Blight or Revival on Needham?

Blight: The beautiful Modesto Inn

Blight: The fuel for the Inn residences

Blight: The building at Suzuki's that did not get a paint over

Revival: New paint job

Revival: Camp 4

Revival: Never Boring Designs

Blight: Graffiti on the back side of Never Boring

Revival: Infinite Creations

Blight:  All the parolees are free to roam the streets

Graffiti that is on the back of the Department of Corrections.  Yup.

Revival: The Greens Market

As mentioned in the previous post, Needham is half way there in what us residents hope is a revival of the street! On the other hand......

Old Gas Station Gets New Paint Scheme, and a New Resident

It was great to see the old gas station (Suzuki's Garage) on Needham get a new paint job.  According to the Bee this revival was organized by the Modesto Art Museum, and the local chapter of the American Institute of Architects. This was done in preperation to the Modesto International Architecture Festival later this month.

There has been another revival of sorts on Needham Ave.  The street was repaved and added new bicycle lanes with green bicycle incon's on the roadside.  New businesses like Camp 4, the Greens Market, Never Boring Design, and Infinite Creations.

This revival however has a "fly in the ointment", and that being the Modesto Inn.  If nothing else, the Inn creates blight.  This posting is not so much about the Modesto Inn as it about blight and how it spreads.

For instance, located in the parking lot of the newly painted gas station is this gentleman pictured.  Looks like he has set up his own little home.  I know he lives in his truck as he used to be a regular "resident" around Enslen Park.  Now the truck is not running he has chosen to take up residence at Suzuki's garage.  That is what I gather.  Maybe he has the ok to stay there, I do not know.

He was never a problem at the Enslen park and I am sure by all looks, he is law abiding but just going through these tough times.  However, I think he is breaking some law, like squatting maybe?  This only creates more blight.  I think the with the Modesto Inn being right down the street, it makes it easier for him to set up camp.

Is there someone from the city to check on him to see if he needs any assistance?  Maybe he only needs his truck fixed so he can be on his way (probably to the next park, but....).

My final question is Suzuki's even in business? There are two buildings on the property, one that was painted, and the other that is graffiti-ridden.  On the same property we have "revival" and we have "blight".

Well Done!

What about the other building?

Mr. Suzuki?

So what choice is Modesto going to make with Needham?  Revival, or blight?

The Apocalypse?

In chatting with Councilman Lopez during our kickball event at Enslen Park, the councilman asked "Haven't seen any posts recently". Well, true, as noted earlier issues have subsided at Enslen Park.  I believe I have given credit in previous posts to the MPD and Rank Security.

However that does not mean that the traffic at Enslen Park has subsided.  Those who lounge around at the park ARE law abiding, for the most part.  Even our regulars, Monique and her beau have behaved.  Maybe that is what pregnancy does to someone.  Yes, Monique is pregnant.  Wonderful.   Not sure that is good news or bad news.  Good that she may be away from the park in about, oh, 3 months or so.  Bad, meaning that is just sad and typical.  Hopefully she can receive the medical attention that she will need.

Recently however, it just seems like the Apocalypse has hit the park.  This is especially true in the early mornings. It looks like "death" with all the sleeping bags and trailers spewn about the park.  Those who are up and about (in and about town, not just specific at Enslen Park) could make a movie, "Zombieland 2".  NOBODY looks like they have their wits about them.  It is sad as it seems so many are mentally ill just wandering around in a state of dillusion.  We need the "Happy Van" to go around town in the mornings and pick these people up and and make them aware of services they need.  Maybe they are already receiving them, just not sure.

Kickball Madness! « Good Day Sacramento

Keeping the parks clean even at 7am on a Sunday morning!



Kickball Madness! « Good Day Sacramento

Sunday Fundays in Downtown Modesto?

Park issues are at a minimum (no more Monique and her beau).  Thanks Chief if your staff had something to do with that.  So because of that, just wanted to report on our efforts of the Beach Party Kickball for Partners In Paint.  This event will be at Enslen Park on August 19th.  Councilman Lopez has made great efforts in securing some title sponsors! The councilman and myself both agreed to keep it small and simple for a first time.  I can really only accept 10  kickball teams, and I am nearly there.  It will be a great day full of fun and hilarity. Posters will be ready early next week that will go in area businesses. 

I am in the beginning stages of creating for downtown what I want to term "Sunday Fundays", a series of fun events to be staged downtown like fun runs, scavenger hunts, and pub crawls.  

My hopes is to be able to provide some commerace downtown on Sundays.  My initial "meet and greet" was with Nancy at the Downtown Improvement District just to chat about the possibilites.  She loved the idea and is on board to help.  There is a lot more to it, but I do need the city behind this idea.  This is my first posting expressing my desires, This blog goes to the connected government folks of the city and a few other dignitaries.  Is that the right term?  Any feedback is encouraged!

Don't retire on me yet Chief

Chief Harden, still wanting to get your take on Monique and her "beau" who are back to residing at Enslen Park.  She is a problem and often she makes the park dysfunctional.  I know she has been arrested a few times, and I am curious as to what it takes to get someone banned from city parks? Talking with Brian Rank the other day while he was patrolling, he said that he himself has arrested her.  Not sure what that all entails.  Last night I had to call the police cause she and her beau were arguing and fighting once again.  For a brief moment, he actually put his hands around Monique's throat.  Anything you can share on this?

Millennium Market robbed

Sonny at the Millennium Market at Sycamore and Morris has had an awful week.  Early in the week someone in broad daylight broke into his propane tank cage and stole ALL of the tanks! They will re-sell them for maybe $20!  Not sure how NOBODY saw this, even Sonny or Mona, the owners.

