Homeless Stealing food

So my son was just at the "Green Store" at Morris and Sycamore when a homeless guy stole some canned food.  The owner, Mona, caught him, but nothing she could do as he left.  My son said it was so obvious, and he did not deny it.  My son came home, and the dude was sitting at the park bench and he explained to me what happened.  I called "Sonny" the owner, and he was not there but was aware.  He said, there "is nothing we can do other than ban him from the store.  The police will not respond".  That is the gist of the conversation as Sonny's english is not the best, bless his heart.  I think what I inferred from the conversation is that instead of pressing charges, it is just easier to ban the guy from the store because there could be retribution. Sad.  All the meals in the city offered to him and all the bag lunches available he had to resort to blatant theft.  Maybe it was just dog food for his dog, who knows.  The beat goes on.................

Lights Out....Again

All the street lights that surround Enslen Park are out.  As I mentioned last week, all the wiring was stripped out.  The city repaired the light at Poplar and Stoddard, and it is out again! Other than the one security light, the park is completely dark.  Oh for some park patrol! Unfortunately, the police patrol and the neighborhood patrol is still not enough.

I thought a Save Mart store opened at the park on Sunday with all the "shoppers" at the park.  There were so many shopping carts at the park with their handlers.  Tickets should be written with those who have shopping carts more than a 1/2 mile from the store.  Shopping carts are just like graffiti to a neighborhood, a complete eyesore mess.  On a brighter note, I did see a stroller yesterday that actually had a child in it!

Water Wells in the Parks?

So the city is entering a contract for water wells to be installed in 5 city parks at the cost of $500k.  In chatting with Todd Aaronson, who is running for city council, District 3, he let me in on this nugget of information.

We both agree that what is the use of having greener parks if nobody wants to go to them? Could the city instead use that money towards commercial paint that is washable to remove graffiti? It is expensive, but you paint it on, and the graffiti comes off easier.  Taggers hate it. Or to pay for new lighting since all the wiring is getting stolen; repairing the restrooms; or paying for security patrols (community service officers) of the parks.

I do not entirely understand why the water wells are needed.  I am just going off what others are telling me.  I have not researched it.  I was emailed (not from a candidate) that water wells are important for the park.  "They are wells that will use water that is not up to State of Calif standards for drinking water which will free up the better water for drinking.  In the long run it will save the city on not having to drill deeper more expensive wells for drinking to meet the standards."  I don't understand the first part, to use the water that is not up to state of Calif standards for drinking water......I am thinking that what was meant, to get RID of the water that is not drinkable, for USABLE drinking water, maybe?

Todd Aaronson says it will only save $11,000 a year.  Taking care of the park maintenance with this $500k would save the city more in the long run from vandalism.  That is what Mr. Aaronson is saying, I am agreeing to.

If my or others' facts are wrong, then it is my fault for not researching it.  I just started this blog because my concerns are the safety and well being of the parks.  I did not want to branch out to water wells, but it all does go together.  Fix the park issues first, then keep them green or make the drinking water better.

Lights Out!

So I emailed the city that our street light at Enslen Park has been out.  Just chatted with city worker just now and ALL the lights surrounding the park are out.  All were broken into and the wiring stripped! This includes the horseshoe pit. Shocker.  The beat goes on.

We paint the graffiti at the parks, we have volunteered to open the restrooms.  I have offered suggestions.  Still waiting to hear from the city that about more paint that we need and getting the keys to the Enslen and Graceada parks restrooms.

Modesto - "Graffiti Town, USA"

Obviously I am not talking about George Lucas and Wolfman Jack and our heritage of the throwback "American Graffiti" era that we relive here in Modesto.  Is it me, or is every utility box, light pole, fence post, wall, business, street sign, canal bank and whatever else standing have graffiti on it? Pictured is the women's bathroom at Enslen Park.  My brother in law has paint and often paints over any graffiti at the park.  He just painted over some in the women's bathroom last week which was tagged shortly after.  Looks like the city tried washing the black graffiti off only to be re-tagged with white paint as seen in the photos.  They are not gang taggings, just some board punks.  The other photo is a tagging at the tennis courts at Graceada.  As I type, Uncle Tom is painting over them.

My question is, is that there are city employees in the park every morning.  They can't paint over this graffiti?  Do they not have paint in their trucks?  I know the graffiti abatement the city had is no longer budgeted for, but is it NOT in the job description of these city employees to simply paint over it?  If they are driving around, can they take 2 minutes to remove a tag?

I am trying to keep it together fellow Modesto residents, but this town is becoming a s**t hole! As we get closer to election time, I stress to the new power to be's that somehow we take care of the graffiti (amongst other issues).  My brother-in-law paints over it at Enslen and Graceada as the city provides us with the paint.  I am sure if he were paid for his efforts, he and other "vagrants" would provide the service for half the pay.  It would be half volunteer, and half "give the dog a bone"!  Uncle Tom is a recycler and if it were not for myself and my wife, he would be one of the vagrants in the park.  He has some pull, and could get the use of a few other park locals to do this.  These "graffiti angels" would be scouring the city similar to their efforts in all the recycling (legal of course) that they do in getting paid per tag removal.

