View from the cop: Crime & punishment
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AJC.com > Metro > View from the cop > Archives > 2008 > May > 02 > Entry
Crime & punishment
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Have you heard all of the radio ads for collection agencies? Sign of the times folks. We’ve actually had a good couple of weeks on theft and burglary numbers but the economic times will account for more thefts metro wide. It’s very important not to assume your GPS is okay in that car when it’s stuck to the window. If you take it out, wipe that little circle smudge left on the window by the suction cup. Believe me, it’s much less work than having to replace the GPS. The going rate:
$40 for a $300 GPS
$500 for a $2000 laptop
Believe me, at those prices, there’s a market for them. Don’ t be lazy.
Robbery
A man and woman said they agreed to meet a man who was interested in buying some jewelry from them for his wife. He wanted to meet them about 10:30 at night outside an apartment complex on Northridge Road. When they showed up, two men robbed them at gunpoint, fled to an older red Chevrolet Blazer and drove away. . T The loss was valued at over $6800. Regardless of what you’re selling but especially something as valuable as jewelry, don’t even think of making arrangements to meet at night like this. Meet at a public place where you’ll have people all around you.
Burglary
A woman reported that someone entered her apartment and did a good deal of vandalism to it instead of stealing from it. She thinks that it may be as a result of a recent argument with someone over a man. (Men—what would you do without us…don’t answer.)t.
Someone pried a sliding door and entered the victim’s apartment in the 1200 block of Jefferson Drive. Missing is a bottle of perfume.
Thefts
$4,000 cash was taken from a vase in victim’s house. The vase is used a hiding place, suspect is a relative.
A cabbie reported that a guy in a cowboy hat stiffed him for $37 in cab fare.
Someone took an AC unit from behind the Village Cobbler Store on Roswell Rd. The whole metro is experiencing a lot of thefts from AC units due to the high price for the copper they contain.
Forgery/Fraud/ID Theft
A woman reported that a man, whom she knows, took her checking account number, put it on fake checks, and then wrote five checks totaling just under $1000.
Someone opened an American Express Jet Blue Card account in the name of the victim, and then charged $4,800 on it.
The victim said that someone compromised her banking account and purchased almost $900 in items including flowers that were later delivered to a woman named Roneisha in Decatur. Although originally grateful, Roneisha is now upset at having been put into this situation.
Someone’s Going to Hell
A woman reported that while she was attending church services at 7770 Roswell Road, someone took her license and her Sam’s Club card from an office in the church.
Comments
By Hans Apology
May 2, 2008 7:15 PM | Link to this
Real Reservoir Dogs, eh?
By Van
May 2, 2008 8:29 PM | Link to this
Steve,
Could you write an article about carrying a concealed weapon and the rules there pertaining?
Thanks.
By MackyBlue
May 3, 2008 6:11 AM | Link to this
Van, re Georgia Gun laws…. might get some help here :
http://www.georgiapacking.org/GaCode/
By Regina
May 3, 2008 8:52 AM | Link to this
In our west Cobb County neighborhood, many people can’t sell their homes so they are renting them. Many of the homes have children where the parents are absentee parents, mainly single mothers and are allowing the streets to raise their children. Needless to say, the youths are disrupting the neighborhood, intimidating the homeowners, trespassing, vandalizing property, being peeping toms and breaking into homes. Then, we have to contend with their “boyfriend” or “Baby Daddy” of the moment visiting with his friends. I call it the ghettoizing of the suburbs!
I admit, I wish I didn’t have to say this, but no wonder middle class whites run when “certain” blacks move into the neighborhood. I am black and I want to run from these people! I am so tired of this thug culture crap I don’t know what to do! And, they watch the homeowners to learn our routine so they know when to rob our homes.
Detective Steve Rose, help us! I have written you about this before.
By Stone
May 3, 2008 1:28 PM | Link to this
Thank God you are black, Regina. If you were white and said that, you would have been pillared, insulted, called a racist and told to go to anger management/cultural sensitivity class. Too bad people can’t speak so openly about obvious problems in their community without being branded as hateful bigots or Uncle Toms. Remember the old saying, I may not agree with what you say, but will defend with my life your right to say it? Seems so quaint now. More people in the black community, like yourself, need to speak up, for it is the good, honest, hard working blacks that bear the brunt of the violent crime when, as you say, “certain” blacks move in. Speak up and defend other’s right to do the same.
By skip
May 3, 2008 6:19 PM | Link to this
What are the odds that the jewelry “sale” at 10:30 was an insurance scam?
By El Bubba
May 3, 2008 7:05 PM | Link to this
Regina,
I wish I could help you with ideas for West Cobb but I don’t even know where it is. I avoid Atlanta, just drive through when I have to.
