Monday Musings...

We had a little bit of rain, sun, wind...you name it over the weekend here in the Heartland.
And, we also had a lot of "other" activity in Ft. Wayne...the kind that makes the news.
(we'll get to that soon enough)
Our Hoosierland weather sees us with mostly cloudy skies, temps finally feeling a lot more seasonal, with a high of only 59 degrees, and a cessation to the rain by later today.

So, how's about we all get that cup of coffee, tea, or hot chocolate to shake off the morning chill and get our synapses firing, as we see what has been going on elsewhere...
*** First out of the cereal box is our "What the hell happens today, Bob?' feature:
OCTOBER 16 -
---It's Department Store Day

(yeah, we actually USED to have those on the SE side of town)
---It's National Bosses Day

(very few that I worked for really DESERVED this day)
---It's National Clean Up Your Virtual Desktop Day

(sorry, I like my "clutter"...I can find stuff asier)
---It's National Dictionary Day

(words do STILL have power,)
---It's National Feral Cat Day

Nothing feral with this crew

(neither of OUR outdoor felines are feral...they like us.
---It's National Liqueur Day

(Kahlua and cream anyone?)
*** Next up, the "natives" have been very restless over the past 48 hours, and the local constabulary are not being busy policing...but INVESTIGATING.

Here's the roundup so far:
Item: Two people were shot in a parked car near downtown. Here's the story:
http://wane.com/2017/10/15/2-shot-in-parked-car-near-downtown/

This took place around 0430 hrs. on Sunday morning at Lafayette and Lewis streets.
Police said a man and woman were sitting in a car in a parking lot near the intersection when someone shot them.
(kinda LATE to "just be sitting" in a parked car, don'cha think?)
As is the case anymore, NO details are available.
Item: Two juveniles were taken to hospital suffering from gunshot wounds. Here's the story:
http://wane.com/2017/10/15/shooting-victim-dropped-off-at-hospital-critically-hurt/

This took place around 2100 hrs. Sunday night, but police don't know WHERE this took place.
(the new M.O. is to just drop people off)
The one juvey that was in critical condition was upgraded to good condition.
NO details on how the shooting took place.
Item: The Bluffton Rd Family Dollar was robbed at gunpoint. Here's that story:
http://wane.com/2017/10/15/waynedale-dollar-store-robbed-at-gunpoint/

This took place around 2120 hrs (after closing), and as usual, NO details are available.
Item: Two more people shot early this morning. One dead (homicide #27?) Here's the story:
http://wane.com/2017/10/16/one-dead-another-injured-in-shooting-near-fosters/

Fort Wayne Police Officers were in the area of Lafayette Street and Mckinnie Avenue around 0300 hrs this morning when they heard gunshots coming from a parking lot.
Police traced the activity to the parking lot of Foster’s Sports Pub at the 4200 block of South Clinton Street. There they found two people had been shot.
A woman and man were taken to the hospital, where the man later died.
NO details on suspects are available (broken record time).
Now, given the "nature of the beast" in CERTAIN parts of this city, it's not hard to figure out WHO may be at the bottom of all this mayhem.

From the 26 November 2012 shooting

I"m willing to bet that we're looking at black crime (again). Considering WHERE much of this took place, like Foster's Sports Pub, it's easy to make a correct conclusion.
That place should be NEXT on the closing list...and the sooner, the better.
*** Next up, the J-G had some stories about our alleys that started out fine, but missed the mark when it comes to telling the WHOLE story. Here's the first article:
http://www.journalgazette.net/news/local/police-fire/20171015/residents-eager-to-see-work-on-ignored-alleys
Residents DO have a right to be pissed off at the condition of the alleys in our part of town.
They HAVE been (for the most part) ignored by the "leadership" of this city for far too long.

Not to mention, alleys are a good place to find people who have been shot or killed.

And reporter Jamie Duffy does an adequate job of bringing MOST of the facts to light.
(the video in the story is worth a watch)
Here is the link to Duffy's other story:
http://www.journalgazette.net/news/local/20171015/residential-alleys-have-become-thing-of-past

I wouldn't consider alleys a "thing of the past", unless you're referring to ALL the housing developments that have sprung up over the last couple decades...no alleys required THERE.
But, in the older (and yes even historic) neighborhoods of Fort Wayne (that are apparently being allowed to go down the crapper in many instances), alleys are a necessity. Many people have garages that face into an alley, and the trash trucks come down them once weekly.

