Effects on the efforts of Chelsea's crime prevention

In the e -mail, these priorities as combating violent crimes, protected American children, supported the support of victims of human trafficking and sexual assault and cooperation with law enforcement authorities.

“We were terminated because we supposedly didn't do all the things we actually do,” said Baldwin last week.

Since part of the money in the scholarship – which has already been returned to the bidges – has already been issued, the actual amount is around 4 million dollars. For a non-profit organization that depends on the federal and state government for about two thirds of its budget of $ 36 million, this is not a slight change. Baldwin began on Tuesday, whose jobs were financed by the lost grants.

Roca was founded in 1988 by a group of activists, including Baldwin, to tackle the problem of youth crime in Chelsea. The staff works with thousands of restless young people every year: navigation helps them in the judicial system, offers vocational training and conveys skills to defuse the types of confrontations that can lead to violence.

It is also trained 7,500 police and correction officials, with tools used that are rooted in cognitive behavioral therapy in order to conflicts into entertainment. In addition to Chelsea and Boston, it also operates programs for violence prevention in Springfield, Hartford and Baltimore. The programs in all cities will be affected by the cuts.

Over the years I have personally seen how the workers of Roca Street pursued young adults to encourage them, to get involved in their programs, or to help them solve legal cases that could make it much more difficult for them to get a job or find a place of residence. It has supported victims of sex abuse and trade for years.

It is an organization that both intensively data drives and how it works.

“If you really want to reduce violent crimes, why should you remove the funds of the groups that actually deal with young people and help them make changes?” Asked Baldwin rhetorically.

A reduction of 4 million US dollars probably doesn't feel like a big deal for someone who formally sends letters from Washington. But it cuts deep in a place like Chelsea, where even local anchors are in a constant struggle for the resources to do their work.

Baldwin's greatest fear is that this cut is only the beginning. It is only a matter of time before federal financing also goes back to state and local governments.

But Baldwin insists that Roca will make it.

“I would like to say the following: We don't go anywhere,” said Baldwin. “We'll get through that. We may look very different, but we will find out and get through it.”

But it shouldn't find out so much to wade through. One of the most annoying characteristics of the first 100 days of President Trump is his insistence that everything he doesn't like is illegitimate. Regardless of whether we are talking about deportations or eliminating the Ministry of Education or accelerating criminal judicial programs, there is nothing that is qualified as a meaningful discussion or debate.

Instead, they communicate through some senseless e -mails in which people are informed that their work is no longer supported.

It could help if the people who make these decisions actually have to do with young people who serve a group like Roca, the people whose lives influence them. But you would probably look at that inefficiently.

Roca has not survived for 40 years without dealing with the postponement of political assets, and it will not kill the loss of a scholarship.

But do not make a mistake: the sheer privacy of this administration will change life. Especially how Baldwin found, in a place where many people already live near margins.

“There are many Chelseas across the country,” said Baldwin. “When you start taking away the few resources, people are only more stressed, things only make things more difficult. And if people don't feel good, things are not sure.”

Adrian Walker is a globe columnist. It can be reached at adrian.walker@globe.com. Follow him @Adrian_walker.