I live in the crazed region of North Georgia. Guess what? We have problems too.
Maybe you could walk down the street and meet the renters, invite them to some sort of meeting. Treat them as if they were owners, they probably were (somewhere else) before the mortgage mess.
I spent 20 yrs renting and I always fixed my place up. I painted rooms, planted shrubs, planted veggie gardens, made the place better. My point is that renters will do it, incorporate them into part of your community. You can start one street at a time.
El Obama
By ElBubba
May 3, 2008 7:54 PM | Link to this
Hans Apology
Aloha Spongy
A Beefy Vouched Nuke
by
abubble
By Regina
May 4, 2008 3:04 AM | Link to this
Stone, Yes, I remember the saying, I may not agree with what you say, but will defend with my life your right to say it. We can’t restrict someone’s freedom of speech without restricting our own.
The youths, male and female, roaming our neighborhood have a blatant disregard for others property. They are openly disrespectful. They act this way because no one is holding them accountable for their actions. The so-called Black leaders are so worried about trying to find racist behavior, they aren’t condemning these young people for their negative behavior that gets them into trouble.
For example, instead of worrying that crack cocaine carries a harsher sentence than cocaine and stating that is because more blacks use it than white, we should teach young blacks not to use drugs period! Then, it wouldn’t matter about the discrepancy in the sentencing because it wouldn’t affect them. Generations of Black men dealt with Jim Crow, etc. but still raised their families, earned a honest living and protected their good names. I am so tired of hearing of the lame excuses. This generation of black youth have it easy compared to past generations. Instead of building on the foundation set for them, they are tearing it down. They take pride in being as ignorant and stupid as they can be thinking it is cool. I feel a whole generation of black males are lost, I say males because they will never be men. We just need to save the ones behind them so they can be contributing citizens in our society. Some of the females are just as disrespectful and think it is cute. It is time to ensure the parents are held accountable for their progeny.
By Fred
May 4, 2008 3:07 AM | Link to this
El Bubba: Afraid to put down some roots and BUY? LOL.
Regina: When Bill Cosby spoke up he was shouted down by the race warlords who get rich off the backs of the poor oppressed blacks; IE: the “Rev’s” Jesse Jackson, Al Sharpton, etal. Why didn’t you speak up then? Remember when good men (or women, it’s a quote) fail to act, evil flourishes. Of course we learned on the last blog that i have a chip on my shoulder and need anger management classes, IE thought programming, so what do i know. But on a lighter note………
How about the dude that tried to cash a forged 340 BILLION dollar check? Am I allowed to call him butt stupid?
By Regina
May 4, 2008 3:14 AM | Link to this
El Bubba,
We have treated them as homeowners, they refuse to act as such because they don’t have a stake in the neighborhood. They come in, take the neighborhood down with their disregard of neighborhood covenants and county code. There are perhaps two renters who act like homeowners in our neighborhood. However, one of the renters allows the thugs to hang out with his sons.
By Regina
May 4, 2008 5:50 AM | Link to this
Fred, I did speak up when Bill Cosby came forward with the reality in the black community. Sharpton, Jackson and others want to coddle these people when they should state people need to commit to their responsibilities. However, we were not heard due to the backlash. More blacks agree with Bill Cosby than not, the others just don’t want to accept the fact there is a serious problem. Liberal women sicken me the most basically telling black women the government will take care of them. And, let us help you, we know what is best for you. It is insulting.
I can’t call anyone my brother or sister when I am their primary target for theft or assault because they are too lazy to work or haven’t been held accountable for their actions.
By Stone
May 4, 2008 7:01 AM | Link to this
Regina, I’m impressed with your views and your willingness to express them. Too bad things are such that black folks feel that its wrong to criticize their own in public, and whites too afraid of the “racist” label to criticize either. The press feels the need to sugarcoat everything instead of coming out with the raw numbers and truly takle this problem. Black on black crime has reached epidemic proportions, for here is no respect for one another in the hood. 95% of murders committed against Blacks are committed by Blacks. There is a serious breakdown in the Black family and its getting worse and nobody seems to want to talk about it. I’ve heard nothing from the pres. candidates about what they plan to do about these problems. Sure racism can be blamed for some of the problems facing Black America, but it can’t be blamed for everything. It’s past time people like yourself stand up and say “enough is enough, call me names, call me a traitor to my race, I don’t care.” When I moved here 17 years ago I really wanted to tackle the problems of race in this city. Sadly, being called a racist has a profound effect on white people and I have shied away from the problem. I too need to speak up more. We need more good folks like you Regina, no matter what color their skin is.
