Higgins Lock And Key is a long time full-service locksmith company located on Battleground Avenue in Greensboro. Yesterday one of Higgins' lock out vans was spotted at the Bloods hangout at 1108 Willard Street. Okay, gang bangers loose keys too, right?

But today the same van from Higgins Lock And Key returned a second and third time as neighbors looked on. Looked out of their house 3 times in two days?

So while the two Higgins employees were there for the third time I picked-up the telephone and called Higgins Lock And Key. According to the gentleman who answered the telephone there was no service scheduled for 1108 Willard Street today or yesterday. He promised to look into why his employees are driving to a known Bloods gang hideout when they have not been dispatched to do so.

The management at Higgins has a long standing relationship with the Greensboro Police Department, are licensed and accredited. I suspect they will be calling the police if they haven't already.

Well it seems the nefarious actions of the North Carolina Railroad have gotten the attention of the North Carolina State House of Representatives. From today's news:

"RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) - A state lawmaker has asked the North Carolina Railroad Company to stop asking business owners to pay rent.

Cabarrus County Representative Jeff Barnhart says officials need to clarify who controls the land along the 317-mile line. The Republican says he has the support of the House speaker's office to form a study commission to prepare for next year's session."

Sadly the report doesn't point out all the facts in the matter like extorsion, land graps and the other ways property owners are railroaded.

But wait, there's more! From the other side of the tracks:

"Railroad spokeswoman Kat Christian said the line has 233 lease agreements from small businesses and that about 120 businesses recently identified have been sent letters but haven't signed them or responded.

Rep. Jeff Barnhart, R-Cabarrus, said small businesses are being targeted.

"It sure does appear to many that the big guys are just trying to take advantage of the little guys," Barnhart said in a letter sent to the railroad."

What, the big guys taking advantage of the little guys? Let me give all you little guys a tip: No one who has refused to settle with the North Carolina Railroad (Fascists pigs!) has ever been taken to court. Could that be because the NCRR doesn't have a leg to stand on? They can blow their whistle all they want but they can't even prove their company is a legal entity. And if you're not a legal entity you can't sue anyone.

Saylor-- he's a railroad man-- says, "...the problems arose from 150 years of surveying errors and a lack of oversight."

A lack of oversight on the behalf of the North Carolina Railroad.

Railroaded is brought to you by StreetPlanes.com.

Why yes I am obsessing on the Greensboro Gang Report. I prefer to write poetry but when your neighborhood is under armed assault it's really hard not to obsess over such issues.

Guess what Greensboro? The story I pointed you to a few days ago. The story about the gang shooting of 70 year old Betty Sibert Thomas, a sweet old woman who owned a hat shop. Her death has gone National! I told the cowards in city government I would make their lives miserable if they failed to control crime in Greensboro. I told them I would spread the truth to the entire world but they wouldn't listen. Yesterday I was ready to give up but with the help of bloggers around the world the Greensboro Gang Report can now reach anyone with wires in their house. People all over America are expressing joy that they don't live in Greensboro.

My heartfelt thanks to all of you who have helped and continue to help. Buy the way, the Bloods Gang moved back in at 1108 Willard Street. Someone should wake up the Agapion family and make them aware they're supporting drug dealers and gangs. But then considering that Agapion is thought to be the Greek Mafia it's not surprising, is it?

McKnight Hardware on Bessemer Avenue was broken into a few days ago. The thugs took expensive Carhart hunting jackets and various weapons. Almost every business in the area has sustained one or more break-ins. Lost inventory for these businesses combined is in the millions.

I mentioned before that twice in the last year GPD has kicked-in the doors and raided the house at 2611 Textile Drive. What police may not realize is the drugs are being delivered to 2609 Textile Drive. A black Lincoln pulls in the driveway and into the back yard where the drugs are unloaded and carred to 2611-- the house on the corner. The liscense number of that Lincoln is WRJ-9388 and it's a North Carolina plate.

