor perhaps, or some other community leader, stand up and lose their mind. Show anger, demand change, lead the community.

Sadly the killings and violence have become normal over the years. It’s never a surprise when someone is killed, rather it’s a relief when a day (or two) passed without news of violence.

I don’t claim to have any answers. I’m not even sure the root cause of the problems are well understood.

Despite that, I just don’t understand the lack of outrage.

Maybe we’ve all given up.