By CJ
May 4, 2008 10:03 AM | Link to this
To Regina, We had the same problem in our neighborhood last year, but solved the problem. Each time a rental sign is placed in your neighborhood, record the phone number and house address. Each time you have a complaint about the renters at that particular address, before calling the police, call the landlord first and alert him that if he doesn’t solve the problem, such as blasting music late at night, you will call the police with your complaint. If all the neighbors stick to this rule, for non-life-threatening situations, of course, your problem will soon be solved. CJ
By ATC
May 4, 2008 10:24 AM | Link to this
THANK YOU REGINA.
By Hans Apology
May 4, 2008 10:31 AM | Link to this
Huh? uh, uhhhh, “the wolf howls at midnight”.
Regina, do you think anyone here believes that you’re black? (Jim Crow, etc). Jim Crow…etc…..
Jim Crow….etc…..
what a clod. honestly. Now you listen, cracker dip: your comments would have been appropriate had they been written in 1822 in Georgia by someone writing a diary about the uppity slaves who live on the plantation across the river. “How some people indulge their slaves!”
Take your understanding of what can motivate a human being, and explore with plastic gloves the holes in your argument with plastic gloves, (ribbed for your pleasure, sir), you twisted, sick piece of uncompassionate bile.
We have a racial problem in this country that only time can heal, but we can dilute the venom with a black president, and hopefully a very black and hispanic cabinet.
If racism isn’t unpatriotic, then what good is patriotism?
No, unfortunately, the only weapon good patriots have to quelsh the lore-infected cultural vestiges that form the legal underpinning justifying the unrelenting persecution against the descendants of slaves in this soon-to-be-great country is to tell people like you to stfu.
By Hans Apology
May 4, 2008 12:47 PM | Link to this
moron
By ElBubba
May 4, 2008 2:05 PM | Link to this
Fred,
I am a homeowner now, and it feels good!
CJ had the best advice, about calling the landlord.
Hans apology doesn’t understand my anagrams…
El Bubba
By Angie
May 4, 2008 4:03 PM | Link to this
y don’t all you complainers just move to douglas county. duh!
By Fred
May 4, 2008 4:14 PM | Link to this
Regina,
We posted at the same time last night or I would have seen (from your second post) that I had need to say nothing lol. You have made a quartet of fine posts. I can not say how proud I am to share citizenship of this great Country with a fine American such as yourself. Why don’t you move to my neighborhood? While I would be proud to have you as a neighbor under any circumstances, the truth is that we need a black family in our small subdivision. I told my buddy Owen the same thing when trying to get HIM to move into one of the houses for sale. Before anyone nuts up let me explain:
We have in my cul-de-sac, and in the houses leading up to it, one of the most diverse populations you can imagine. I’m the dumb southern redneck, my wife is of Korean decent. The neighbor to my right (or left depending if you are facing the house or the street lol) is Greek. His wife is the stubborn Missouri midwest member. Next to them Is the retired Air Force dude and his wife from Thailand. Next to them is the militant feminist Yankee Jew married to the Cajun, Catholic, coonass. (Oh, I’m protestant, the Greek/Missouri couple is Greek orthodox, the Thai lady is Buddhist, I’m clueless what her husband is. Anyways, we are getting all different races and religions in here aren’t we lol) The couple next to THEM are from Minnesota or Wisconsin, adding a couple MORE Yankees. On the other side of me is the Indian family and they are Hindi, IE vegetarians (she makes some of the best Indian food I have ever eaten). Down the street to the left we have the militant feminist lesbian couple, (I think one of them is a redneck and the other a yankee) and to the right is the Cuban family. We also have the traditional family with two young kids and a dog as well as the spinster piano teacher, and the divorced lady, (60 or so), who runs with my wife everyday and her daughter, a single mom (the newest badge of honor in today’s society). She got pregnant as a teen or shorty after high school and the dad proposed but she declined. He is always at the house playing with the son which is wicked cool. As you can see we have virtually every race, religion and creed imaginable in our little subdivision except a Black family. Oh there are many in the subdivisions surround us, i mean I DO live in Atlanta and Dekalb County, but none in our little slice of true diversity. I am actively campaigning to correct this deficiency. Now if you were a Muslim AND from Africa as well, we would have every continent and major religion covered, but that’s asking a lot.
Anyways, “Won’t you be my neighbor?”
Sorry El Bubba, no invite for you, we already have liberals and rednecks and scruffy construction types (me lol) so you aren’t needed. (Didn’t you say once you are an electrician?)
BUT: Nice posts ma’am, they are a pleasure to read. Glad you decided to join this little bands of misfits and ne’er do wells. Hope you come back and post more often.
