I see that there are very few items in this section so I feel free to write about it. The topic is quality of life, which as you know is a very broad subject. Let me narrow it down a bit. With the exception of a few years, I was raised on the Eastside and presently reside here. I have seen many changes in the past few years. Many of the good changes have occured in the far Eastern portion of the Eastside. What bothers me most now is what is happening on the Western edge. Rather than bore everyone with eloquent words, I will just list the things that I have seen explode into a major problem. Those that say that these are problems, do not drive on E. Lancaster.
Starting on E. Lancaster heading East from I35W, this is what I see:
1. Drinking
2. Urinating in public
3. Prostitution
4. Camp sites (both hidden and on the sidewalk).
5. Totally unconscious drunks sleeping on the sidewalk.
6. More broken glass than anywhere in the City.
7. Drug sales and use.
8. Thousands of plastic bags from 2 stores that sell alcohol.
9. Panhandling
10. Public sex
11. Prostitution and their ''johns'' use of public areas for their ''business''.
12. Did I list drunks everywhere?
Better stop at Oakland or the list will get tooooooo long. I think you get my point. Now, I am not just a looker and a complainer. I call the Police, I have called code enforcement, I pick up liter, the point is that it is getting worse and not better. The attitude is one of acceptance and I for one love the Eastside and ask that you lift up your voice and make a difference. I admit, I became sick of the situation and began to avoid traveling Lancaster. I accepted it by ignoring it. After another prostitute used the street in front of my house for her ''business'', I decided that enough was enough. I now travel Lancaster and while one small voice calling in a prostitute or a fight among drunks does not get much attention, I believe that it will someday. What about you? Will you accept it or stop and make a difference? If enough good people raise their voice the Eastside can once again become a great place to live and raise a family. One final thought, let us take just a portion of what goes on down Lancaster over to Camp Bowie and see how long the Police and City leaders tolerate it......
Starting on E. Lancaster heading East from I35W, this is what I see:
1. Drinking
2. Urinating in public
3. Prostitution
4. Camp sites (both hidden and on the sidewalk).
5. Totally unconscious drunks sleeping on the sidewalk.
6. More broken glass than anywhere in the City.
7. Drug sales and use.
8. Thousands of plastic bags from 2 stores that sell alcohol.
9. Panhandling
10. Public sex
11. Prostitution and their ''johns'' use of public areas for their ''business''.
12. Did I list drunks everywhere?
Better stop at Oakland or the list will get tooooooo long. I think you get my point. Now, I am not just a looker and a complainer. I call the Police, I have called code enforcement, I pick up liter, the point is that it is getting worse and not better. The attitude is one of acceptance and I for one love the Eastside and ask that you lift up your voice and make a difference. I admit, I became sick of the situation and began to avoid traveling Lancaster. I accepted it by ignoring it. After another prostitute used the street in front of my house for her ''business'', I decided that enough was enough. I now travel Lancaster and while one small voice calling in a prostitute or a fight among drunks does not get much attention, I believe that it will someday. What about you? Will you accept it or stop and make a difference? If enough good people raise their voice the Eastside can once again become a great place to live and raise a family. One final thought, let us take just a portion of what goes on down Lancaster over to Camp Bowie and see how long the Police and City leaders tolerate it......
