---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: If you don't start targeting what's…"
description: "\"If you don't start targeting what's feeding crime then we are going to throw good money into a bad scenario.\" — Eric Adams"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cb2/eric-adams-5703_bad_if-you-don-t-start-targeting-what-s-feed_2693798.jpg"
---

#  If you don't start targeting what's feeding crime then we…

![“If you don't start targeting what's feeding crime then we are going to throw good money into a bad scenario.” quote by Eric Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cb2/eric-adams-5703_bad_if-you-don-t-start-targeting-what-s-feed_2693798.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cb2/eric-adams-5703_bad_if-you-don-t-start-targeting-what-s-feed_2693798.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cb2/eric-adams-5703_bad_if-you-don-t-start-targeting-what-s-feed_2693798.jpg)

> “If you don't start targeting what's feeding crime then we are going to throw good money into a bad scenario.”

[Eric Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-adams/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Addressing root causes of crime is essential to avoid misdirected funding and ineffective policies.

**In simple terms:** Target crime causes, not symptoms.

Key Takeaway

Focus resources on prevention.

Themes

public policy crime prevention budgeting

Mood

concerned determined

Type

policy advocacy

When to use this quote

- urban planning
- law enforcement budgeting
- community programs

Key Concepts

social determinants resource allocation

Questions to Reflect On

- What underlying factors drive local crime?
- How can budgets be reallocated effectively?

A Different Perspective

Complex social issues may resist simple solutions.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Crime](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/crime/) [Money](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/money/)

## Related quotes

> [ I think \[food producers\] should appreciate that we're only targeting their property. Because frankly I think it's time to start targeting them. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rod-coronado/i-think-food-producers-should-appreciate-that-we-re-only-targeting/)

[Rod Coronado](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rod-coronado/)

> [Oops, my bad, that's my scenario. No I can't fuck a scary hoe.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ugk/oops-my-bad-that-s-my-scenario-no-i-can-t-fuck-a-scary-hoe/)

[UGK](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ugk/)

> [“We prefer being certain about a bad scenario rather than being uncertain”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/s-e-sever/we-prefer-being-certain-about-a-bad-scenario-rather-than-being/)

S.E. SEVER

> [The least-bad scenario is a hard landing, global recession worse than the 1930s. The worst-case borrows from the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse: war,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenneth-s-deffeyes/the-least-bad-scenario-is-a-hard-landing-global-recession-worse-than/)

[Kenneth S. Deffeyes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenneth-s-deffeyes/)

> [We are going to be working very hard on the inner cities having to do with education, having to do with crime. We're going…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-trump/we-are-going-to-be-working-very-hard-on-the-inner-cities-having-to-do/)

[Donald Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-trump/)

> [As long as there are guns, the individual that wants a gun for a crime is going to have one and going to get…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-reagan/as-long-as-there-are-guns-the-individual-that-wants-a-gun-for-a-crime-2/)

[Ronald Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-reagan/)

> [If crime is going down, you shouldn't be increasing resources for crime prevention. Or you should be taking note of what has worked and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-pinker/if-crime-is-going-down-you-shouldn-t-be-increasing-resources-for/)

[Steven Pinker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-pinker/)

> [I don't think anything good is happening. I think we're paying the price for it. I think while crime in general is going down,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-zigler/i-don-t-think-anything-good-is-happening-i-think-we-re-paying-the/)

[Edward Zigler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-zigler/)

> [Every portal coming into this country is being attacked by those who would harvest information, both national security secrets and just the common information…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/darrell-issa/every-portal-coming-into-this-country-is-being-attacked-by-those-who/)

[Darrell Issa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/darrell-issa/)

> [Crime is going down everywhere but in the New York City Police Department.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-sharpton/crime-is-going-down-everywhere-but-in-the-new-york-city-police/)

[Al Sharpton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-sharpton/)

> [When people get hungry and desperate, things get ugly. And I'll tell you where it's really going to get ugly: crime is going to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerald-celente/when-people-get-hungry-and-desperate-things-get-ugly-and-i-ll-tell/)

[Gerald Celente](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerald-celente/)

> [“Oh, I wish I’d come over here once in a while! That was a crime! That was a crime! Who’s going to punish that?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-glaspell/oh-i-wish-i-d-come-over-here-once-in-a-while-that-was-a-crime-that/)

[Susan Glaspell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-glaspell/)

> [“Money's a bad guest," said the widow Smith Patterson, keeping her arms crossed. "It doesn't stay long enough, and it makes an awful mess…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-westover/money-s-a-bad-guest-said-the-widow-smith-patterson-keeping-her-arms/)

