Friday's Odds And Ends...


Cold Weather Doesn't Deter Crime...
Given the arctic-like temperatures we've been "enjoying" of late, one would THINK that crime would go on a (much needed) sabbatical....nope, guess again. The number of crimes for January, 2007 are on par with that very mild December we had. Like I said in a previous post...the BANK ROBBERS know how to dress for cold weather! Of course there doesn't seem to be any real "explanation" as to why this is occurring. So I'll provide one...

Crime PAYS (especially in "certain" parts of Fort Wayne). I could point to the thriving drug trade in and around the Pontiac & Creighton area, or I could use the Eden Green apartments as an example. I could even show you how in my neighborhood, like many others in OUR part of town, even the boomcar f$ckheads are still thumping their way into our living rooms to all hours. I COULD also point out that all of these areas have ONE thing in common, and I think you know what that is, so I'll leave you to your thoughts on that matter.

And I could ALWAYS use the expansive retail areas up north and out west as excellent examples of where increasing crime will wind up. Or I can always explain how the FWPD is understaffed, with many shifts (and sectors) suffering a lack of manpower. I could also demonstrate how the city is less proactive and more reactive to crime...but I won't do any of that...you make the call.

ACSD To Get Tasers...
Now THIS is what I'm talking abiout...a PROACTIVE stance. New-elected Sheriff Ken Fries is seeking grant money to procure TASERS for his department. Wow...he's SEEKING a grant to get them. Chief Rusty York of the FWPD was GIVEN a grant (around $80K as I recall) for TASERS, and initially TURNED IT DOWN (later recanting and getiing a handful of them)...astounding! Neat thing about these TASERS...when you remove the cartridge, you have a damn nice STUN GUN in your hand, so you don't ALWAYS have to deploy the barbs into the perp. Seems there really IS a "New Sheriff" in town...and I LIKE it!

Indy Has Homicide # 8...
As INDY UNDERCOVER has reported, the capital city of Indiana is "on track" to at least equalling the number of homicides for 2006 (162, which was almost a RECORD for the city). Now if it's just "perps killing perps". all well and good. The fewer, the better. But we can't just say that is the nature of the beast. There are always the innocent victims, the "collateral" damage to a drug buy gone south, or just some hopped up felons with time (and people) to kill. The homicide rate is almost one every FIVE days....and the mayor "should" be LIVID over that, but we won't get into Mayor Peterson and his "posse" of do-nothings. That's best left for those living and blogging from Indy, and they do a damn good job reporting the REAL stories. When living in Philly, we were accustomed to having around 400+ homicides a year, and less than 100 of those were "innocent" people. The majority were the "usual supects". Here in Fort Wayne, we manage between 20-30 a year (average), but that number is destined to rise. I'll climb out on the limb and predict as much. I see too many of the telltale signs of the first rumblings (kind of like a vulcanologist predicting the next big eruption at Mt St. Helens).

More Layoffs Ahead...
And now for the "good news"...Borg Warner will layoff about 2,700 workers when it closes it's Muncie, IN plant citing a lack of demand for the transmission transfer cases it produces. Kodak is laying off 3,000 people thanks to digital technology. Circuit City is closing 7 superstores as well as their Louisville distribution center and 62 company-owned stores in Canada, side-lining about several hundred employees (and THAT was GOOD news?) so it's not all about crime this week, unless you think putting people out of work is a CRIME (which I do).

Lastly (and this really IS a crime), the State Local Government Committee passed a bill (house bill 1774) that will allow area COUNTIES to RAISE income taxes (where's the cheering? It's not PROPERTY taxes) for "regional economic developemnt projects" (cripes...more HUD housing?). From here, it moves to the full House (which beats 2 pair) where the bill will be considered. This could help RURAL areas (by getting city dwellers like you and ME with no vested interest THERE to foot the costs...great idea, huh?), and that's got politicos doing the Pavlovian Drool.

Do try to have a good weekend...I need some Tylenol...my brain hurts!