so my question is, what do the maintenance workers do?  I mean, the graffiti seen here on the left has been there for some time.  The Enslen pillars have been tagged for awhile.  I appreciate what the maintenance workers doing cleaning the park, but do they NOT report graffiti?  Are they blind to it?  Maybe they just wait for a pissed off resident to finally call and say, "Hey".  The graffiti on the Boy Scouts Building has been there only for a few days according to one of the "residents".

Bathroom Closures; Uh Oh!

So the city has to shut down park bathrooms.  It is inevitable.  The money needs to be cut somewhere.  They will have to ADD police officers for what will take place when the bathrooms are closed.  The homeless will be deficating in our alleys.  

So what if we get a volunteer group that will ensure that the bathrooms are kept up and the park clean?  Here is the problem with that.  Apparently, only Beyer, Davis, Downey, and Tuolomne Park's restrooms will remain open 24/7.  Then we get the community to take care of Enslen and Graceada parks.  If other communities do not step up to keep their community park clean, then that leaves only a few parks with their restrooms clean.  Now EVERY Tom, Dick, and Harry will be at our parks (the one with the open restrooms) which means more trash, more cleaning, more issues (drug deals and illegal activity) all because our community has chosen, and assured the city, that we will clean Enslen and Graceada parks.  

How about the sports teams?  How are you going to hold a soccer or baseball practice at Enslen Park now that the bathrooms will be closed?  In case you have not noticed, Modesto does not have enough facilities for practices.  It is already overcrowded.  Where are these teams going to go?

Funny Thing Happened On The Way To The Park

These past years in my documentation of the homeless issue I have never at any point approached any of the "residents" at Enslen Park. I usually let my "informant" do my talking. They are all aware of my blog and I am "That guy that writes about us". The other night, the boy scouts were having their weekly get together at the, well, boy scout building at Enslen. They were outdoors doing their activities and I noticed a young fellow who made the universal "gotta go pee" gesture by holding his, uh, "area." I saw the Head Scout guy point to the bathrooms. The little guy shook his head, uh, no. Then he darted in the boy scout building where I am sure there are restrooms in there. I know why he said "No" as there were two guys laying asleep wrapped up in their sleeping bags, right next to the bathroom entrance. So, I ventured over there for the first time and awoke the guys and simply asked why they had to sleep right there as opposed to under some tree away from the activity. Man, I opened Pandora's Box. These guys got very belligerent and rude with me as I only asked a question and did not want any confrontation. The one guy who I will call "Dude" was absolutely out of line. Maybe I was out of line for asking him, but I meant no harm. I actually had to get my "informant" (who was not far from sight) to come over so I did not go after this guy for what he said. Again, I could have been in the wrong here, but I was being threatened as he "knew where I live", and "I know what you do". My "informant" would make sure that nothing were to ever happen to me or my family for my vigilance.

The word got around to the other "residents". My "informant" said that I talked to the wrong dude, being, "Dude". He is an a** and nobody cares for him and "Dude" has kind of ostracized himself from the others. I even went back to apologize and meant no ill will, but "Dude" just told me to get out of his face. The other guy was fine. What I am finding that over time I have softened a bit on these folks plight. The reason is, is that they police the park themselves. These regulars make sure that nobody rocks the boat and if they do, they need to move on. Most of these folks, other than "Dude", "get it" that if there is activity in the park being used for it's intended purposes, then the "residents" move aside and try not to be a nuisance. These people have told my "informant" that they know I am trying to be more peaceable. It is almost like we are ONE. They were not surprised by "Dude's" outburst, and they saw my point and sided with me. "Dude" has only made life even more miserable for himself.

Police Gone Bad?

In the "Letters From Our Readers" section in today's Modesto Bee, a posting "Nicely pointing out not-so-nice officers", a disgruntled grandmother spoke of a rude Modesto police officer who gave her grandson a ticket as well as some "threats" about not having mud flaps on his nice truck.  We do not know what actually happened.  Maybe the officer is guilty of being overzealous, or maybe the kid gave him some grief unreported by the grandson to grandma.  

