No.Dak. fracking fields crime so high, FBI is stepping in

[Divernan]

http://thinkprogress.org/climate/2015/03/06/3630643/fbi-comes-to-the-oil-fields/

North Dakota’s oil production began growing in the mid-2000s, when companies figured out how to extract oil from the state’s Bakken region. Around 2010, production in the state skyrocketed, and that boom brought in throngs of workers from around the county — a population increase that, as Thornton said, also brought with it an increase in crime. According to the Washington Post, violent crime in the state’s oil-rich Williston Basin region increased by 121 percent between 2005 and 2011. Drug use and prostitution are also prevalent.

“It’s not Mayberry anymore,” North Dakota U.S. Attorney Tim Purdon told the AP earlier this year. “Our police and prosecutors are going to have to adapt to keep pace. We have organized criminal gangs selling drugs, sex trafficking, and out-of-state flim-flam men coming in. And the cases have become more and more complicated.”

One town in North Dakota — Watford City — has grown its police force from just four policemen in 2010 to 19 this year. The town experienced just 41 calls for police service in 2006, while in 2014, it experienced 7,414.

“There used to be a saying that 40 below keeps out the riff-raff,” said Steve Kukowski, a sheriff in Ward County, North Dakota. “That’s not true anymore.”

[DonViejo]

1. Boom towns....

The town, county and state leadership need to take a look at how well the local capitalist economy is doing living off the "riff-raff, also;" high housing costs (buying and renting), higher food prices ("hey, these oil guys are making money, let's jack up the price of a can of beans; pound of potatoes; milk; a pair of jeans&quot . The riff raff also includes "good town folk" exploiting the other part of the riff raff and the oil workers.

[Wellstone ruled]

2. Totally agree,been there done that.

What is really devastating is,when the drills go silent. Remember Rifle,Co. a few years back. Two O'clock on a Thursday afternoon,4300 workers got pink slips. With in days,this town was emptying out and workers were signing up for unemployment. Boom and bust,that's the nature of the Oil and Gas business. Only winners are the Oil Companies and they have their asses covered.

[Doctor_J]

3. yup. no surprise whatsoever. capitalism plus new money plus prohibition

= gangsters.

[Drahthaardogs]

4. Have you been to Williston?

I have. Pinedale too. Williston is the worst I have ever seen. It must be what Jack London experienced in the Yukon years ago. That place is simply insane.

[progressoid]

5. I talked to someone who still has family there.

She said she can't bear to see what is happening to Willistton. She said they don't go to Williston to visit family. Instead, the family travels to Bismark.

[DeSwiss]

6. Just part of the ol' hidden ''social costs''......

...the ones that keeps profits going up, gas flowing down, with us tied to their pumps.

- When you got a good formula, you don't fuck with it.

K&R

[fizzgig]

7. my mil was pushing my husband to get a job in the oil fields for a while

i've been familiar with these issues for some time and that was just one of many reasons we kept saying hell no.

[Rex]

8. These fracking companies are using a time honored method of corporate crime.

Move in from out of state. Break all the laws, don't pay any fines or file paperwork, fold up and move to another location, new company name same old crooks. Wash, rinse, repeat every few years or so. Heat is on, move to another state.

This is happening in South Texas like mad.

However Texas is run by repukes that will look the other way until we are all fucked from poisoned drinking water.

[BlancheSplanchnik]

9. no surprise. Human nature, and you can read about it...

In histories of various eras. Like the Goldrush era in early 1800's (I think. Would have to check to be exact.) Camp style communities, populated mostly by men seeking work. Tend to be hard working, hard living as a group. (ask me about my ex. *coff* Or don't. *gak* )

I know there are more transormative periods of this type over generations...can't think of more episodes right now. Too tired, falling asleep.
:zzz: