09 June 2010

Humpday Happenings...
A nice rainy morning here in the heartland...which means pretty damn QUIET (for a change).
Gotta love that!
In Fort Wayne, TODAY is the LAST DAY of school for the kids in the FWCS system, and we all know what THAT means...
Walgreen's WILL be jumping today with sales of various MEDS for the parents (who will probably be needing them soon enough).
But for those who "pretend" at being some sort of parent, it only means the SCHOOLS won't be there for a while to "babysit" their hellions.
THAT will be delegated to the local constabulary aka the FWPD.
Consider it "job security" right?
*** Elmhurst high school is closing it's doors today as well...for good.
Open since 1929, as a 10 room school, it has grown over time to become a good school in the community.
But due to budget cuts, the school was deemed unsustainable, in spite of efforts by alumni and citizens to keep the school open.
Today's paper has a "farewell tribute" to the school.
Here's the link to it:
http://www.journalgazette.net/section/LOCAL0403
*** The FWPD has suspended the fee being charged for the take-home vehicles.
Seems the PBA and the FWPD came to agreement (and avoidance of lawsuits) because the price of gas has dropped markedly from that $4 a gallon price a some time ago. Officers ARE instructed to fill up with E-85 whenever possible (and we all know how good that crap is compared to regular gasoline, hmm?).
Ethanol for "practical use" in vehicles is costing (you) MORE than regular petrol these days.
Over at GADFLY'S blog, he spoke to this, and spelled it out marvelously.
So go take a look-see for yourselves...don't take my word for it, okay?
To all the officers in the FWPD...that $25 bucks SAVED (per month) from not having to pay this "take-home fee" should buy a 50 round box of REMINGTON UMC .45 ACP ammo...I'm just sayin'.
Stock on up. Couldn't hurt.
*** Looks like I was right...AGAIN.
Last week, we had a black woman's house spray painted with racial slurs (KKK, move, *n*) and swastikas, and the police were searching for the perp who tagged the house.
I said to the missus that it would be interesting if the tagger was a BLACK MAN.
Just had a gut feeling about it.
Well, always trust your gut, right?
And here's the proof:
http://www.wane.com/dpp/news/update%3A-arrest-made-in-graffiti-case
Seems a BLACK MAN, one Kevin Sizemore was responsible for the "artistic endeavor".
I'm doing some back-checking, because I swear I've seen his name in the felony arrest records a while ago.
It's one of those names that sticks with you.
Now, was this "racially-motivated"?
Mr Sizemore says NO, he was trying to get back at the LANDLORD that rented the house.
(yeah right)
Let's scratch the surface here, and find out the REAL color of this POS, shall we? What better way to foment racial divide than to DIVERT ATTENTION from black people (blame whitey syndrome)?
When someone sees KKK sprayed on something, we sure don't think of a BLACK person doing it, correct?
Sizemore forgot one important aspect.
The number of whites down here is amazingly low, compared to other ethnicities (done by city design, no doubt).
And the whites that DO remain are either elderly (not good for grandma), are in cahoots with the thugs (wannabes), or don't want to be ousted from THEIR house and home (like yours truly).
In that number, those who would profess any type of "white superiority" are lower still.
I know I don't like the KKK one bit...way too radical and "out in left field" for me. Ditto for extremist "militia" groups and ANY other cadre that embrace such radical thinking.
But when you "blame" one group, the other group WILL take offense to it, and thereby target that first group (undeservedly).
That's the way dumb asses operate.
Maybe the landlord IS a skin-head. I think he's one of those guys that buys up all the crap houses, fixes them up and then doesn't really care who he sticks in them. I've seen it all too often around our neighborhood.
That's why OUR property value has tanked...because of landlords like this.
Many don't even live here (try Florida).
So, you have to be careful and be wary about other ethnicities when it comes to racially-motivated things.
More often than not, low-class blacks will be at the root of the problem.
After all, when you're so dependent upon the government for everything, it makes sense to cry "racism", no matter how unjustly it's defined.
*** There's another article on the shooting at the BP station at Anthony and McKinnie.
I have to include an excerpt from the article and then provide my observations:
(( Police say the victim was shot just before midnight in the alley behind the BP gas station at the intersection of Anthony and McKinnie, just yards from homes where children play.
