Friday Follies...
I have to admit that somehow, this week FLEW past.
I know...it's got to be the whole "getting old, time speeding up" thing.
Hopefully, most of of managed to make good use of the past 5 days.
With that said, let's peer into our gazing ball and see what looks back.
*** I found this story both interesting and disturbing:
http://www.journalgazette.net/article/20101015/LOCAL/310159974
It's about the Public Safety Academy of NE Indiana our last mayor had built down near the old Southtown mall location.
About 2 years ago, I was fortunate enough to have a personal tour of the facility, and I thought it was a very worthwhile investment.
Here's the Academy's website:
http://www.publicsafetyacademy.org/index.php
This is not a "city" building, but a REGIONAL building, so it serves a LOT more than just Fort Wayne.
But some city council people think it's becoming a white elephant, and some believe it might have to close.
Tim Pape (5th district) even said it MAY have been a "bad investment"...
Gee, Tim...maybe if you said that back WHEN the money was being put forth to BUILD the damn thing, you wouldn't be waffling NOW...(as usual).
Personally, I'm not for closing it...we're in for a penny, in for a pound here.
Anything that HELPS LEOs and firefighters do THEIR job better and safer...I'm on board.
Bernie Beier (head of local Homeland Security) stated the GRANT money has dried up. Well, that's NOT Bernie's fault one damn bit, is it?
I have said time and again, that you NEVER depend of grants, because they DON'T last forever (unlike food stamps and Section 8), and will go away depending on the Federal budgetary constraints.
See, the Federal give-away gravy-train is one of those ASSURED lines in the federal budget....think of it like that hand you KNOW will be reaching (deep) into YOUR pocket to fund all the programs that are helping fewer people than they were designed to help in the first damn place.
It's not going away anytime soon, and if it ever DID, or somehow be "cut back", the riots that would take place would be more than most local police and fire departments could ever hope to handle. It would make South Central L.A. look like a BSA campfire sing-along.
But, I digress...
I would really like to see the Academy remain open...Lord knows we need anything that can maintain enforcing the laws in this city, which could be headed in the direction of other cities. And I don't mean that in a positive way.
*** This story came as no REAL surprise to me:
http://www.journalgazette.net/article/20101015/LOCAL/310159975
It seems the lots in our very own Allen County have lost about TWO PERCENT of their value.
Hell, our property tax bill isn't EVEN $100 PER YEAR...

(sweet deal, but it comes with another "price", and that cost more then you would realize, personally)
Bet a lot of you would KILL to have such a LOW tax bill every year, eh?
Well, come down to MY part of the ghettohood, and feel free to "indulge yourselves".

You WILL have to provide your OWN ammunition, but I will be more than happy to "spot" for you.
I'll even point out the ones that are causing the loss of value to MY property for you.
How good is that?

Like having a guide on your own personal safari.
Of course, in the "NICE" neighborhoods, construction was on the INCREASE (less crime and other nasty things...like my "neighbors").
This decrease is not expected to affect tax bills much... (rolls eyes)
Yeah, like OURS could get any LOWER...LOL!
Like many things, you get what you pay for.
And you DON'T get what you DON'T pay for just as well.
Nice to know there is still BALANCE in life, right?
As long as those in MY part of town are allowed to do as they wish, and with little chastening, things will not change, except for the worse.
The solution to this is as plain as the noses on the good old boys (read city hall) primate faces.
But since THEY have no vested interest in the SE side, and it's not going to be lining their wallets anytime soon....more of the same for we few decent folk, struggling to survive...while others are permitted to live.
Gotta love the logic in that.
Well, not really.
It's the old community deal here.
First, you have to HAVE a viable community.
Without one, you have a microcosmic form of anarchy.
I mean, the ONLY way I would get to know my neighbors is to read about them in some police report.
And the only way you get any of these people to do what is expected of them by the city, is to "dime" on them...a LOT.
I mean if the city holds ME to certain standards and expects ME to follow certain guidelines and laws, well then, it must want the same of everyone else.
If it's good enough for me, then it's good enough for the rest of the people.
Sounds like a plan...
And that's where *I* come in.
I'm the guy that calls whenever trash is strewn about, whenever there is constant loud music, roaming toddlers, loitering teens, drug activity, suspicious people or vehicles, and the like. Yeah, I'm that curmudgeon on the corner, trying to make some sense to all this insanity going on around me.
Most days, it's not easy.
All I attempt to do is shame others into stop being so lazy they stink...that's all.
And I have to admit that there are those that are unflappable, in that they have become SO comfortable with being lazy, that whatever you do makes NO impression on them whatsoever.
What have we as a nation become, that we grow fond of such behavior?
Why have we allowed generations to become slothful to the point of stupidity?
And why have we taken from the mouths and wallets of those busting their asses daily to feed and fund those whose only ambition is to be lazier still?
Used to be a time when we took care of our OWN business.
Taking almost ANY form of handout was unthinkable.
We had something called PRIDE.
Not a sinful pride mind you, just a better sense of who we WERE, and what was expected of us.
We used to be pretty damn self-sufficient.
Wonder what happened to THAT America?
I sure would like to see it make a comeback.
Well, I still believe that we can turn it all around and get the train back on the right track.
And it won't happen overnight.
And it will take persistence, and some "sweat equity" from ALL of us to make it occur.
It won't happen today...
But there is ALWAYS tomorrow, eh?
Have yourselves a great weekend.
Be well, make a difference to someone, and, as always...
Stay safe out there, America.