By Stone
May 4, 2008 4:22 PM | Link to this
Hans Apology you are such an angry, insecure, pathetic, lonely, little person. Always quick to tell someone to shut up, always quick to call people names. You post just to belittle others, to vent the anger that’s obviously been inside of you for years, to act as if your are superior to everyone else. You aren’t and it’s obvious to anyone you reads your rants. What is it Hans, life hasn’t been fair to you, still alone, still unhappy, still feeling like the world owes you something? It’s quite sad reading your drivel, seeing the venom, desperation and agitation in your words. You front like you and you alone have cornered the market on knowledge and that if others disagree or have a different perspective they are to be insulted, told to shut up and not post here again. Like I said, a pathetic, insecure, angry, lonely little person who has nothing to add but hate and petty name calling. Quite sad, quite sad indeed.
By Fred
May 4, 2008 4:23 PM | Link to this
Oh and BTW does anyone at all think that Hans is in the stage of his life where he is REALLY enjoying his illicit drugs? His posts strike me as walking the line between being a mindless internet troll and someone having a little stoned fun by attempting to stir up the pot a little. Either way there is no reason to take him seriously as he does not take himself or his posts seriously. He’s just having his fun. And to be honest in some ways it’s a tad amusing. I would be a WHOLE lot better if he were even partially as clever as he thinks he is but he’s doing the best with what god gave him………..
By Hans Apology
May 4, 2008 4:27 PM | Link to this
Wrong bubba. The wolf howls at midnite. That’s an old joke about coming up with a “clever code” for spies or puzzlemasters. Your anagram was very clever for your kind. You see, you missed a joke I wrote a couple of days ago, and made a total fool out of yourself, so naturally, you have to try to get one over on me, but as you see, you’re zero for two. Any moron could have seen your anagram but only you could have written it.
Do you really think you can blog with me? I warned you to stop posting, and now everyone knows that you’re an even bigger idiot than what they thought just a day ago.
You know, bubba, blog-simple is no way to go through life.
By Fred
May 4, 2008 4:40 PM | Link to this
Wow, I posted to you? Well just paint me green and call me gumby. I don’t remember that.
Um dude? I would back down about 10 units before I pushed the plunger into my arm if I were you. I think all that amperage is shorting you out a little. Remember, do less more often for the best effects rather than more, less often.
Enjoy the buzz.
By Stone
May 4, 2008 5:01 PM | Link to this
Hans Apology is in a p** contest with himself, and he’s losing. “Do you really think you can blog with me?” Are you serious, DUDE? Are you in some secret blogging competition that no one else is aware of? You’re right Fred, he’s just a troll trying to get a rise. He doesn’t have anything worth saying so he just says it in an aggressive, dismissive way and hopes it passes as cleaver. Next he’ll be calling me a moron. So predictable, so pathetic.
By Fred
May 4, 2008 5:47 PM | Link to this
LOL sorry Hans, I go by “Bubba” on most message boards I post on and when I saw the Bubba thing i had just come of another message board and was in the “bubba” mode lol. You weren’t talking to me, you were talking to EL Bubba (notice the EL, wild man?).
my bad. shutting the hell up and moving out……….
By Fred
May 4, 2008 6:52 PM | Link to this
Yeah Stone, I f’ed up and responded to him so I’ll get a little nugget of wisdom as well.
By Stone
May 4, 2008 7:42 PM | Link to this
Geez Fred we do have sht in common. My wife is an American of Filipino decent, came here in ‘92, met me two weeks later. Definitely an *I saw her first thing. Race is a non issue in our house, even though its full of folks of the Asian persuasion, mother-in-law, brother-in-law and his Filipino girlfriend. Sometimes, no strike that, all the time they get to talking and I have to ask myself, what country is this anyway? I live in a pretty diverse neighborhood too, Russians, Lithuanians, Jamacians, several inter racial couples, couple of northerners. And you’re right, were both probably on han’s sh*t list. I consider it an honor.
By reader
May 4, 2008 9:53 PM | Link to this
regina: it has been the experience of our hoa that most renters are good people. however, like you, we’ve had more than our share of bad apples. our hoa’s policy is to not deal with the renters regarding covenant infractions, but the owners, although a 1x notice does get sent to the tenant. property ownership is a matter of public record, check with your county’s tax assessor’s office. most info. is available online. and, as a previous poster advised, do get those phone numbers off posted signs in the front yards.