I am a backer of the Modesto Police Department.  I do not get in trouble.  They help when I call about issues at Enslen Park.  They are very helpful.  With that said, a relative of mine was recently tazered by an MPD officer that brought my relative to his knees.  The "residents" at Elk Park (next to Enslen Park) apparently said that it was totally unwarranted and the police overreacted during midday right in front of all onlookers.  

There are going to be "loose cannons" in EVERY police department. Not just in Modesto.  There are going to be loose cannons in whatever job we work at, whether it is in a police department, fire department, an office, or on an athletic team.  Part of my job is managing softball umpires.  I have 22 of them to manage.  At least 4 of them are "loose cannons" that I have to keep an eye out on and watch their behavior.  Your office of 25 employees probably have 3 or 4 "loose cannons." Every work force has good workers, bad workers, nice people, mean people, organized people, scatterbrained people.  How is it going to be any different in a police force?  No matter what sensitivity training is issued, people are what they are and there is no changing them.  They may change for the better temporarily, but ultimately they are going to go back to their old ways.  

Caught

It's good to see that these thugs got caught.  I guess it was easy as there were a number of witnesses.  These punks are not gang members, just a bunch of your typical bored punks looking for trouble.  Read the comments at the bottom.  Very interesting.

Fans of Insane Clown Posse face assault charges in Modesto beating - Local - The Modesto Bee

http://www.modbee.com/1618/story/677844.html

Lawlessness at the parks

Recent news in the Bee has a father getting beat up by a band of young thugs at Graceada park.  A 53 year old father and his teenage daughters were trying out some night photography on Saturday night, March 8th.  A group of "men", or cowards decided after a few beers to pummel this guy into submission before the cops were called and he was able to regain consciousness.   Arrests were made thankfully.

Then, this past Tuesday night I was at the local market (Millenium) on the corner of Sycamore and Morris, you know, the "Green" store, or Sonny's market, as I usually frequent, and one of the Enslen "residents" was wanting to buy a small bottle of Hennesey.  He did not have the money, so he said he would be right back.  I mean, the guy was pleasant and all, not a problem.  As I am wrapping up my purchase and he comes back in and gets a bottle of Early Times whiskey.  He is right after me so I leave and get in my car when I notice the "resident" leave and hand the bottle off to some 8th grade kid!  My son was in the car and he recognized the boy.  The next day I told Sonny of the incident and he said he would take care of it.  This guy has "credit" at the store, so had not even paid for it, yet.  Sonny told me "no more".  

My "Informant" who is in with the "residents" had a little chat with the guy and he assured me that it would not happen again.  But this is the type of behavior that goes on.  A beating and a major violation of alcohol policy.  That is not to mention the 5 or so "dudes" who I saw purchase their brown bags and partake in their drinking at a picnic table at Graceada the other day.

I know that I have tried to put a "homeless" committee together which after some consultation, that is not going to work.  Too big of a challenge.  I am in contact with the MPD to have another neighborhood watch get together.  However, we have had these in the past with not much results.  Everybody gets together for a "bitch" session, yet nobody is willing to help out after the meeting is over.  I do have some ideas and will try this one more time.  I'll keep in touch.

Shoes Hangin'

Urban legend has it that a pair of shoes hanging from a telephone wire is a sign that the selling of crack goes on there, or the sign of gangs marking their "turf".  Well, we have a couple of pair hanging from a wire above the bocci court (or whatever they play there) at Enslen Park.  Now, the only "gang" there is that of the "South Central" Homeless posse.  My given name, not theirs.  Could they be selling crack there? Likely not, but not out of the question.  It could just be a prank or the work of bored teenagers.  I have emailed the city about this and hope to get a response to have them removed.  Actually, they look as though they are in good shape.  Size 12's hopefully.

Park Handouts

Reading the Modesto Bee yesterday, 12/19, I noticed the article where "do gooders" are making things better for the homeless by providing them blankets and stuff.  "We look for the homeless in and around Modesto like downtown and Graceada Park."  (In similar terms).  So, now we are the starting point for the homeless here at Graceada and Enslen Parks.  WHEN THE DO-GOODERS START AT THOSE parks, we have an issue.  The issue is, these parks are now known to house the homeless.  The other issue is the fact that these people who are only looking to help out come to the park with these goodies.   It only enables the homeless to stay when all these goods and services are brought to them.  But of course these Do-Gooders and church groups do not LIVE in this neighborhood, so they do not GET it.  "It's not in OUR neighborhood".  If you want to provide goods and services, then get a damn "Happy Bus" or something and pick up all the homeless and take them for a ride to go GET THE blankets and free meals.  What about taking these blankets to the shelters?  These folks in Enslen Park are WANTING to be there!  They do not want to GO home.  These people have a home but it is their CHOICE to be "homeless".  They are "Renting" the park, hence, "Hotel Enslen." I have talked with them!  Take those blankets and meals to TRULY homeless folks in the shelters.  It is NOT those folks choice to be homeless.  