This location has seen lots of violence.
In 2008, at least five people were shot at the gas station, having some in the community calling for the station owner to hire extra security.
"You never know what the case might be…it could be over two or three dollars," said one neighbor who wished to remain anonymous. "You might as well go to Detroit or Chicago. If someone has beef with a guy, they'll shoot him down right in front of the kids."
In spite of police efforts to establish a visible presence in the neighborhood, some residents feel they are being ignored by law enforcement.
"[Police] don’t mess with the south side. You know what I’m saying? The south side is a bunch of black, ignorant people so once they call us we’re going to take our time," said one neighbor who did not wish to be identified.
Police maintain that calls involving weapons are of the highest priority, and defend their operations on the southeast side.
"There are officers in that area that are very dedicated. They have patrolled that area for 15 plus years," said Officer Raquel Foster, who patrolled the southeast quadrant herself for more than a year. "They love the residents, they get to know them."
While police won't reveal the number of officers assigned to a given area at any particular time, they do say concentration is based on the number of calls.
Incidents of violent crime are disproportionately higher in the southeast side. Both police officers and neighbors say to combat those statistics, a community-wide approach will be necessary."This is our home," said one of the neighbors. "We all live here. It should be every person in Fort Wayne to put their foot forward and help out. I'm a young man. I don't want to die in Fort Wayne."
))
I'm an older man, and I'll probably die in Fort Wayne, but it won't be in THIS manner, if I have anything to say about it.
The one neighbor that "claimed" that police don't mess with the south side, because of all the "ignorant, black people"...
Lemme "splain" this to everyone.
When you have NO respect for other people that lived there a lot longer than you have...that's IGNORANT.
When you never supervise your kids, letting them sit in the damn street, hang out anywhere they want, and dry hump one another under someone else's trees...that's IGNORANT.
When you disrespect the neighborhood by dropping trash from your car windows or hands...that's IGNORANT.
When you pull up to a YIELD sign, open your car door, and take a damn piss...that's IGNORANT.
When you fail to provide information to a crime you WITNESSED...that's IGNORANT.
When you attempt to impede an investigation by the police...that's IGNORANT.
When you deal drugs along the same streets that children play...that's IGNORANT.
When you have dog-fighting rings and other code violations...that's IGNORANT. When you play your crap music at house-shaking levels to all hours...that's IGNORANT.
When you shoot of guns whenever the mood strikes you...that's IGNORANT.
We kind of getting the "idea" here now, people?
Just because the vast majority of those mentioned in the above statements happen TO BE BLACK, shouldn't matter.
But it DOES matter.
Sure, we also have our share of ignorant WHITES...and Hispanics, and even Burmese, too.
I'm sure there might even be an ASIAN or two in the mix
But they are fewer in number in this particular part of town.
The FWPD does as good a job down here as they can, given the restraints they have placed upon them by other factions.
And I can attest that there are officers that are thankful and appreciative for those (all too few) GOOD CITIZENS, willing to help keep their own neighborhood safe. I know this particularly well.
So to use a blanket statement that the police don't give a rat's ass about this part of town is wrong, however otherwise it might appear (to the average citizen).
Police are so damn busy chasing radio calls, that effective PATROLLING is at a minimum.
Then again, if all these "ignorant" people would try something NOVEL like say...BEHAVING THEMSELVES for a change, maybe, JUST maybe we wouldn't even be having such a discussion....'ya think?
Black city "leaders"...take note! You might figure this one out without my help.
There comes a time in everyone's life when they cannot sit idly by and watch the world pass before them sight unseen.
Everyone has to held accountable for themselves.
And what you do (or do not do) in this life will wind up on someone's tally sheet, rest assured.
Stand up for what you believe in, because it's the RIGHT thing to do...for everyone.
Who knows...you just might affect that change for the better.
Be well, make a difference to someone, and...
Stay safe out there, America.

