'To address physical signs of deterioration': The broken-window approach to fighting crime is not a cure-all solution. But it's a start -- and the mayor and police chief should be commended for applying it. ... Not picking on the Globe because I'm a Heraldite, but I find it odd there's no reference to the broken-window theory in its vaguely mocking article. ... Which leads to my second quibble: The point of the broken-window theory is to intervene when there are 'physical signs of deterioration' within a neighborhood. Some of the infractions the city says it's going to go after don't strike me as serious applications of the broken-window theory. A little mocking is in order if it's used to merely stamp out social annoyances in non-crime-ridden neighborhoods. But then again, Mayor Giuliani was originally mocked for going after squeegee hucksters and turnstile jumpers. So ...

Update -- Here's something that the broken-window theory can't address: 'The Meth Epidemic.' I watched the Frontline show last night and was stunned at the magnitude and severity of the problem. Next time I'll spend more time reading the links in blog posts like this to stay on top of the issue. ...  ¶ 6:29 AM