Zombies and Modesto Parks

I did not find it surprising when hearing about an assault that took place last Saturday at Mancini Park in Modesto.  I also do not find it surprising that it took place in broad daylight, because who in their right mind would stroll through a Modesto park at night?
It was only a matter of time where an incident so violent would occur at a park and actually reported.

Folks complaining about "quality of life" if a shopping center is erected at the corner of Sylvan and Oakdale ought to be thankful they do not live across the street from a park. Now THAT is a "quality of life" issue.

"Zombies" are the latest craze as we get closer to Halloween.  If you are fans of zombies, then make a picnic and go to your local park.  The amount of homeless, vagrancy, and mentally ill that stroll around will amuse you.  I have literally seen these folks walk around in a circle going nowhere.  Just the other week I witnessed a man who was a spitting image of "Animal" from the Muppets, just throwing trash all over Enslen Park.  He picked up a trash bag as if it was a big find and carried it around before disposing it under the stands.

On Saturday morning while the In-Shape/City of Modesto's kids Zumba event was going on at Enslen Park, I noticed a dude rolling a joint at a table.  (When you are doing something and consistently looking up looking for authorities, you are probably up to no good). He proceeded to smoke it with a regular resident, "Red" at the horseshoe pits.  Now "Red" has always been an ally of ours in keeping the park safe from it's curses.  However when I approached him to question his decision on smoking while there are a ton of kids at the park he got defensive.  "Do you see any kids in this area?". Uh "yes" I replied. Then the other dude confronted me and while cussing me out (at the same time he retreated cause he thought maybe the police would be on their way and knowing he had substance on him he got out of "dodge"), but he went kicking and screaming.

At our CANA security meeting, the main emphasis was the homelessness and the vagrancy. That is still our main concern.  We are going to work on a few questions to how we can stop the issues.  Questions like, why are we letting the Modesto Inn continue?  Why are we still seeing park feedings?  Where is the Blue Ribbon Committee and it's findings at?  We recognize that these are a society issue, and if we succeed in eliminating the issues at Enslen and Graceada Park, that it will only continue somewhere else.  However, we are at such a infuriating state of mind, we don't care.  Just get it out of our parks.  That thought process is wrong, but we need help and the city needs to look over its park patrol system first, then see how they want to deal with homelessness and mental illness issues next. If we are going to provide services, then do so in a coordinated effort.