Tim Westover

> [Money is a bad friend. Don't ever do anything for money.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maurizio-cattelan/money-is-a-bad-friend-don-t-ever-do-anything-for-money/)

[Maurizio Cattelan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maurizio-cattelan/)

> [I was three times AAU All-American World Champion and I had rough time. I was broke, no money and everything was bad for me…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/the-iron-sheik/i-was-three-times-aau-all-american-world-champion-and-i-had-rough/)

[The Iron Sheik](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/the-iron-sheik/)

## More by Eric Adams

> [Well, many Blacks who are vegan are vegan for health reasons. They believe in putting the right food in their bodies. And they are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-adams/well-many-blacks-who-are-vegan-are-vegan-for-health-reasons-they/)

[Eric Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-adams/)

> [I was progressive before the term progressive actually existed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-adams/i-was-progressive-before-the-term-progressive-actually-existed/)

[Eric Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-adams/)

> [As an early advocate for neighborhood policing, I've been heartened to see the tangible impact of police officers spending less time in their station…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-adams/as-an-early-advocate-for-neighborhood-policing-i-ve-been-heartened-to/)

[Eric Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-adams/)

> [As our city and country begin the long, rocky road of recovery from COVID, we still must avoid the pitfalls of another deadly public…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-adams/as-our-city-and-country-begin-the-long-rocky-road-of-recovery-from/)

[Eric Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-adams/)

> [I don't want anybody holding doors for me. I don't want anyone to hold my umbrella.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-adams/i-don-t-want-anybody-holding-doors-for-me-i-don-t-want-anyone-to-hold/)

[Eric Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-adams/)

> [We can save more lives with plant-based diet if people would only realize they are enslaved to fats, oil, sugar and things that are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-adams/we-can-save-more-lives-with-plant-based-diet-if-people-would-only/)

[Eric Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-adams/)

> [This is not a socialist country; let's be clear on that. This is a country that believes: give people the opportunities and they will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-adams/this-is-not-a-socialist-country-let-s-be-clear-on-that-this-is-a/)

[Eric Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-adams/)

> [Young people have always established themselves in an anti-establishment way - I don't care if it's wearing long hair, wearing bell bottoms, wearing miniskirts.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-adams/young-people-have-always-established-themselves-in-an-anti/)

[Eric Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-adams/)

> [The first classroom is in a mother's womb.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-adams/the-first-classroom-is-in-a-mother-s-womb/)

[Eric Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-adams/)

> [If we truly are the greatest city in the greatest country on Earth, we cannot fail those facing the greatest need.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-adams/if-we-truly-are-the-greatest-city-in-the-greatest-country-on-earth-we/)

[Eric Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-adams/)

> [I have dedicated my career to advocating for a more equitable, humane criminal justice system.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-adams/i-have-dedicated-my-career-to-advocating-for-a-more-equitable-humane/)

[Eric Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-adams/)

> [Someone who decides to turn in a violent criminal isn't a snitch; they're a hero.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-adams/someone-who-decides-to-turn-in-a-violent-criminal-isn-t-a-snitch-they/)

[Eric Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-adams/)

> [As a founder of 100 Blacks in Law Enforcement Who Care, I would often police the streets in a bulletproof vest one day during…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-adams/as-a-founder-of-100-blacks-in-law-enforcement-who-care-i-would-often/)

[Eric Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-adams/)

> [As a former police officer, I have long advocated that it is not only the job of the NYPD to make our communities safe.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-adams/as-a-former-police-officer-i-have-long-advocated-that-it-is-not-only/)

[Eric Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-adams/)

> [If you committed a serious crime, you should not be allowed to own a gun.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-adams/if-you-committed-a-serious-crime-you-should-not-be-allowed-to-own-a/)

[Eric Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-adams/)

[Explore all 100 Eric Adams quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-adams/)

## More Bad quotes

> [If I am going to be phased out by whatever powers, then I want people to know that it is not because I am…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/parvathy/if-i-am-going-to-be-phased-out-by-whatever-powers-then-i-want-people/)

[Parvathy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/parvathy/)

> [Sometimes I'm in a bad mood, sometimes I'm in a good mood. It's like everyone else.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tricky/sometimes-i-m-in-a-bad-mood-sometimes-i-m-in-a-good-mood-it-s-like/)

[Tricky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tricky/)

> [Unfortunately, we all go through bad phases.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sushmita-sen/unfortunately-we-all-go-through-bad-phases/)

