Statement from Legislator Michel on the New Square Incident

New City, NY (June 2, 2011) - Rockland County Legislator Jacques O. D’I Michel made the following statement concerning the recent attack on a New Square resident:

“As a neighbor, Minister, criminologist and County Legislator, I deplore the recent attack on a New Square resident by an 18 year old youth,  who is now charged with first-degree assault, first-degree attempted arson and second-degree attempted murder.

This is an incident perpetrated by a young person, and is indicative of a wider societal problem as noted by Mahatma Gandhi: ‘If we are to have real peace, we must begin with the children’.  In this incident, both men are victimized by our criminological society that failed them. Our children, in this day and age, are faced with many forces and exposures that are changing the course of their lives.

There is little question that crimes committed by juveniles in our communities today are more likely than ever to be of a more serious and more violent nature. In his May 28 article, LoHud journalist Steve Lieberman quoted Grand Rebbe David Twersky, as saying, ‘We condemn in the strongest possible terms the use of violence under any circumstances. We who have suffered so much from brutality must embody the path of peace and tranquility.’

AWARENESS is the key word here; and is a major contributor to solving the national epidemic of violent youth behavior. A challenge dealing with the greatest resource we have is a mission that must be undertaken. This resource is our youth, whose responsibility and mission in life will far exceed ours.

The Crime Awareness Program that I founded and managed for fifteen years under the auspices of the Rockland County Sheriff’s Department fulfilled the urgent need to provide a broad-based service to young adults and their families - deterring violent, criminal and anti-social behaviors as means of problem solving. Youth must be redirected towards productive life choices. Institutions and families must provide avenues to help the young make positive contributions to their communities and wise personal choices.

My prayers go to the victim, the accused, their families and the New Square community. May their faith bring peace and healing to all affected by this unfortunate incident.”