Luther Blissett
Nomadologist
Tempt their market off the streets and into community-run spaces that the street-corner kids are involved in the running of, and are open 7 days a week 
Realistically, if I as a Citizen want to set something up, I need access to cash, and lots of it. People often know what they want, but don't know how to get it. I know there are grants available from the NOF (New Opportunities Fund) but realistically that takes 9 months to get hold of, and the business plan for it has to be spot on -with accounts projection for three years - firm details of how the project can be entirely self-funding after the first year, rent/electric/heating/water/council tax costs are a huge chunk of the budget - you have to have some idea of how much the building will cost to run and that means virtually having a building guaranteed for use before you have your first NOF consultant visit you. It's possible to cost in the renovation of the boarded-up council youth clubs, but they're not really fit for the purpose (as Reid would say), and this will eat into a large chunk of potential funding grant you'd use for kit. Really pushy types can get local business to sponsor the venture (hit all the HQ of the retail park businesses for donations to a skate-park next to the youth club, for example). It's a massive project, that can't just 'appear' overnight without masses of cash and lots of effort.
Dealing with the dealers? That aint so simple. I had a quiet word with the kids who were lured to them first - that depended on me witnessing the event - alot goes on out of sight of adults who are prepared or knowledgeable enough to avoid bullshitting or frightening the 'street corner-kids' - they need to be made wise, not driven into their arms. I told them straight - about what was in it (thanks to urban75, I knew!), and about why the dealer found it necessary to give them freebies in the hope that he might eventually make enough to fund his habit. I explained how his habit was like food to him - I asked them 'What is the first thing in the morning you want after you've been to the loo'. They laughed, and said the brandnames of various cereals. I replied - he wants a spliff like the rest of us want our breakfast in the morning, but instead of having a bowl of cereal or two, the more he smokes spliff, the more he wants, and it costs money, so he finds ways to fund his growing habit by selling it to you for more than he buys it, but he never actually makes any money, because his habit grows, and he goes out on the street looking for kids like you to sell it to.
I actually can't see any way to deal with it on the street other than showing neighbourhood concern for the kids on the street corners.
As for the street-dealer-twat on speed, I told my neighbour and she got the police involved - and we kept an eye out for the blue car, but it never visted that backwater again, whilst the kids kept hanging on the corner, so I presume the police got onto it.
Anarchist activists are not afraid to get their hands dirty and for the most part, we're socially & politically aware and we care enough to find grassroots solutions. The main problem with centralised govt. is that it stops listening to the Citizens who believed their election promises and voted them into power. They then cut off/close their ears to the grassroots, and reduce spending on society, and increase spending on thinktanks, corporate gadgets, new desks, new technology, etc "because a steering committee/thinktank suggested to them that would improve their ability to govern'. Like hell it will.
The Govt tends to prevent grassroots activists from influencing it's policies, and since it refuses to listen to it's Citizens, it loses the ear and the support of it's Citizens. It's not enough that the right-wing thinktanks are currently the dominant voice (or vice) in the ear of the present govt. - with their global security concerns and their covert sales of new toys for the boys. It's also not ok to close ears to what liberals and leftists have to say in favour domination by the right and the so-called 'centre' - a little bit of each has the some of the answer, and none are wholly correct.
Realistically, if I as a Citizen want to set something up, I need access to cash, and lots of it. People often know what they want, but don't know how to get it. I know there are grants available from the NOF (New Opportunities Fund) but realistically that takes 9 months to get hold of, and the business plan for it has to be spot on -with accounts projection for three years - firm details of how the project can be entirely self-funding after the first year, rent/electric/heating/water/council tax costs are a huge chunk of the budget - you have to have some idea of how much the building will cost to run and that means virtually having a building guaranteed for use before you have your first NOF consultant visit you. It's possible to cost in the renovation of the boarded-up council youth clubs, but they're not really fit for the purpose (as Reid would say), and this will eat into a large chunk of potential funding grant you'd use for kit. Really pushy types can get local business to sponsor the venture (hit all the HQ of the retail park businesses for donations to a skate-park next to the youth club, for example). It's a massive project, that can't just 'appear' overnight without masses of cash and lots of effort.
Dealing with the dealers? That aint so simple. I had a quiet word with the kids who were lured to them first - that depended on me witnessing the event - alot goes on out of sight of adults who are prepared or knowledgeable enough to avoid bullshitting or frightening the 'street corner-kids' - they need to be made wise, not driven into their arms. I told them straight - about what was in it (thanks to urban75, I knew!), and about why the dealer found it necessary to give them freebies in the hope that he might eventually make enough to fund his habit. I explained how his habit was like food to him - I asked them 'What is the first thing in the morning you want after you've been to the loo'. They laughed, and said the brandnames of various cereals. I replied - he wants a spliff like the rest of us want our breakfast in the morning, but instead of having a bowl of cereal or two, the more he smokes spliff, the more he wants, and it costs money, so he finds ways to fund his growing habit by selling it to you for more than he buys it, but he never actually makes any money, because his habit grows, and he goes out on the street looking for kids like you to sell it to.
I actually can't see any way to deal with it on the street other than showing neighbourhood concern for the kids on the street corners.
As for the street-dealer-twat on speed, I told my neighbour and she got the police involved - and we kept an eye out for the blue car, but it never visted that backwater again, whilst the kids kept hanging on the corner, so I presume the police got onto it.
Anarchist activists are not afraid to get their hands dirty and for the most part, we're socially & politically aware and we care enough to find grassroots solutions. The main problem with centralised govt. is that it stops listening to the Citizens who believed their election promises and voted them into power. They then cut off/close their ears to the grassroots, and reduce spending on society, and increase spending on thinktanks, corporate gadgets, new desks, new technology, etc "because a steering committee/thinktank suggested to them that would improve their ability to govern'. Like hell it will.
The Govt tends to prevent grassroots activists from influencing it's policies, and since it refuses to listen to it's Citizens, it loses the ear and the support of it's Citizens. It's not enough that the right-wing thinktanks are currently the dominant voice (or vice) in the ear of the present govt. - with their global security concerns and their covert sales of new toys for the boys. It's also not ok to close ears to what liberals and leftists have to say in favour domination by the right and the so-called 'centre' - a little bit of each has the some of the answer, and none are wholly correct.
Asshole
As for the thread - it IS mine you Asshole - I started it
RIght wing twat