[Sushmita Sen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sushmita-sen/)

> [The Derby experience had not been good for me and the way it finished left a very bad taste in my mouth so I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nigel-pearson/the-derby-experience-had-not-been-good-for-me-and-the-way-it-finished/)

[Nigel Pearson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nigel-pearson/)

> [What people tend to forget is the journey that I had getting to Formula One. There were plenty of years where I had to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lewis-hamilton/what-people-tend-to-forget-is-the-journey-that-i-had-getting-to/)

[Lewis Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lewis-hamilton/)

> [Television, radio, social media. The 24/7 news cycle plows forward mercilessly on our desks, in our cars and in our pockets. Thousands and thousands…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-prince/television-radio-social-media-the-24-7-news-cycle-plows-forward/)

[Joseph Prince](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-prince/)

> [I listen to heavy metal thanks to my son. When I argue with him on the kind of music he is listening to, he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zeenat-aman/i-listen-to-heavy-metal-thanks-to-my-son-when-i-argue-with-him-on-the/)

[Zeenat Aman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zeenat-aman/)

> [I've said it before, good people are forced to do bad things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/angus-cloud/i-ve-said-it-before-good-people-are-forced-to-do-bad-things/)

[Angus Cloud](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/angus-cloud/)

> [“If any woman opens her legs for you, don't feel so lucky to be fed with nonsense, she has been a bitch for a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-bassey-johnson/if-any-woman-opens-her-legs-for-you-don-t-feel-so-lucky-to-be-fed/)

[Michael Bassey Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-bassey-johnson/)

> [One thing I always tell players is that there are three bad things: Nothing good happens after midnight, nothing good happens when you're around…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-saban/one-thing-i-always-tell-players-is-that-there-are-three-bad-things/)

[Nick Saban](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-saban/)

> [Everybody has bad days, but how you respond to it is a testament to whether you are a winner or a loser.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-gordon/everybody-has-bad-days-but-how-you-respond-to-it-is-a-testament-to/)

[Aaron Gordon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-gordon/)

> [Obviously I'm very grateful 'Bad Guy' is doing so well - it's shocking and surprising and gratifying - but I do think it's important…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/finneas/obviously-i-m-very-grateful-bad-guy-is-doing-so-well-it-s-shocking/)

[Finneas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/finneas/)

> [I felt pretty good growing up. I didnt feel a lot of prejudice or racism. But I do remember, if there was going to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-henry-hwang/i-felt-pretty-good-growing-up-i-didnt-feel-a-lot-of-prejudice-or/)

[David Henry Hwang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-henry-hwang/)

> [If you read 'Lord of the Rings' and dismiss it as a lie because it has orcs and elves, you're missing the whole point…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doug-tennapel/if-you-read-lord-of-the-rings-and-dismiss-it-as-a-lie-because-it-has/)

[Doug TenNapel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doug-tennapel/)

> [My conscience is really active. So I feel bad about spending excess amount of money on things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/syd/my-conscience-is-really-active-so-i-feel-bad-about-spending-excess/)

[Syd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/syd/)

Browse all 7,973 Bad quotes

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "If you don't start targeting what's feeding crime then we are going to throw good money into a bad scenario.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Eric Adams"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-adams/if-you-don-t-start-targeting-what-s-feeding-crime-then-we-are-going/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Bad"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-adams/if-you-don-t-start-targeting-what-s-feeding-crime-then-we-are-going/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cb2/eric-adams-5703_bad_if-you-don-t-start-targeting-what-s-feed_2693798.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cb2/eric-adams-5703_bad_if-you-don-t-start-targeting-what-s-feed_2693798.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cb2/eric-adams-5703_bad_if-you-don-t-start-targeting-what-s-feed_2693798.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“If you don't start targeting what's feeding crime then we are going to throw good money into a bad scenario.” — Eric Adams",
                "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
                "creator": {
                    "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
                }
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "BreadcrumbList",
            "itemListElement": [
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 1,
                    "name": "Home",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 2,
                    "name": "Quotes",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 3,
                    "name": "Eric Adams",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-adams/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "If you don't start targeting what's...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-adams/if-you-don-t-start-targeting-what-s-feeding-crime-then-we-are-going/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-adams/if-you-don-t-start-targeting-what-s-feeding-crime-then-we-are-going/#breadcrumb"
        },
        {
            "@type": "WebSite",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "publisher": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "Organization",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "logo": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png",
                "width": 512,
                "height": 512
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
