Apathy?

JARDINE: Finally, a list or two Modesto is proud to be on - Kaepernick - Modbee.com

Why is it that Modesto folks have become apathetic? New chief Galen Carroll says "there is general apathy about neighborhoods, crime, the city in general." Well maybe, for instance, it is when a neighbor witnessess a brazen burglary of a home and then follows the vehicle to it's home or destination while on the phone with MPD and gives exact detail to the vehicle, perp, and location, and an officer never shows up! I read on Facebook everyday of citizens who are fed up with the crime and whom are wanting to get out of Dodge.  It is often followed up with a response from a friend that says "Glad I am out of Molesto, good riddance"!

Carroll described it as people throwing up their hands as if to say, "Oh well, there's nothing we can do about it." Well, yup.  Sure the city can pass out a few anti-theft devices and we can create neighborhood watches, but we are being overrun.  We are fighting with the preverbial toothpick here.

Area Under Siege

Wow.  Burglary after burglary.  The beat goes on.  I pretty much "lost it", or gave up hope when I learned of the armed robbery at Millennium Market at Sycamore and Morris Monday evening.  My son and I stopped by to see Sonny and to console him.  He showed me the video of the burglary.  Shocking.  Could have been worse, but at least MPD was able to get the SOB's.  This posting is not at all an attempt at a "dig" towards our local law enforcement. It simply is a cry out to society and our city in general that we need help!

The accompanying photos were taken by my neighbor yesterday.  This obviously was an attempt to scan the neighborhood.  Who goes to two houses (where there were no cars at the residents) to sell tamales? I was home at the time, so they did not knock on my door.  Seems to me there are groups of hispanic "packs" looking to score in this city of late.  All in the name of their gang.  The neighbor who was home, but with no car, watched where they went.  Her house, a neighbor and then gone.  One of the guys walked to the end of the street.  License plate: 4HMG798

Stay alert! In the meantime, HELP!

Encouraging news on the Modesto Inn

It is nice to read about the efforts of the owners/operators at the Modesto Inn and how they are trying to change things.  If it works out, then it is the best case scenerio.  Looks as if they are trying to get "legit".

The worst case scenerio was, as a neighborhood, to continue fighting with them and continue to have the issues that was plauging the place.  The last thing the area needs is another blight issue.  If it were to close, then the squating that would take place would make the area look like the apocolypse.

I can see the changes being made as I drive by.  At least it will be a viable business potentially.

I already see less vagrant foot traffic at the parks since the residents were booted.  Of course, some of that has to do with the weather, but a difference has been made.

I hope that the city continues to monitor the situation (which I know they are currently), but they need to keep vigilant after the change has been made too.

Knife Pulled at Enslen Park

As my son walked across Enslen Park yesterday on his way to the corner market, he called me saying there is a fight developing at Enslen Park.  What he witnessed were two homeless men verbally harassing a group of young adults (who were at the park all morning, doing what, I am not sure) when the gals of the group started going after the homeless dudes.  Then the young men started going after the homeless guys, and that is when one of the homeless men pulled a knife and the group backed off.  This all took place behind the backstop of the baseball field.  I witnessed the screaming and folks running.

One of the homeless guys, is a guy that rides around on a unicycle. Maybe he is not homeless, but just a vagrant.  It also "may" be the guy that verbally assaulted me last week when I confronted him for smoking marijuana during the "Zumba" event (not "Red). Not for sure, but just an instinct of mine.

This is exactly why I do not walk across Enslen Park when I go to the "Green Store", or Millennium Market at Morris/Sycamore.  I just gets me more infuriated so I choose to drive.  My son is much more brave than me.

Now I want some answers from those whom this blog gets emailed to.  I want some accountability! I keep this blog basically private as it goes to city council members, the Chief of Police (interim), the Mayor and a few others.  I try not to open this up to public consumption too much.  I want to work with city administrators and do not want to turn this into a bitch session.  However, I am getting ever so closer to opening this up and getting park residents across the city to join in a mass effort to hold the city accountable to keeping our parks safer.

The Blue Ribbon Committee findings have been set aside.  I have heard of nothing about park patrols and what WAS on tap initially in experimenting with camera's etc.

When this incident happened yesterday, I did not call the police.  I used to in the past, and I normally received a good response with an officer at some time or another driving by the park.  Lately, that is not happening, so I do not bother.  I know, budget cuts, etc, but last year we were in the same boat, and at the very least, a patrol would come by.

Another note

As I sit down to type, I get the aromic smell of pot being smoked across the street at the Enslen Park.  Not a vagrancy issue, just some punks.  Yes, it is that easy to sit down at a table at the park and smoke openly at a picnic table while they probably scrawl some graffiti on the bench.  I am sure they have their medical marijuana cards though!

Got a response from my last posting telling me that the Blue Ribbon Committee's reports have been "shelved for the time being".  All that hard work, and we are just going to let it sit for a bit.  How long?

For us residents of the College area, I would like to see our Rank Security be able to approach the "do gooders" who come out and do feedings.  They would need to be armed with literature trying to show that there is a coordinated efforts in the feedings and not to be totally against what they are doing.  Of course, that is done by evaluating what the Blue Ribbon did, (see above for their status).

I would like to see the Department of Mental Health get up from behind their desks and go on a sabatical of sorts.  If officers or social workers could, ask the vagrancy at the parks if they utilize the services provided by the city?

I think I now have a contact high from the pot smoke, I am getting giddy along with the school children that just walked through the haze!

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.

I don't really find any humor in this.  It actually pisses me off, but it is true.  This is from a Modesto Facebook site that makes fun of Modesto even though they say, "it is all in fun". An article in today's Bee chronicles mail box thefts so you can no longer find the blue mail boxes and then there is the pot busts going on daily.  At least law enforcement is making a dent in those busts, but we need to get it together Modesto!

Modesto Parolee

So a parolee just out of Corcoran State Prison yesterday is dropped off in Modesto where he sexually assaults a 15 year old girl on a city bus on her way to school.  Not even 24 hours out of prison for sex crimes,  and he commits this.  My question is why was he dropped off in Modesto?  I can understand if he is FROM Modesto.  I hope this is the case, otherwise, we need to find out why all of them are dropped off in Modesto!

A movement we need to recongnize...Hello?

So I posted on the Modesto International Architecture Festival Facebook site:

Liking the new paint on Suzuki's Garage. However, what about the rest of the property? Is that coming? Thanks for the support. http://hotelenslen.blogspot.com/2012/09/old-gas-station-gets-new-paint-scheme.html

Got a response from a David Burkett:

We are looking for the next Modesto Art Museum project and the building next door is an option… but we are also looking for suggestions. We hope to inspire adjacent property owners to spruce up their buildings and change the feel and image of Modesto one building at a time…

My response:

Sounds great. If you read my recent posting on my blog, Needham has been having a bit of revitalization. I would like to see it continue. You would get support of CANA to help expedite potential improvements. The revitalization of businesses on needham would only help in the push to be rid of the Modesto Inn.

Anybody else up for this? Twainhart Hill? Am I right?

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.