11 comments:

Ann T. said...

Dear Bob,
Okay, long hot summer. I hope you stocked up on ice trays and other cooling things.

School's out, probably your neighborhood's habits will change a little too.

Hang in there,
Ann T.

Bob G. said...

Ann:
Oh, we're "stocking up" all right...
While I don't EXPECT the neighbors (or their progeny) to change (theya re somewhat predictable)...you never can tell with such people.
ANYthing might set them off.

It would be less volatile to be smoking a cigar atop an underground methane pocket that was leeching thorugh the soil!

We'll be hoping for the best, but always expecting the worst.

At least in that regard, we won't be surprised, eh?

Hey, thanks for spending a little time at "the fence".
Always a pleasure.

indy said...

that name kevin sizemore rings a bell with me too. i will look at some stuff too. dont reconize the pic. but, that name. perhaps he also has a younger son that took after him?

Bob G. said...

Indy:
There is at least one pro athlete named SIZEMORE, but I know I saw THIS guy's name somewhere within the last month in the Ft. Wayne felony arrest reports.

Gonna take some time, but IF he's there, I'll find him.
(like that dog that won't let go of your leg when he chomps down...LOL)

Thanks a lot for stopping on by.

gadfly said...

Bob G.

Thanks for the shout out, once again. Hmmm, I am accumulating a large number of IOUs to U-NO-WHO.

The energy piece was fun. So was the discussion I had with a very nice kid who was gathering petition signatures.

The only thing he knew about climate science was what the Citizens Action Coalition was selling. So he got a lecture from me and I emailed him some websites to visit.

Bob G. said...

Gadfly:
Not a problem with the S/Os...your post was something they SHOULD be talking about in D.C. (if they had HALF the smarts you do).

Gave the kid a "lecture"...wish I were there to hear THAT!

Seems everyone wants to jump on the FIRST bandwagon that rolls into town, WITHOUT taking a moment or two to wonder "what if this is BOGUS science?".

Shades of the old "snake-oil salesmen", eh?

Guess that speaks to our society's issues with ADHD?

I'm just sayin'...

Thanks a lot for stopping by.

Keith said...

School's out here now as well. All my young cousins are home now. I've got all of them wanting to hang out with me.

Bob G. said...

Keith:
And I'll bet you're gonna fire up some SINATRA for them, right?
(Or at least some Miles Davis)

Hey, kids need education OUTSIDE of school, too...LOL.

Thanks for swinging by.

Ann T. said...

Dear Bob and Keith,

You can make that jazz, oh so cool for them, and enrich their life.

I say go for it!!

Ann T.

Phil Marx said...

[[some residents feel they are being ignored by law enforcement. "[Police] don’t mess with the south side. You know what I’m saying? The south side is a bunch of black, ignorant people so once they call us we’re going to take our time," said one neighbor who did not wish to be identified.]]

As you know, Bob, I have plenty of issues with the way FWPD is mismanaged. But it bothers me even more that the people who make comments like this are often the same ones who complain whenever the police are in their neighborhoods.

[["There are officers in that area that are very dedicated. They have patrolled that area for 15 plus years," said Officer Raquel Foster, who patrolled the southeast quadrant herself for more than a year. "They love the residents, they get to know them."]]

No doubt that my fourteen years experience living in the donut-hole proves that this is true for a vast majority of the patrol officers within FWPD. It’s just unfortunate that their leadership does not appear to have the same attitude.

[[When you pull up to a YIELD sign, open your car door, and take a damn piss...that's IGNORANT.]]

Seriously, did you really see this occur?

[[When you fail to provide information to a crime you WITNESSED...that's IGNORANT.]]

Unless your experience has proven that speaking with them (FWPD) is a waste of time.

[[When you shoot off guns whenever the mood strikes you...that's IGNORANT.]]

Unless your experience has proven that the only way to get a little respect from certain individuals is to show them that you’re willing and able to deal with them on their own terms.

Bob G. said...

Phil:

Yep, these are EXACTLY the people who hate to see the police in the area (interrupts "bidness").

Yeah, I saw this (stop 'n piss)happen about 2-3 years ago (red toyota)...disgusting, but at least he wasn't pissing up against a neighbor's GARAGE (saw THAT happen a few times).

I swear, some of these "people" would be better "wised up" IF I popped a few over their heads once a week!

It's getting so the BEST way to deal with this neighborhood problem is to LEVEL the whole area (our house excluded of course).

Clean the slate and start the hell over.
Chase these vermin back UNDER the rocks they crawled out from under.

And then blow up the damn rock!

But you know me...I'm a relatively PEACEFUL kinda guy (unless provoked).
Everyone has their tipping point...I'm real close to mine these days.
Thank God for gardens and REAL music and patience worthy of a sainthood, eh?

THanks for stopping by.
Good to see 'ya...don't be a stranger.
And stay safe up there!