Either the best or worst

Collaborative idea ever:

I have often thought that their should be more mixed-use facilities, where several public organizations are all available under one roof, such as a public library, a small police station, and a social services agency office all in the same building.

I realize that I said I wouldn’t mention social justice stuff anymore… But perhaps what I meant is that I would bring it up in a discussion thread, because I (honest to god) cannot let this pass. I’m biting my tongue so hard it is bleeding. No joke.

A classmate (a smart and intelligent classmate, mind you) wrote this on a discussion about collaboration. I do like the idea of a more one-stop shop for civil services and eliminating the service silos provided by cities and municipalities (or, heck, even the federal government).

I don’t like the idea of there being a police station in or near a library. Actually, I don’t like the idea of police being anywhere near my place of business, my home, my recreational areas, etc. Basically, I don’t want the popo anywhere near me. Why? Because they frighten me — I’m more likely to be attacked by the police than a random person in the street. The police are not on the side of any marginalized person, as they represent the direct fist of oppression in our society (and often do the oppression *with* their fists). I’m not the only person who feels this way.

Putting a police station in or near a library *would* be a great way to discourage racial minorities, gender divergent people, poor people, homeless people, and any other group who the police traditional attack instead of protect. This is a great example of why diversity is needed in organizations: to prevent things like this from happening. Unless, the shift from institutional exclusion to direct oppression was the intention (but knowing who wrote that, I doubt it).