most property issues are a matter for code enforcement. depending on the issue, code enforcement decides which avenue to pursue…the tenant or the owner. the more people making complaints, the louder your collective voice. get your neighbors go to make complaints, followed by the hoa, then get them to either attend the hearings or to write letters to the governing board. take pictures (they speak so much louder than words!)& include them in correspondence to everyone you contact and copy everything to your boc or city council members, whomever it is who represents your community, citing the steps you’ve taken to resolve the issues. keep records of all contacts. follow up. follow up. follow up. be a pleasant pest.
our hoa has been quite successful with this route. we’ve hit the most troublesome houses from all directions, hoa, city code enforcement and police. at one particular house, 20+ people were arrested one night. it takes time, patience and persistence, but, eventually, all that effort pays off. the hardest part is getting the residents to take action. they like to complain to the hoa, but the hoa is not the eyes and ears of the n’hood. if there is a problem, it needs to get reported asap.
of the three most troublesome houses in our n’hood, one has sold, two are up for sale. keep in mind, however, vacant homes can become “attractive nuisances”. that is another nightmare. good luck!
another avenue to pursue: amend your covenants to limit the number of rentals in your n’hood. yes, that is easier said than done, and it means work, time and money.
By Hans Apology
May 4, 2008 10:55 PM | Link to this
Obama 08. Everyone is welcome, Even if some of your best friends are minorities.
Jim Crow, etc.
I love it! Funny how syntax always gives a phony away. Stone and Fred stalked me over here from the wooten blog, so regina is no black female, but instead their alias.
A black person in the US would never ever use the term, “Jim Crow..etc” Yeah, you know, we blacks, we be persectuted, you know, hangin’s, beatings, jim crow, etc…..
what a couple of dopes. I mean, REALLY! At least change the syntax of your black persona versus your regular ID. Look, maybe it’s not fair, I mean, not many people have my understanding of written dialect and the power of words. You’re simply outclassed, and you’re also not helping the problem of racism. As well intentioned as I’m sure your little brain is, you need to just disappear. Go back to wooten. They love you over there, no really, they do!
jim crow etc. that’s the funniest (unintentionally) thing I’ve read in years. You cant write stuff like that. That humor has to just happen.
just go away. go clean your gun or something. I mean, dont you have any self respect? too much pride is a fault, but zero pride? wow.
exit stage left.
By ElBubba
May 5, 2008 12:12 AM | Link to this
Well, that was all rather intereting. That fellow might make me rethink my views on tasers.
ElBubba
By Fred
May 5, 2008 12:35 AM | Link to this
LOL El bubba. Don’t taze me bro.
I couldn’t make it past the first lie he told about me. I stalked him from the wooten blog? I don’t think I’ve ever read the wooten blog, much less posted on it, not even sure what it is. Wooten does political stuff doesn’t he?
By Fred
May 5, 2008 12:40 AM | Link to this
Crap, I hit enter before I finished lol……..
Yeah Stone it’s scary isn’t it? We need to make sure we are never in the same building or we might spontaneously combust. Do your wife and inlaws speak Filipino or Spanish? Oh, and get me a good borscht recipe from your Russian neighbor……….
By Stone
May 5, 2008 6:12 AM | Link to this
The poor sap, hand apology, is in his own world and coming unglued. Thinks people are following him around and seemingly can’t stop complimenting himself, a sure sign of insecurity. And do I have this correct, Regina is not black or a female, but is either Fred’s or my alias? LOL! Funny how hands never really says anything of value or interest, just rants and postures like a blind peacock. Sounds like he bounces from one blog to another desperately seeking attention by any means necessary. Maybe if we ignore him he will go away. Poor sap needs help and I hope he gets it.
By Hans Apology
May 5, 2008 12:24 PM | Link to this
You are right Fred and Stone. I do need help. My parents never loved me growing up. I think I was an accident. Now as an adult I’m afraid to have my own accident and therefore have not had a meaniful relationship in over 20 years. I try to use my large vocabulary to impress others however sometimes when I rant I go crazy and people just don’t understand. All I want to do is belong and I can’t even do that right. I just need attention and I’ll do anything I can to get it. So thank you for talking to me over the blog. Even though you are calling me bad names, it helps me to know that others are thinking about me.
By Regina
May 5, 2008 12:26 PM | Link to this
Hans Apology, I am definitely a Black woman and not someone cloaking behind a name on this blog. And, Regina is my real name. I have written e-mailed Det. Steve Rose in the past and frequently comment on the columns of Wooten and Tucker. I will state what I feel needs to be stated in this blog. Call me what you will, but call me brave! You are discriminating just assuming a black person can’t put two words together and doesn’t understand the principles of writing. Your notion of a black woman is very narrow. Broaden your horizons and realize all of us aren’t painted with the same brush!
Stone, Part of the problem is everyone is trying to politically correct and not implementing solutions to the problems. We need honest and heart-to-heart dialogue on the problems in the black community from all concerned and affected.
