Dennis: The Jordan basketball court was controversial when it first went in. Neighbors were concerned about the problems that could arise from the courts, and parents with little kids were concerned about the language.
Neighbors also said that many of the adults driving in to play basketball were not from the immediate area, although Jordan was designed to be a neighborhood park There were a bunch of indoor basketball courts put in a Farview park precisely to provide an alternative place to play basketball that was not as stressful to the immediate neighbors. One police officer suggested that the Jordan hoops should be put in at half regulation height: provide plenty of fun for local youngsters, without becoming a hangout for a bigger and rougher crowd. My guess is that if the disturbance you described, with 40-50 youth in the middle of the street causing a very loud disturbance and at least one youth carrying a 5" knife, had taken place on the 4700 block of south Vincent, the desk sargeant would not have said that you should be thankful that the kids aren't out causing trouble and that there really wasn't much that could be done anyway. And I think the city would be mounting a major campaign to make sure that the 4700 Vincent neighbors were never subjected to such a scene again. I also remember a Phillips resident wonder about what would happen if they ever managed to whisk all the Bloomington and Lake prostitutes over to 43rd and Upton, and set up shop there. She suspected that the police and city response would be explosive, and that within half an hour the prostitutes would be stopped from plying their trade. I would suggest that your block set up a meeting with the new 4th precinct inspector, and maybe councilmember Samuels, and make it clear that you are prepared to work with the officials, but that you expect that the police and the city will take whatever steps are necessary to make sure that this dangerous scene does not become entrenched on your block. Jay Clark Cooper Dennis Plante wrote: > > A week ago Friday, at about 12:30 AM, my wife and I called 911 as there was > a group of roughly 40-50 youths in the middle of the street (in front of our > house) causing a very loud disturbance. The reason they're congregating > there? There are two (2) portable basketball hoops opposing each other on > the side of the street. > > Three squads responded in short order, and when the kids saw the squads > coming, they scattered immediately. The next morning, our suspicions were > confirmed when we found a 5" knife lying in our front yard. One of the > youths more than likely tossed-it as they were fleeing. > > As the weather has warmed-up, the number and frequency of kids playing in > the middle of the street has increased. Many of the kids aren't old enough > to be in school. I'm talking 2-4 year-olds, relying on the good graces and > commong sense of the drivers going up and down the street to come to a > complete stop and honk their horns, instead of hitting them. > > Today, thinking it was appropriate, I called and spoke with the desk > sargeant at the 4th precinct. I was told by the desk sargeant that I should > be thankful that the kids aren't out causing trouble. I was told that there > really wasn't any other place for the kids to play basketball because the > hoops had been removed at Jordan Park because there was too much trouble > occurring at the courts. I was told there really wasn't much that cou;d be > done anyway, as the City didn't have a place to take the hoops, even if they > did confiscate them. However, if I was to witness anyone blocking traffic > why playing basketball, I should feel free to call 911 and someone would > check-it-out. The most humurous part however (to me anyway), was when I was > asked by the desk sargeant if I was aware of what went-on in the > neighborhood I called regarding. I (probably not very nicely) responded > that I did. > > I'm left scratching my head. Is this the best we can do for our children? > A B-Ball hoop in the street? > > Dennis Plante > Jordan > > _________________________________________________________________ > Check out MSN PC Safety & Security to help ensure your PC is protected and > safe. http://specials.msn.com/msn/security.asp > > REMINDERS: > 1. Think a member has violated the rules? Email the list manager at [EMAIL > PROTECTED] before continuing it on the list. > 2. Don't feed the troll! 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