Update on Committee

After meeting with Mike Moridian of the LaLoma Neighborhood Association, we both decided to put the brakes on a "Homeless" Committee. This is a fight that we are not ready for yet, or prepared for. Homelessness is a major social issue that a little committee cannot fight. What we have decided to do, is to start of small. We are going after the vagrancy in our parks. That way, we do not need to use the term "homeless". We, here in Modesto, have lost some park space to the "vagrants". So, that is the plan for right now. Once this small battle is fought and won, it will lead to the issue of what Modesto is going to do with homelessness and we can THEN work on that issue. I got to run, but I will keep you updated.

Updates on committee

I will be headed to the police department tomorrow (9/18) to set up a time for the homeless committee. It should be around mid-October, but I will let all know.

A few recent observations of the Hotel is that resident Tina seems to piss off all the females residing at the park. It is a daily cat fight amongst the women. I have seen a few more incidents of pot smoking going on. This is not from the residents, but from others just coming by figuring, "Well, this is as good as any, I mean, look at the people here. It must be okay." I have noticed a lot more drinking going on as I have not seen as much police presence lately. Maybe they have just given up.

All kinds of action

So, Emilie Raguso writes in the Bee how a guy living near Enslen Park got his motorized bicycle stolen from his house. Seen the park lately? They are all looking for some sort of transportation. I bet the residents at the park had something to do with it.

So, for the past two days, there has been a a couple of "cat fights". The ladies have been hooking it up. Tina, a main resident, always seems to have some issues. She was fighting with "Nina". It got so confrontational it even made a driver stop to see if Nina was okay.

We now have a resident that owns her own motorhome now. She is the mom that has the kids that hang around in the park. You know, the kids with the idle time. She she rotates her nightly stay on Park Ave, Enslen, Morris, and Stoddard. Now the evenings are "party time".

Finally, I read that the police arrested a "vagrant" that attempted a bank robbery on Yosemite Ave the other day. The arrest took place at Enlsen and Stoddard. That is right across the street from my house! I did not see it. But, what the hell. Where am I going to go after an attempted robbery? Maybe I will blend in with the rest of the residents at Hotel Enslen. At least a real resident of the area recongnized the dude and made a call to the police.

Now I Am Pissed Off...

It's been awhile since I last blogged. There really has been no news to report on the homeless issues at Enslen Park as it is status quot. The park is still full of homeless "residents" day after day after day. There has been an addition of some kids however. Apparently there is a homeless mom and her kid(s) come and stay with her at the park. Not sure if they have homes but they are always there. A problem arose as my kids crossing the park to go to their friends house and vice-verse have been "harassed" a bit by these 13 year olds in the park. My son said it is no big deal, but it is. I could tell that they do not feel comfortable crossing the park as long as those kids are there. My son said, "they always have something to say". So I went to investigate. As I am approaching the "hotel breezeway," which is the section between the restrooms and the horseshoe pits, with my son and my friends 13-year old daughter, this kid whistles at the girl. I approached him and said "That is not necessary. If you want date, just ask her!" I told him (and an adult that was with the kid) that my kids need to be able to walk through here with NO incidents. You need to keep your mouth shut. I went over and talked with a few of the "residents" and asked who this kid was. They asked, "Why, what did he do?" I told them that when my kids and their friends cross the park here that there needs to be nothing said, no cat calls, no issues. This group of residents agreed. "Well, his mom is not here right now, but I will tell him to leave" said one of the residents. So we have the "regulars" at the park who for the most part (other that a few verbal fights every so often) try to behave, but we have some kids that have a lot of idle time who are spending their time at the park and who are disturbing others.