Down By The Boardwalk
For some reason I've always hated that old saying: A few people go and ruin it for everyone else...
In the case of a proposed curfew of the Eureka Boardwalk, one wonders if it's just a few people. The Old Town area of Eureka has been a magnet for riff- raff since time immemorial. Most every town has its own Skid Row, and probably always will.
The Eureka Reporter story on the curfew proposal makes it sound to me like it's almost a done deal. The Times- Standard story this morning made it sound like there's a little more ambivalence on the issue by those involved. Unfortunately, I didn't see the story on the Times- Standard web site so I can't provide a link. It's on the front page for those of you interested enough to go buy a hard copy.
Interesting that many seem to think the problems on the Boardwalk during the daytime seem to be worse than those at night, yet some still propose a night time closure, at least temporarily.
What I find scary is the sentiment some have as a gal quoted in the Times- Standard story. She had a "Why not?" attitude about the curfew and seems to think anything we can do to reduce crime is a good idea- whether its effective or not. No consideration seems to be given in regards to individual liberty. If that sort of attitude keeps gaining acceptability we'll all likely be under some sort of curfew eventually.
So, curfew or no curfew? I'll leave it up to others to worry about. Seems to me, though, a curfew won't make the people causing the problems disapper. They'll just do the same thing somewhere else.
posted by Fred Mangels @ 8:31 AM
22 comments
22 Comments:
This reminds me of the idiot proposal in Chicago to pull out all payphones from troubled areas to prevent drug dealers from using them. It also prevents potential or actual victims of crime from using them, not to mention punishing an entire community for the actions of boneheads.
Well, another thing to consider is that these efforts to clean up Old Town always end up getting taken over by the riff- raff.
Some of you might remember the cement chairs, or seats (whatever you call them) that were placed all over Old Town to make it more visitor friendly.
The transients pretty much seemed to monopolize use of them. Some even said the chairs attracted transients. Eventually the city paid something like $30,000(?) to remove all the seating they paid big bucks to install.
Not saying we should tear down the boardwalk. Just saying we need to keep in mind when we try to improve Old Town, we're trying to improve the transient and other riff- raff's home turf.
As a certain official with the Eureka Police Department pointed out to my College of the Redwoods Police Academy class when discussing problems with the riff- raff in Old Town:
Hey, they [the transients] were there first...
Keep agitating to stop the fear mongers from sacring everyone into giving up liberty for security. I think it was Ben Franklin who said those who give up liberty for security will soon have neither.
The transients don't bother me any more than other fellow citizens who I don't care to associate with. IMHO Poverty, ignorance and uncouth behavior are endemic here. The homeless are just a little further out on the edge.
The reality, IMHO is there are really no crimes of violence in this area (compared to urban US where most folks live). Random muggings, murders, rapes, kidnapping, armed robbery, carjacking, and even burglary are almost unknown here. Yeah, there's plenty drug deal crime, minor vandalism, and personal drama stuff but the perps and victims know each other.
I blame the neo-Cons and their outrageous fanning of fear after 9/11 for these restrictions. Now, other facists have come out of the woodwork with boogy man tactics to exert their versions of social control, especially local old-guard police(like Halperan) and "security moms" like Nancy Fleming and Ginny Jackson
I have been on the Boardwalk at night and have never had a problem. This seem to mostly be pushed by Pierson, who while his did lose his building to fire is the only one to benefit from this. All this does is deprive law abiding citiens out of something they paid for and should have a right to use. It is a stupid idea.
Why is there a boardwalk? Its been here for 7 years and the only thing that has changed is some crappy building at the foot of F?
I think the curfew is a reasonable idea.Who needs to be there after 11?I also like the law Santa Cruz passed- outlawing repeat offenders from certain areas altogether; maybe we could implement that is our town.
"I blame the neo-Cons and their outrageous fanning of fear after 9/11 for these restrictions. Now, other facists have come out of the woodwork with boogy man tactics to exert their versions of social control, especially local old-guard police(like Halperan) and "security moms" like Nancy Fleming and Ginny Jackson"
Uhhhhh riiiiight...
Humboldt county has a very high PER CAPITA crime rate...of course its not going to mirror somewhere like west oakland you knucklhead...and of course that must be a neocon plot...sigh
4:14, it's a good thing; I don't know where you've been for 7 years, but lots has changed.
Well if you are a man say about sox feet or over, you proably will not feel at risk. If you are a woman, and small you definitly feel the clear and present risk of those who come up and ask for handouts in not a too friendly way...The young man who got up at the Council meeting and thought it was a step towards a "police" state was well over six feet four...
4:26 wrote, "Who needs to be there after 11?".
I'm sure you'll excuse me for finding that question a bit troubling. I'm very rarely out after dark, much less after 11pm. Nonetheless, I don't question other people's right to go places at whatever hours they chose to.
Besides, as I mentioned before, if the riff- raff can't be on the Boardwalk, they'll still do whatever they do. They'll just do it somewhere else. Maybe even do it somewhere where it will disturb even more people?
Well if you are a man say about six feet or over, you proably will not feel at risk. If you are a woman, and small you definitly feel the clear and present risk from those who come up and ask for handouts in not a too friendly way... when you have several of these folks together in a group, you feel like you are walking the proverbial gantlet... The young man who got up at the Council meeting and thought it was a step towards a "police" state was well over six feet four...
7:45am,I'm 6'3".I was just saying that they need to be careful about walking that line.Regardless of this particular issue,our individual liberties are dangerously eroding away.I certainly understand your point about being intimidated,and some patrolling,and increased lighting is fine.And those stirring crap up need to removed from there and cited.But thinking that a curfew will solve anything in significance is far fetched,as the problem will just move elsewhere.The city needs to look into ending the mail in complaint policy before they consider going forward with this.
I think I agree with the person who pointed out that this mostly benefits one developer...Greg Pierson. And I also have a feeling it will accomplish nothing useful and impose on law-abiding citzens. Also, Nancy Flemming and her husband Mark Staniland will have to make sure they leave Old-Town before 11 PM because they often tie-up their boat to the dock at the end of F Street when they go to dinner.
This is another lame brained idea. If there is problems with 'Drug Crime' on the boardwalk, then just have the rent-a-cops/police patrol the area (IE: do their jobs). Show the people that congregate there that they are being watched, and they will go elsewhere. Problem solved without making another Law. Just common sense.
It seems an awful small thing to do, and the type of law that will have no significant affect on anyone except meth heads, heroin addicts, public drunks and such. Who needs to be out on the boardwalk in the middle of the night? It would be nice if this town became more intolerant of all the freakin' drug addicts and homeless by choice types. Like in Belgium- "Oh you're homeless? I guess you'll have to go to jail then." And another thing Fred: A simple curfew is no reason to fear the loss of liberties. There are far greater causes for concern on that topic.
CNN's top story- "Audit: FBI misused new 'snooping' power"
"Who needs to be out on the boardwalk in the middle of the night?".
Quite honestly, I don't think that's for me to decide.
That said, the news story referred to there being even more problems in the daytime than at night. If you really want to take care of any problems, wouldn't it make more sense to shut the Boardwalk down during the daytime when the majority of problems occur?
Fred, it's not for you to decide.
The whole boardwalk is a waste. CLose the whole motherfucker down.
I was down at the Boardwalk last night at about 9 PM. Guess what? The lights were all out. Now that's a great way to keep it safe.
We are not in a state of emergency. To even propose a curfew seems like an over reaction to a very minor problem. Hitler imposed curfew on Jews, are we to do the same to transients?
Yeah, that's an appropriate analogy.
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