Trash trucks didn't make these ruts.

In the one story, a resident complains ABOUT having trash trucks come down the alley and states they are the cause of the deterioration.
I beg to differ.

They ONLY come down ONCE a week (twice every other week for recycling), and the ruts and potholes are something that much MORE traffic would (and does) cause. I see (and hear) it first-hand. Jerks zooming down an alley, pulling "hole-shots" as they leave are THE cause of this crap.
And, in some alleys. the amount of litter is enough to keep police out of them (who wants to drive over all those nails and broken glass?).

Great place to dump contents of a house, too

Personally, I think that is done precisely for that reason - to keep police OUT of the alley, so other dubious behavior can take place. Many people use alleys as "auxiliary" streets!

I haven't seen a proper police patrol UP OR DOWN an alley in over a decade.
Hell, we'once had the carcass of an 80s Olds dumped in the alley back before 2006, and these days, we have a LOT of people "parking" in the alley behind certain houses.

It's also been used to drop off broken appliances, furniture, and the like.

And that's aside from all the overgrown foliage that is NEVER taken care of by whoever happens to live at the house (or the landlords of the properties).

This is NOT part of any "Nature Walk". - it's an alley!

THAT is not mentioned in either article, and that's a damn shame, because THESE are the real reasons for the condition of these alleys.
We still need them, and it's long past time the city did something to address the problem...starting with whoever OWNS the properties involved. Now, the city plays catch=up with such repairs...and it's gonna cost. Truth be told, it's been costing neighborhoods (in other ways) for years.
*** Next, time to take a stop at "Kitten Corner"...

The kids did okay this weekend...they spent some time getting "reacquainted" with some toys, gave Wifey and myself enough "rubbing" time, danced for their meals, and overall, behaved in a very good manner. Even got some impromptu posing.

Violet and Gallifrey also spent some quality time doing what they do best - napping.
He likes to come in and fall asleep in one of the living room chairs, while she is content to adorn the dining room chairs. Different approaches to a similar result. Gotta admire that.
*** Next up, time to check in with "Midnight and Company"...

Our furry twosome were at the house damn near ALL weekend - never missed a meal. Well, he missed one, an Whiskers missed one, so we had to allow for those "patrols" around the area.
The rain didn't cause too much concern, such as it was.

The ground under the patio table remained dry, and that's all either of them needed.
I'm hoping they sleep together, so they can share body heat as the temperatures drop (and until we can get some insulated shelters built for the two of them.
*** Last back to the pantry...it would seem that we're entering another one of those phases where we have a crime spree, like this past weekend.

It comes in spurts, but all the regular crimes occur DAILY, and if you read the police blotter like I do, you know we have more of a reactionary police department, than a proactive one.
While some might argue that "community-oriented: policing" is the way to go these days, I still maintain that a more PROBLEM-oriented approach would be required, especially in the southern half of Fort Wayne.

Got too many "broken windows" to do otherwise.
Let's face it, in other parts of town, you don't have near the amount or severity (aka violence) of the types of crime you have down here.
And, the FWPD has been dumping the majority of it's resources down here...with little impact on the overall atmosphere when it comes to actual improvement to the communities.

Sure, you make the obligatory arrests, and then the courts turn these assholes back out on the streets, and we start the game all over again. How many times do we have to follow this rote before we all realize that this methodology just is NOT working?

We live in an era of (certain) people looking for the police to act "inappropriately", and all the while, allowing crime to establish such a tight grip on our part of town, that nothing of real value gets done.
It's like a self-perpetuating form of evil.

This isn't what this nation stands for, and as it's law-abiding citizens...we shouldn't stand for any of this either. We should demand better...and expect better.
When we can stop becoming prisoners in our own homes, THEN I will begin to have more faith in humanity, as it pertains to our part of this city...not before. My faith (for now) lies with a much higher authority...as should yours.

Be well, make a difference to someone, and...
Stay SAFE out there, America.