fiddling while Rome burns

[chipster55]

I live in a Dallas 'burb - and you couldn't pay me to live in ANY neighborhood within the city limits of Dallas - and I grew up in Dallas. Crime is rampant & the city gov't is a joke.

[windshieldbug]

the skating rink ... burned down

Now, you know me as a wise a@@, but isn't a rink generally flat, made of water, and next to the ground, anyway!? Melt it, I could understand.

The murder rate for for this year (so far) in Philadelphia exceeds last year, which is conveniently displayed by the local rag HERE. Yesterday, only four teachers were attacked during school.

[windshieldbug]

(That's why they don't let me too far south!!)

Those burn real good!

[LoyalTubist]

Last night, outside my Saigon office, a motorcycle hit another motorcycle from behind--the front tire of one hit the exhaust pipe of the other. No damage. But the guy in front got really, really upset. Within seconds there was a huge fight--almost a riot. The police came (we have weapons-less cops, as they do in England) and after they fought with them, hauled them off to jail.

It can happen anywhere!

[bort]

I opened the newspaper this morning to find this:

"24 hours, four dead, three wounded
Night of gunfire shocks Northeast Baltimore"

I then read on to see a few other encouraging statistics:

"Through yesterday, 57 people have been killed in Baltimore this year - 51 from shootings. The pace of killings so far has surpassed last year, when 52 people were killed during the same period. With a per-capita homicide rate that remains among the highest in the nation - and worsening this year - Baltimore police statistics show that the increase in slayings can be at least partly attributed to a serious spike in shootings overall.

Police say that through March 10, shootings jumped 30 percent this year. The increase follows last year's overall 16 percent rise in shootings."

[Rick Denney]

I live in a Dallas 'burb - and you couldn't pay me to live in ANY neighborhood within the city limits of Dallas - and I grew up in Dallas. Crime is rampant & the city gov't is a joke.

When I lived in Dallas, I actually lived IN Dallas--in a finger of it that extended far to the north between Addison and Richardson. You know, the middle finger. I was 17 miles north of downtown.

We didn't have too much crime in our neighborhood. But there were attacks on people in their alley-access driveways. That's why I got a concealed-carry permit. I was never tempted to have that living in San Antonio, where there is more petty crime but less violent crime, and in San Antonio I was running in and out of some pretty scary neighborhoods. Dallas was an angry city when I lived there, at all levels of society. Sorta like here.

Rick "tired of the 'tude" Denney

[bort]

What is the population of Baltimore proper?

About 650k.

[tbn.al]

A lot of my musician freinds live downtown or at least midtown, but I refuse to put up with it all. I don't go down there unless the ASO is playing something I can't afford to miss. The real problem is that the city government has a Robin Hood(or Karl Marx, what ever your pleasure)mentality. They are dedicated to take from the rich and give to the poor. I don't have a problem with the morality of that, just the effectiveness. Since anyone with a job is considered rich and therefore fair game, I choose not to participate. The end result is a "world owes me" 'tude, and they rape, pillage and plunder to get what is rightfully theirs. Like I said, I moved way out not to have to play that game. I worry about my grandchildren, a lot.

[ken k]

Bloke said...There is some talk of hiring mo' cops (ie. mo' taxes), but it seems to me that would only accomplish mo' speeding tickets...??

ken k says:

Reading PA is one of the top 25 dangerous cities in the US according to some recent national survey based on the violent crime rate / population.

When Giuliani (sp?) cleaned up NYC, guess where all the drug dealers came....

You see as many New York licence plates driving around Reading as PA plates (OK perhaps that is an exaggeration, but you get my drift)

They just busted a huge drug ring in town this past week and guess where it originated, Brooklyn.

Anyway the jist of my post is I was driving through town last Wednesday. BTW, this is in the "nice" section of town called College Heights near Albright College, nice big "old money" homes. I drifted through a stop sign since it was late at night and there were no other cars around, except for the two sitting in the nearby pool parking lot. Well you can figure out what happended next. One block later, I am pulled over by TWO police cars with their lights all flashing. $107 and 10 minutes later I was free to go. Now with all the problems in this city, they actaually have 2 cop cars sitting at this stop sign waiting for some schmoe to not stop?

Don't get me wrong I did not stop completely at the stop sign, so i am guilty as charged, i paid the fine, but I just wanted to rant a bit. That comment about traffic tix set me off.

I guess they have to pay for all those extra cops somehow... may as well have some people who are not residents of the city help foot the bill.

ken "I feel better now" k

[Mark]

That's why I got a concealed-carry permit. I was never tempted to have that living in San Antonio, where there is more petty crime but less violent crime, and in San Antonio I was running in and out of some pretty scary neighborhoods.

I've heard from family that live near San Antonio that it is now the major hub for drugs coming up from Mexico. San Antonio was always one of my favorite cities in Texas. It's sad.

And to Bloke: These things seem to go in cycles. I'm still optimistic that things will hit the upturn soon. (I say this when just yesterday I bought "survival supplies" and stored them in the garage. I'm also considering a whole-house generator. It's not because of bad people; but bad weather. Last winter we were trapped at home with no power and very icy roads for 6 days.)

[SplatterTone]

It is a coincidence that this relevant article showed up on telegraph.co.uk. At least we can pack heat over here.
http://tinyurl.com/2urtan

I am libertarian enough that I would not care if you and your "significant other" (or others) had sex in the middle of the road if I were the only person to ever know that it happened. But I am pragmatic enough to know that, because rampant promiscuity and tolerance of "alternative lifestyles" does seem to be resulting in a lot of irresponsible baby making where neither parent is financially equipped or emotionally mature enough to raise the child, I have to side with those who are not so libertarian and want to see stricter moral codes.

Which is one reason I watch very little TV. I don't support what I think is the main cause of the social decay. Just like I always build my computers with AMD processors: not because they are the best or fastest (they usually aren't) but because I don't want Intel to have a complete monopoly. If you believe it, then act on it.