Good job MPD!

http://www.modestogov.com/newsroom/releases/prdetail.asp?id=1035

Looks as though at least one of the vandals destroying our parks was caught! Take that Yosemite recycling, you piece of poo poo! Good thing Uncle Tom did not get a hold of this guy! He is a legitimate recycler and has no patience for those who break the laws.

Park Issues? Really?

It comes as no shock to me about the recent news of a rash of thefts, graffiti, and vandalism in our parks as reported in the Bee.  As we attempt to be a bit more vigilant here in the College area it still does not prevent some vagrants from stealing 7 crepe myrtle trees from the Virginia corridor? What are they going to do with those trees, smoke them?

We were recently asked by CANA if we could help out with closures of the Graceada and Enslen bathrooms at night (I believe because some maintenance is going to take place), so I did email Julie Hannon at the Parks department.  We can help. I have guys, but still awaiting Julie's response.  Knock, knock.

These incidents scream for a "Park Patrol/Ranger" program to be enforced at these troubled parks.  This works in Santa Maria as reported by Modesto's Blue Ribbon committee.  What initially would have been needed at only a few parks (to save money) is becoming a wider spread need.  It needs to be started soon, as to not spread.  Hopefully it is not too late.  So whomever becomes Mayor, this is an area that needs to be addressed.  Of course, one of many issues.

Final Question, and thanks

Thanks for the response from some you folks with my last posting.  I am still a bit confused, however, those of you who emailed me back said that you would get the appropriate phone numbers to clear things up.  I think what we need is one "hotline" sort of number maybe? A number where residents can call for complaints about blight, barking dogs, bad neighbors, etc. This one "hotline" number then needs to funnel these calls to ONE agency so that the numbers can pile up so to say.  It is easier to give neighbors and neighborhood alliances ONE number for easy reference.  Thanks and look forward to hearing back from all of you.

A Question for the Safety & Communities Committee

Does an obnoxious barking dog fall under the "Problematic Property Owner Enforcement Policy"? Myself with some neighbors would like to get the "four complaints within a year" policy enforced which we could do within about 5 minutes on two constantly barking dogs. Who do we call? If we complain to the police, do those complaints get counted?

Ugh, Really?

So Monique and her beau are back.  After a little "hibernation" in jail, (I was told, not too sure), Monique is back at Enslen Park.  And as accustomed to her routine, she gets a "look out" as she goes in the bathroom to do her drugs.  She has some lackey to watch out, and this "lackey" is a dude that told police where she probably was the day she beat up on a 14 year old, and then he goes and warns her! She is done, and "lackey" get a pat on the back. Her stay at the park is minimal as she is too wired to stick around, and there is nobody at the park to start drama with. On to Graceada Park most likely.

Park Clean up

Thanks to Sandy Clark from CANA to get some folks out to do some work at Enslen Park this past Saturday.  I could not make the cleanup/work but I got my brother-in-law and a couple of his buddies to pitch in.  They did some hard work! One of the workers is a homeless gentleman who keeps things in "store" at Enslen.  He was grateful to help out he said.  Hopefully with the work that was done, we can save the redwoods at the park with the incoming irrigation system.

And in some other news, Monique and he beau are back today.  Drama is sure to ensue this afternoon. S**T.

Blue Ribbon keeping it simple

I think the results/findings/suggestions by Modesto's Blue Ribbon Committee on Homelessness is on par.  I agree that sweeping changes or new laws need not be a main focus. How would laws be enforced anyway? For obvious reasons, "efforts to improve park safety and security" is my main concern along with immediate residents.

At this time, the confusion or consternation, lies with the fact that the "city should establish park patrols by working with neighborhood alliances that are looking to hire private security."  Well, that is what CANA has introduced for us residents near Graceada and Enslen Parks.  As noted in the Bee article, Santa Maria, California has a successful program with their park patrol. So, we have a "park patrol", sort of as Rank Investigations patrol the neighborhood and the parks, but they cannot go INTO the park.  My hope is, and I have been told, that the city/Parks/MPD are working on allowing this to happen.  If this is the case, then the "city" has done it's part.  MPD does not need to finance it.  Us neighbors are financing it. If it does NOT happen, then the city with the MPD needs to go back to square one.  It would have to be financed somehow, some way.  It saves money because a park patrol would discourage the vandalism.  It saved Santa Maria $500,000. Right?

Recently, the Parks department has done away with it's graffiti removal.  Instead, us volunteers have to do the painting.  That is fine for us who take care of the immediate parks, but what does it do for all other parks and buildings in Modesto?  Maybe saving the $500,000 that is a service that we can get back.

Dear Mr. Marsh, if you get a park patrol, then the police load lessens. The vandalism starts in the parks (loitering, drinking, methheads) and spreads outward to back ally ways (spelling?) and homes with petty theft and other crimes.  Police that, and the crimes drop.  Is this adding up? Not every park in this city needs a park patrol.  What would it cost to patrol the few parks that need them?