As someone living in one of the “hotspots” and carefully following local court cases involving violence, I think this letter, too, is a simplistic view of the issues.

I agree that redlining and access to services, including, and in particular education and workforce, development, are a large part of this problem. Where I take issue is the idea that the individuals perpetrating violence have no agency of their own, but instead have no choice but to commit violence as victims of circumstance. This feels, to me, just as disrespectful as the rhetoric implicating entire racial and socioeconomic groups for the actions of a very few.

I think one of the issues in Evanston is that we discuss at this problem in an either/or way, instead of from both perspectives simultaneously. We — and by “we” I mean both individuals and our representatives in City government — need to address the disparities, not because it will curtail violence, but because it is the right thing to do. In addition, we need to band together to prevent violence and protect all of our community because it is also the right thing to do.

Michele Hays, Evanston Resident