Fred, I would love to live in any neighborhood that is friendly, well-maintained and holds the property value. :-)
Reader and CJ, In our neighborhood, we are documenting the addresses and reporting severe violations to the police. We are contacting the homeowners to inform them of violations. Cobb County Code Enforcement has been notified but they have a backlog of violations they are investigating.
As my grandmother would tell me, “There is no black way or white way, just the right way.”
By reader
May 5, 2008 2:11 PM | Link to this
regina: when you have multiple issues that fall under different jurisdictions, make each jurisdiction aware of each and every problem. for instance, when making a complaint to code enforcement regarding a particular property, include all of the infractions, not just the most severe. tell code enforcement if the police have had reason to be out to that property & why, and vice versa. if things are moving along at a snail’s pace, get your local county commissioner involved, especially if there are multiple cases open. include those photos of the property violations.
and, you have to follow up on the backlog. you just do, otherwise, things may slip thru the cracks. be your own advocate.
be proactive. things move a heck of a lot more swiftly when you are dealing with a repeat offender than opening a new case file. once a case is settled & closed, if the violations repeat, and too much time has passed, you might have to start the entire process all over again. it’s a vicious cycle.
By Cassie
May 5, 2008 2:59 PM | Link to this
Regina - Come and move into my neighborhood. We are very racially and culturally mixed. We are north Fulton, possibly soon to be Milton, and City of Roswell. To my left, we have a fine multi generational family of Bolivans and a mother/son pair of overweight Chihuahua’s (can’t spell that!), to my left, a three times divorced and three times remarried to each other caucasian couple who run a home business with their 40 + perpetual bachelor son. Mom and pop do some stuff with the riverkeepers. On the other side are some Yankee transplants that keep to themselves but wave, at least. We have a lady nurse from Jamacia, single mom with three boys that are REALLY TALL. I feel like a Lilliputian…but they are afraid of my 35 lb mutt and 70 lb Golden who would just as soon lick you to death. Their neighbors are also quite nice, and every year throw the cul de sac a Christmas white elephant party.
In fact, the biggest problems we have are barking dogs and the assmonkey who shot the neighborhood coyote. There was a raid a few years ago….buncha twerps in a rental selling things a bit too hard core for Roswell. We have some kids selling weed…at least, I’m pretty sure it’s just weed….as it’s just kids that I see coming and going. You very rarely see the police, unless they are serving papers or a warrant. It’s a nice neighborhood.
By doggypaddlyr
May 5, 2008 3:01 PM | Link to this
Umm…Regina, I honestly feel sorry for you. Get the heck down off of your high horse and join the rest of us in dealing with irresponsible parents. Shame on you for bringing race or racial overtures into this. I live in a ~balanced~ neighborhood and the teens there are just as ~unsupervised~, as the police say, but let’s call it what it is. They are sorry and disrespectful as heck. Both black and white. Single and two parent households. And I KNOW that I am not the only one who can attest to that.
But, somehow I get the feeling that trying to convince you of that would be like talking to a brick wall…a really stupid brick wall. So, I’ll just throw out a few suggestions. Talk to the homeowners. Tell them about your issues and remind them that this WILL affect their property values when this housing mess is resolved and they want to unload it. Now, that may backfire and leave you with a whole lot of vacant houses in your neighborhood. And if you think you have a problem now….Another option is to talk to the tenants. Let them know that you aren’t playing with them. The police WILL be called if we see ANYthing suspicious. If they have something to hide then you may notice an immediate drop in whatever issues you are having. Invest in a security system. Not only will it deter theft but it would give you a small discount on your homeowners policy. Form a neighborhood watch and use it. Call Steve out there. Last thing any criminal (Black or White) wants is to squat in a ~hot spot~. Try moving. Go rent in a neighborhood more suitable for your ~taste~ and rent your current home to a ~baby momma~. Careful though because, like I said earlier, we are all having problems with delinquent teens to varying degrees. That frying pan might not seem so hot when your rear ends hits that fire. Know what I mean?
And, last but not least, keep that racial crap to yourself because you are just feeding on sterotypes. If the fact that you are Black were removed from your post then readers would ~assUme~ you were white. Now, think outside of your little box. Do you think that would help you or hurt you…as a Black person interacting with people that tend to agree with this stereotypical buffoonery. Trust…these individuals could care less if you are as ~knowledgeable~ as you sound. You are still Black and therefore you are still part of what you so eloquently described above.
It’s okay. I’ll look the other way while you pull your foot from your mouth or your head from your…well, you know from where.
