2006年VOA标准英语-Crime Rate Soars as People Return to New Orlean

By Greg Flakus
New Orleans
28 August 2006

Before Hurricane Katrina devastated¹ New Orleans a year ago, the city had one of the highest crime rates in the United States.
 

New Orleans Police Detectives escort suspect Raymond Amison, 18, center, into jail   
  
New Orleans has only about half the population it had before Katrina. But law enforcement officials say, among the people who have come back are some violent criminals, many of whom belong to drug-dealing gangs.

A woman who calls herself Miss Jones told VOA she and her children are terrified at night by gunfire in her neighborhood. She says local police have not done enough to deal with the problem.

"The police know what is going on in my neighborhood. I know they know, because they have been back there enough," she said. "They are visible, every other day or something, but they always come back at the wrong time."

Miss Jones, who returned to New Orleans to work shortly after Katrina caused the city to flood a year ago, says she now has regrets about coming back. She notes that local authorities are backed by National Guard troops and assistance from the federal government.

"The crime to me is ridiculous. It does not have to be like this, especially when they have the National Guard here," she said. "That is help from the state, help from the United States. I am saying, 'You all have the Army here, why are we still going through what we are going through?'"

Alberto Gonzales talks to reporters after meeting with local, state and federal law enforcement officials in New Orleans on Monday, Aug. 21, 2006   
  
On a visit to New Orleans last week, Attorney General Alberto Gonzales addressed the problem.

"We are concerned about the recent increase in crime and, specifically, violent crime," he said. "We have made great progress in this area, but we still have challenges we must confront."

Gonzales promised more federal help for local law enforcement efforts.

"The department will assign 10 special assistant U.S. attorneys to New Orleans to assist in prosecuting² firearms, drugs and immigration cases, with a federal nexus," he said. "In addition, the department is providing funding to hire an additional nine assistant U.S. attorneys, who will assist with the fraud and violent crime caseload."

Local police officers say the perception of an increase in crime may be greater than the real problem. But in neighborhoods where citizens say gun-toting drug dealers³ are visible every day, residents are terrified.

In a VOA interview, a suburban⁴ police officer who used the name Officer David explained that drug gangs are trying to stake out territories.

"After Katrina, the majority of the bad people did leave, and they did go to other states, Houston, Atlanta, Alabama, Mississippi," he explained. "The ones we are getting back now are from other areas, other than New Orleans, and they are trying to get their territories lined up. It is not actually in New Orleans, they are on the outskirts⁵ of New Orleans. That is where most of the crime is happening. It is not happening in downtown New Orleans, per se."

Officer David says the gang members are often heavily armed and ruthless. He says citizens are right to be afraid of these criminals, who represent a serious challenge to law enforcement organizations.

DAVID: "The gangs trying to set up their territories, they want people to know 'We are here. You cannot overtake us, and we will fight you, and we will kill you, until this is well-known that this is our area to sell drugs. So stay away.'"

FLAKUS: "Is the threat to the general populace mostly from catching⁶ a stray bullet, or are these people aggressive towards other people, who are not involved in drugs?"

DAVID: "Their aggression⁷ is toward anyone who gets in their way. They do not care, if you are a civilian⁸, if you are a child, if you are a mother or a father. They do not care. As long as they are making their money, and are able to sell their drugs on the street, without getting harassed⁹, they will kill whomever gets in the way."

Louisiana Governor Kathleen Blanco sent National Guard troops to New Orleans after five teenagers were killed by gunfire, while riding in a vehicle in the city in June. In the past year, the federal government has provided Louisiana with $61 million in justice assistance grants and Katrina relief law enforcement infrastructure¹⁰ funds. In addition, Washington is providing $20 million to Orleans Parish, which includes New Orleans, for rebuilding its criminal justice system.

1 devastated   

v.彻底破坏( devastate的过去式和过去分词)；摧毁；毁灭；在感情上（精神上、财务上等）压垮adj.毁坏的；极为震惊的

参考例句：

• The bomb devastated much of the old part of the city. 这颗炸弹炸毁了旧城的一大片地方。
• His family is absolutely devastated. 他的一家感到极为震惊。

2 prosecuting   

检举、告发某人( prosecute的现在分词 )； 对某人提起公诉； 继续从事（某事物）； 担任控方律师

参考例句：

• The witness was cross-examined by the prosecuting counsel. 证人接受控方律师的盘问。
• Every point made by the prosecuting attorney was telling. 检查官提出的每一点都是有力的。

3 dealers   

n.商人( dealer的名词复数 )；贩毒者；毒品贩子；发牌者

参考例句：

• There was fast bidding between private collectors and dealers. 私人收藏家和交易商急速竞相喊价。
• The police were corrupt and were operating in collusion with the drug dealers. 警察腐败，与那伙毒品贩子内外勾结。

4 suburban   

adj.城郊的，在郊区的

参考例句：

• Suburban shopping centers were springing up all over America. 效区的商业中心在美国如雨后春笋般地兴起。
• There's a lot of good things about suburban living.郊区生活是有许多优点。

5 outskirts   

n.郊外，郊区

参考例句：

• Our car broke down on the outskirts of the city.我们的汽车在市郊出了故障。
• They mostly live on the outskirts of a town.他们大多住在近郊。

6 catching   

adj.易传染的，有魅力的，迷人的，接住

参考例句：

• There are those who think eczema is catching.有人就是认为湿疹会传染。
• Enthusiasm is very catching.热情非常富有感染力。

7 aggression   

n.进攻，侵略，侵犯，侵害

参考例句：

• So long as we are firmly united, we need fear no aggression.只要我们紧密地团结，就不必惧怕外来侵略。
• Her view is that aggression is part of human nature.她认为攻击性是人类本性的一部份。

8 civilian   

adj.平民的，民用的，民众的

参考例句：

• There is no reliable information about civilian casualties.关于平民的伤亡还没有确凿的信息。
• He resigned his commission to take up a civilian job.他辞去军职而从事平民工作。

9 harassed   

adj. 疲倦的，厌烦的 动词harass的过去式和过去分词

参考例句：

• He has complained of being harassed by the police. 他投诉受到警方侵扰。
• harassed mothers with their children 带着孩子的疲惫不堪的母亲们

10 infrastructure   

n.下部构造，下部组织，基础结构，基础设施

参考例句：

• We should step up the development of infrastructure for research.加强科学基础设施建设。
• We should strengthen cultural infrastructure and boost various types of popular culture.加强文化基础设施建设，发展各类群众文化。