Then Wednesday morning, a thug came in "armed", although no weapon was seen, and robbed them of the cash in their register.  Sonny called Rank and they were there within a few minutes.  Unfortunately, the robber got away.

Great job Rank Security!

Great job Rank Security and MPD as well as the resident that reported it.  This just concluded right across the street from me.  Thug Dude tried to enter a house on Enslen Ave.  Homeowner opened the door spooking the guy, then took off.  Homeowner calls police with a perfect description.  Rank officer happened to be on duty and was listening to the police scanner.  So he went looking.  Went to the Millennium Market at Sycamore and Morris, no luck.  He drives to Graceada Park, guess who is there, Thug Dude.  When Thug Dude sees patrol, he reaches into his waist as if he has a weapon.  That pretty much surmised that he was the guilty one. He takes off and Rank follows him and gets MPD involved with description and where he went.

I saw the Rank officer go down my half block about 8 times.  I turned on my 5-0 Police scanner app and listened in.  All the officers figured he was at this Poplar address.  After some time MPD declared all "clear" and lets look elsewhere.  The owner of the house returned to his backyard to clean his pool when he saw white tennis shoes under his deck.  Hhmm, he calmly went back out front and locked his gate and told the officers, "Did you check under the deck"! I think that is where he is at.  Sure enough, the MPD caught the Thug.  Much thanks to the aware Poplar homeowner!

This should be shared with College area neighbors.  This is why we, and others should buy into the Rank Security for $25 per month.  We need about 30 more households to buy in to get 8 hours a week for 7 days.  Rank happened to be on duty in our area, and it worked.  He was able to close in quicker than the MPD and then give accurate information on the whereabouts of the thug.

She's Baaaacckkk!!

After months of relative quietness at Enslen Park, Monique and he beau are back.  This is where the quiet ends!  As I have chronicled in past posts, she is a mess and disturbs the whole entire park scene.  She is usually fighting with her beau or others.  She admits to doing drugs in the park on top of that!

In addition to being at the park, I saw her climbing a gated fence at the duplexes at 421 Sycamore.  If she is hoping the fence, then she is not welcomed.

This is BAD! Not sure if the MPD has her on the radar, but I would hope with all the past transgressions that she should not be allowed in our parks.  It is drama waiting to happen.

There is a good chance as well she is hanging out at the homeless haven on the northwest corner of Hackberry and Alice St.

Please advise Chief Harden or Rank Investigations.

It is Kickball season!

Lets beautify this blog a bit with some fun! Just a simple note that is Kickball season in Modesto, and some events will be coming our way.  What better way to enhance our parks, than some fun and cocktails!

JustAGameEvents.com

From Romania With Love

When leaving Safeway last night I was approached by a family who had a sign explaining their plight.  It is almost commonplace to be asked for a handout when leaving Safeway, so much so they have  a hired security firm, who sometimes are there and most often not.  Anyways, I told them that there are services in the area that can help feed you with a stern look.  The father said, "We speak no English", and I thought, 'go figure'.  Been there, done that.  The father said they were from Romania.  I tried to speak to what I figured was an 8 year old boy thinking he knows English, but all I got was a blank stare. OK, so maybe their story is true I thought.

Frustrated I went back into the store to chat with the store manager.  I told him that I am tired of always being asked for handouts when I am at this store.  If you would could you please tell this family (or whomever it is) that there are services for these people.  It is a polite way to say, "get lost" but if you must go, here are some options.  I knew because of the language barrier that nothing was going to be accomplished.  At this time the family was in the store.  I left and I heard the father say, "Thank you" from a distance.  Not sure if he was being a smart ass cause I just got him booted, or he was thankful.  I felt bad that this family was not getting what I was trying to do.  That is, that there are places they can go.  I stopped them and wrote on their message cardboard piece, the name Salvation Army, and looked up the address to their location.  He asked, that I was able to surmise, "Church, Catholic".  I told them to get to the Salvation Army and they could help.  I showed them that I had no cash on me as I was prepared to give them money to take the bus, so hopefully they can get there.

There is no real moral of the story here, but just an odd happening.  How did a family from Romania get stuck at a Safeway in Modesto?  It does bring up the point that where panhandling is commonplace, that employees could be at least educated on where to send them.  There is no need for panhandling when Modesto has meals and beds for them.

Now I Need Some Help

Who can point me in the right direction to get Uncle Tom some "medical" help?  He is basically indigent. I know there are some free services for the homeless.  Technically, he is homeless.

As I have chronicled, Uncle Tom is a big help to our little college area neighborhood by painting over graffiti and helping out when needed.  Even after all the park visitors from Easter Sunday left Enslen Park a complete mess, Tom and a buddy went and got all the recyclables and put all the trash that was "attempted"  to be put in the trash cans and tidied up the park.  It is always "fun" when the park is visited by folks who prefer the "thug life". They could give a s**t about cleaning up properly.

Anyways, Tom is severely ADHD or ADD and cannot focus.  This prevents him from holding down a real job.  He can work hard on a project for about an hour, and then it is "Look, a squirrel" and the job rarely gets finished.  If you have seen the TV show, Hoarders, that is what my backyard look like.  Hoarding is derived from one of the two previously mentioned conditions.  He also got himself in a little trouble with the law.  Bottom line is that I am sick of my backyard looking like a junk yard.  If he continues in his current pattern he will be incarcerated again.  He has reverted back to what used to get him in trouble years ago.  I want to get him help and I cannot afford it.  I know there are services out there.  Please let me know where I can go.

thanks
DWiz