I agree with Fritzdawg. What a waste of time and money. The state has no business 1) being in the gambling business (lottery) while 2) promoting private gambling only when they can be sure it benefits them (casinos) and at the same time 3) making it illegal for others to gamble. At minimum its hypocritical and unethical to keep gambling illegal while running the lottery.

One follow up: who said the victim was too poor to have an iPhone, btw? Are you assuming that everyone in my city is poor? Everyone that goes to SHS is poor?

iPhones don't cost $500 unless you buy them right from Apple and don't sign up for a plan. If you're a normal person and you go to the AT&T or Verizon store and sign up for a plan, they can be $99 or less. I'm looking at one right now on the AT&T site that costs only 99 cents – if you sign up for a 2 year contract.

This doesn't exactly negate your larger point, but certainly puts things into more accurate context. Plus, keep in mind that for poor people, a smartphone is the cheapest version of a computer/internet access they can get.

newyorker65:

There's a Hannaford across the street? I think you're confused about the location of this store. You're thinking of the one near 146 and Route 9.

or, Hear, Hear. :)

Here here.

Sad.

Yeah, this is a ridiculous idea.

wmarincic and Fritzdawg: A quick google search shows:

"In 2011, 88 percent of all stops did not result in an arrest or a summons being given. Contraband was found in only 2 percent of all stops. The NYPD claims their stop and frisk policy keeps weapons off the street – but weapons were recovered in only one percent of all stops."

(Source: http://ccrjustice.org/stopandfrisk)
I've seen similar data from other sources.

Stating "facts" that actually have no supporting data is not a helpful way to further the debate.

Stopping and searching American citizens who are not suspected of having committed or being about to commit a crime is un-Constitutional, and in this case, it is also ineffective.

Also, this editorial does not claim to speak about anything other than the actions of the NYPD. It does not claim to criticize actions of the SPD. Focus, people.

The chief makes 1.5 million a year? Please elaborate.