By Cassie
May 5, 2008 3:07 PM | Link to this
Oh stop. The only reason you would assume Regina is white is because that post was well written, not full of slang, and actually was critcal of her own race.
I criticize my own race all the time. I’m a gun toting honkey GRITS. My boyfriend drives a truck. We could equip a small army. He doesn’t like illegal immigrants. I don’t care (I think they keep our economy humming, personally, since the rest of us “real american citizens” have gotten too snotty to get our hands dirty doing any real (read “manuel” labor)).
If she wants to make it into a racial thing, that’s her perogative. Just like if I want to say that I think Sonny P is backwards cracker that doesn’t represent me, and therefore a redneck, it’s my perogative too.
Doesn’t make me racist. Just makes me expressive.
By Stone
May 5, 2008 4:37 PM | Link to this
Hey Dogpad, what’s your gripe with Regina? She’s calling it like she sees it, not as you say, feeding into racial stereotypes. Why must some people try to control other people’s vocabularies?. The lady is sick of folks bringing down her neighborhood and they happen to be black. Just because a black person is criticized doesn’t mean someone is being racial insensitive. If she said the same thing about white people I bet you would have nothing to say to her. If you disagree with her, fine, point out an alternative opinion, but don’t tell what to say and what not to say. It’s you who should get off their high horse.
By Cassie
May 5, 2008 4:58 PM | Link to this
And does lyr mean lawyer?
By Regina
May 5, 2008 5:03 PM | Link to this
Cassie and Stone, thank you for standing up for my right to express my views as I see fit. You are much appreciated!
doggypaddlyr, Invite the offenders in my neighborhood to live in your neighborhood. You are part of the problem, not holding the juveniles accountable for their actions and making excuses for them. Parents are responsible for their children’s actions. In our neighborhood, we have sent out information about free and low cost alternatives for camp and other activities for the children.
I have an alarm system as many of my neighbors. The youths know by the time the police respond, they can be in and out with jewelry and other valuable items. Alarms are not a deterrent. Why should I move? I have more of a right to live in my home and neighborhood than transient renters who don’t have a stake in anything. Accusing me of being on a high horse or whatever doesn’t change the fact there is a black youth problem in the neighborhood. The neighborhood is racially diverse but is changing and not for the better. However, the homeowners have a great chance of turning things around and we have narrowed the problems to a few addresses.
My feet are where they have always been, planted firmly and proudly on the ground.
By Regina
May 5, 2008 5:17 PM | Link to this
Reader, I will take your advice and pass it on to the other homeowners in my neighborhood. Thank you. We will create and maintain a database so we can track the offenders and their violations.
As far as help from our county commissioner, that isn’t really an option. She has problems of her own fending off foreclosures and code violations on her rental property.
By Cassie
May 5, 2008 5:21 PM | Link to this
Regina -
You know, you are so right. The kids across the street aren’t the best, since mom works her butt off so that they have a home, and a good school, but she tries to provide for them, and I respect that, so I cut them some slack.
But that doesn’t mean I won’t beat the crap out of them as the nearest adult of there is anyshit. Nevermind that they are seven feet tall. Or I’ll send the dogs over.
But seriously, if you move, you give in. The reason we have poverty and crime stricken areas is that is because it is everyone’s answer: rather than stand firm and defend yourself, you move. Rather than stand for what you believe in, you take the path of least resistance.
By Regina
May 5, 2008 5:21 PM | Link to this
Reader, I will take your advice and pass it on to the other homeowners in my neighborhood. Thank you. We will create and maintain a database so we can track the offenders and their violations.
As far as help from our county commissioner, that isn’t really an option. She has problems of her own fending off foreclosures and code violations on her rental property.
By Stone
May 5, 2008 7:58 PM | Link to this
Regina it’s nice to read your posts and I hope you stay awhile at this blog dispite the occasional jerk.
By Fred
May 5, 2008 8:10 PM | Link to this
Dear Doggy Diddler,
You are an idjit.
Love,
Fred
PS: Now you can continue your routine of hating white people and blaming them for all YOUR inadequacies. Continue to be a slave to the likes of your Black Masters like Jesse the extortionist, Jackson, and Louis the lip, Farrakhan, and let us not forget that fine upstanding “reverand” Al Sharpton. They depend upon your utter stupidity to enrich themselves further..
Naw, better yet, just bite me you racist POS. You are the black version of the hairy backed, inbred, knuckle dragging, sheet wearing, mouth breathing, “white supremists.” Aren’t you proud to be in the peer group of David Dukes? Because the truth be told the only difference between the two of you is skin color and the color of the skin of those you hate.
