NOT HERE

I guess NO ONE cares about codes or community police much. Everything must be hunky-dory fine-- don't worry be happy-- This must be UTOPIA. Hurrah!!

By Phantom

Utopia...not on my block!

Well it's Sunday morning and I just came in from picking up the broken beer bottles and tiny crack bags that line the sidewalk in front of my home! I certainly do not live in the Utopian segment of Kenwood! As a matter of fact, I'm beginning to feel as though my block is a semi-ghetto! I pass by 3rd Ave(?)and Dartmouth daily in the afternoon. Each day I see the same kids selling the same drugs on the same corner. When I've mentioned this to our community police officer...the response is...''that's Kenwood'' or ''I'm working on it''. I'm not quite sure how much work it takes to get these people off the streets. I see them everyday, does anyone else? I pity the people that live in the immediate vicinity, especially the owners of the house that's for sale on that corner. My heart sincerely goes out to you! Maybe I just don't know the logistics of police work, (and no, I'm not being sarcastic)! I live with sex offenders to my right and to my left...had to explain to my 8 year old son just what a sex offender is because I don't want him talking to these people and felt that an explanation was due. I watch one of my neighbors going on his daily drug hunt. He paces the street like a lunatic...in and out, in and out, until his drug buddies come and relieve his anxiety. On my other side is a neighbor who probably hasn't thrown anything away in 50 years. The yard is littered with tar barrels, old gerbil cages, empty trash containers, buckets, lamps, mops and dog food for the pot belly pig who resides 5 feet away from my living room window. And yes, I've contacted codes. If I leave anything outside at night the neighborhood cats spray it. Last night, they targeted my son's prized army jacket. Guess he won't leave that out again! My front doors are sprayed with cat urine on an average of once a week. I tried sprinkling moth balls around my porch, (someone told me cats hate these), but you can't prove it by my front doors. I went to Home Depot and bought special cat repellent. It seems to work if you spray every night but at $6 a bottle, I think I'd have to work a part time job! Each and every one of these issues centers around renters except the stray cats, they answer to no one! Why can't codes be more strictly enforced to make it difficult for absentee landlords? This hurts all of us! Right now it's a sellers market and real estate prices are high, what about in 5 years? I certainly wouldn't pay $110k-$150k for a home that bordered substandard rental properties. I honestly think we need a new community officer, one that would bring a fresh perspective to the Kenwood area. One that believes that things in Kenwood can get better. Codes....codes either aren't being enforced in here or we need more codes officers to help with ALL of the violations. Kenwood is now an official historic area, something to take seriously, something we could all be very proud of if we can get the support of the city. Because of personal scheduling issues I have a very hard time making it to the meetings but if there is anything I might be able to do to help improve on things in Kenwood, please email me. I moved here in November 2000 and with the current state of this neighborhood, I could never recommend it to anyone and still maintain a clear conscience. Maybe for some Kenwood is Utopia but it certainly isn't for me.

Utopia

Hey Diane,

Please e mail me with your address. We hav met with the City and are making a map of problem streets and houses. Let me know the address of the drug activity and the neighbor with the trash. You will be anonymous...

Kathy

Go back up north, carpetbagger!

Just who in the hell do you think you are? Having lived here only 3 measely months, what makes you think you can voice your frivolous opinion? I happen to like stray cats. And what's it to you that I wonder aimlessly about looking for my dope man. I also like the fact that I live across the street from sexual offenders? My only hope is that they may try to hit on me and I'll have to stick my foot in their *#!#!*!

All joking aside, I share some of the same complaints as Diane (except for the pig). I routinely witness shady individuals strolling up and down my alley 3 to 4 times daily. My guess is these persons are moving illegal product of some sort. I could name a few other things that annoy me, but I feel as if though I should stop here. I honestly wish I could devote time to attending meetings, but my work and school schedule does not allow it at this time. How can I complain when I don't show to give input at the meetings? I can't. That would make me hypocritical. So, I'll continue to pick up a full 13 gallon bag of trash once a week from along my block of Dartmouth and keep in mind all I wish I could do.

Steve Winsor