I received this from a reader. Her neighborhood in Jackson, Mississippi, is trying to put a gate up on their road that is being used for police chases and cut-throughs. The mayor of Jackson thinks they are being racist, others comment on the local paper's website that it seems like rich people trying to decide that they own public roads. My friend says that they are "trying to gate our neighborhood to keep BAD MEN out, and the idiot mayor thinks it's a "racist" move. We're not racists! We despise criminals equally, whatever their color!"
Check out the link and tell me what you think:
Residents hit wall over gate
9 comments:
I did look on Google Earth (from Facebook), since the road is circular I can't see why a gate would be a problem; although wouldn't it just be a big fat advertisement to every thief around that there is something worth making an effort to steal?
PS E - can't see a link?
Sorry Steve, I forgot to put text in the link so you couldn't see where to click. Fixed it now, thanks for your comment.
Appreciate the anonymity, Eliz, but I'll tell your Gentle Readers: it's me. And Steve, it is NOT a cut-through---we are a small circle, with one entrance/exit onto a busy thoroughfare.
There have been no (to my knowledge) police chases. The only possible reason for anyone to enter our little enclave is to go home, or visit a friend, or...break into a house.
We are seeking a gate with no passcode to punch in---anyone could drive up and come right on in after the gate sensor is activated. We just want to slow the thugs and crackheads down a bit.
If you knew the crime rate here in metro Jackson, you'd be appalled. The city council sneers at people like us who "flee" to the suburbs for more safety, then sneer at those of us who choose to stay in the city, pay taxes, and...merely want a little more security.
Why do I use the term "bad men"? 1) It's a Laura Scanlon-ism---we used to tease her about watching "Oliver!" and commenting, after seeing Bill Sykes beat his wife, "He is a bad man!" (*litotes* would be the nerdy English-major term for such an understatement:):) and 2) The vast majority of housebreakers are MALE. So I guess that makes us "genderists" as well as "racist"???:):)
Ya'll should put the gate up to protect the children Brenda. That's what the other side always says.
Have you had a lot of burglaries on the street? I forgot to ask.
B, yes I figured you were in a circle from the satellite image (v.nice BTW), I hadn't realised it was a public road though. I guess that makes it somewhat more difficult, perhaps you could collectively adopt the road (i.e. take it back into private ownership) - I've heard of people doing that here?
Eliz---so far, no, not a lot of burglaries. But neighborhoods close by have seen increasing crime, and the idea is to prevent it, not wait until it's a real problem.
Steve, yes, private ownership is an option, and would be mandatory if we were seeking a gate with only passcode access. That's not the case.
Oh, well. Que sera, sera'...
What about the possibility of secession Brenda? The village of Avery, Mississippi has a nice ring about it.
Or would the "S" word be inflammatory?
Don't give LE and his lieutenants any ideas...attractive thought, though! We could be an autonomous collective! There are two vacant lots that would make nice garden patches:):)
Seriously, the city of Jackson is broken---and BROKE. Streets in disrepair, far too few policemen to handle the crime, and cutbacks left and right on city services like the bus system. It's pretty ugly.
We fled years ago, but not for these reasons---we simply needed land for the horses. When that was over, we came back, and are really trying to support the city, like many others---patronizing locally-owned businesses, working to make Jackson a nice town again. I don't know if it's fixable, though.
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