By Lt. Steve
May 5, 2008 8:37 PM | Link to this
Regina: One good thing about posting on this blog is you’ll get your money’s worth and if I may brag for a momento, most are pretty informative and not too shy about opinions. Occasionally you get the mental midget but by far I enjoy reading the really good advice I get such as “Steve—give it up” and “Steve, you’re full of sh—!!” Anyway, I think that your scenario is best compared here by some of the apartment and condo residents. I don’t believe we’ve seen the forclosure impact yet in the middle-class communities. Some of the high-end homes are taking hits but those are so out of range for any family looking to rent. We’re seeing an increase of young suspects committing pedestrian robberies. They are working in pairs. Mixed races. One pair are black the other white and black. This is in the north end of town. On the south end we have a lot of Hispanic gang activity. RSL, RSL-13, Riverside Locos. The Hispanic standards are different. They occupy the apartment districts that are low-rent and soon up for rehab. Not sure how that will affect us.
By Iknowwhatyoumean
May 5, 2008 9:56 PM | Link to this
I owned a house that I inherited from my parents in Northwest Atlanta. The balance was $2200.00.
I had it made. Then, a shooting in front of my house that left one person dead and yellow tape and chalk lines there for days.
I quick sold that home and bought a home in Decatur. The first week I was there, a woman coming from the bus stop was killed for her purse. A naked man was running through the streets with two butcher’s knives. You know DeKalb County killed him. To top that off the Sheriff ordered the murder of the Sheriff-elect during Christmas holidays in his yard in front of his family.
What I did was similar to what Steve just said. I purchased a house at the very end of Douglas County near the Carroll County Line. I have two acres and cannot see my neighbors on either side of me or across the street. I have to live in seclusion and drive many, many miles to get to anything “lit up”. I always enjoyed socializing and having weekend cookouts and yard sales with neighbors.
It is a shame, but, all of the crimes I wrote about were committed by Blacks.
I am Black and Proud. I worked very hard to have something and it saddens me to see that I had to run with all my might to get to a place that I feel safe and secure. This is part of what I do read the AJC online, play poker online and watch sports and movies.
I really miss my old life and evening walks visiting friends and neighbors. It is verrry sad indeed
By reader
May 6, 2008 12:04 AM | Link to this
regina: you are so very welcome. i know your frustration. our n’hood went thru a similar cycle. the hoa had to deal with a few kids, and worse, their parents (not always single parent households), who suffered terribly from the “not-my-kid” syndrome. the hoa had to go as far as mediation in regards to one particular issue. then, you can’t talk about the outcome b/c the kid is a minor. it makes you want to scream! it’s a lot more difficult than you might imagine to bring forth charges; anger vs. empathy for their situations, especially if you or your children know the family circumstances. one thing to keep in mind is that you cannot target just certain homes (or kids)…you have to be consistent with all violators, across the board, rental homes and owner occupied homes alike.
post your progress. good luck.
By Regina
May 6, 2008 2:41 PM | Link to this
Thanks Lt. Steve!
Iknowwhatyoumean, it is very frustrating to deal with the criminal element. I just heard on the news that someone robbed a gun shop on Austell Road near County Services Parkway. Now, there are more guns on the street in Cobb County.
Reader, yes, we are targeting all violators not just the rental homes. However, the rental homes are the locations of the majority of the violations and problems.
By Fred
May 8, 2008 12:35 AM | Link to this
Dear Regina and Iknowwhatyou mean,
I feel for you, but I am no longer allowed under todays PC rules to reach you. If I say what the two of you have said, I’m a racist. If I say what you have read me to say, I’m a racist. If I stay home and say nothing, I’m a racist. Well as you can see, I refuse to accept that pathetic label. It isn’t true and I WILL NOT wear it. So I guess I can reach you after all. Why do we (by we I mean, you me, Stone, and many others who posted here) have to put up with all this excrement from a large, overfed, and often constipated bull? WE are that “silent majority” from days gone by that didn’t speak up. Well I for one am damn tired of not speaking up. EVERY American (well except for those hyphenated buttwinks) is MY brother and sister. I may be dumber than dog squeeze but I believe that more think MY way than think that racist crap way. They are just more vocal and get more press. I’m tired of that. By “they” I mean they, the idiots of ALL colors who talk stupid crap.
Is there racism in American? Hell yeah, but I know it to be a minority of idiots, not the mainstream way of thinking. Something to put in a pipe and smoke: Racism is NOT just about black and white. There are other races out there. I know it’s a tough concept but ponder upon it for a minute, (Oh, in case there is any doubt, I’m no longer talking to you Regina and I know). Rodney King my be an idiot about most things, but he was right about one thing. Can’t we just all get along? I believe that most AMERICANS are way past this race thing.
Steve: good catch.