Back in July, Ben put together his crime map showing the highest concentration of crime in a red triangle. My home is in that red triangle. Sadly, in just 2 months that read triangle has doubled in size. Soon the entire City of Greensboro will be a war zone and no one is doing anything about it. I beg you, please vote and please vote all the incumbents out of office.

I heard an interesting rumor a few days ago. Being that it came from a law enforcment officer I think I'll pass it along: It's said that a murder committed in Guilford County is less likely to go to trial than in any other county in the state. Which begs the question: Are the judges and the DAs gang members as well?

Reverend Joel Gillespie says, "...our local government really needs to get on the ball as regards gang activity..." I hope Joel can work this into Sunday's sermon somehow.

Woody says, "I answer the door naked, and holding an ax." I don't know which would scare me more, the axe or Woody naked.

Want to help spread the word about the Greensboro Gang Report? One way you can do that is to e-mail City Council. You see, all your e-mails are read by the media as well.

Made possible with support from StreetPlanes Motorized Bicycles

Two more murders in Greensboro this week. 70 year old Betty Sibert Thomas was working in her store, Angie's Hats ,when she was murdered, shot to death in broad daylight. From the Greensboro News & Record:

"Toney said the area has many ongoing problems ranging from loitering to gangs. "The landlord has had to paint the sides of the building over twice in the past couple of months to cover up the graffiti," Toney said.

"This whole side of town needs an overhaul but no one is going to do it," Simmons said. "It's not going to change."

It's not going to change. Remember that when you e-mail the Mayor and City Council. Remember the Greensboro Gang Report when you go to the polls come November. Remember how city leaders got fat while our children and elderly became victims. Remember who let you down. Black, white, man or woman our city council has held their heads up each other's asses while Greensboro's poor and working class become victims.

Doug Clark reports the FBI is stating crime is up in Greensboro.

By the way, while I reported that same story a few days ago, kudos to the N&R for reaching those readers I might not yet reach with the Greensboro Gang Report.

A little off topic but Woody says "Understand this also, I believe that if you intend to take the life of me and mine, I've got the right to stop you up to and including ending you. It won't be my first option, but it will always be on the table."

Leaders need to remember that not all of us are willing to become victims.

So who wants to clean-up Greensboro? Joe knows a few names.

Remember yesterday's post where I posted the addresses of gang houses? Fec puts them on the map for everyone to see. I wonder whose house will turn up next?

Maybe the next to make Fec's map will be 1207 Willard Street owned by Sylvia Little of 1926 Wheatfield Court, Greensboro, NC., 27405.

You gotta love a geek on a mission. Thanks Fec.

North Carolina Gang issues are being discussed in Clarksville, Tennissee. Was the Greensboro City Council the last to know Greensboro has a serious gang problem?

The Odd Neighbor in Missoula, Montana has read of Greensboro's gang issues. No, she hasn't written about them but that's okay because she left some comments yesterday. Isn't it awful that people in Missoula are discovering Greensboro because we have gang issues? I would have much rather been discovered for my session at ConvergeSouth.

And while Garry Conn has probably never heard of the Greensboro Gang Report he wrote an article titled, The Power Of One Blog Reader that got me to thinking how Greensboro and the world could become a safe place to live and work if only one blog reader were to take up this cause. Are you that one blog reader who will help me change the world?

Via Professor Eric: Was this a gang related incident? Would we be told if it was? Three on one seems like a gang to me.

For those who might not already know I was a victim of a similar attack in 1970 while a sophomore at Greensboro's James B. Dudley High School. Greensboro covered-up my beatings but with your help those days will soon be over. That near death incident and others like it left me to spend a lifetime struggling with PTSD. (Post Traumatic Stress Syndrome) and several other issues. If you know the parents of the victim please convince them to get him into therapy while he's young enough to get the full benefit. Then send the bills to the Guilford County Schools.

I'll be meeting with a group of people in Greensboro today to discuss how we can put an end to the Greensboro Gang issues and force the cleaning up of Greensboro's Police Department and our corrupt City leaders. If you would like to attend future events please send an e-mail to idleblogs (AT) yahoo.com and I'll be happy to talk.

The Greensboro Gang Report is supported in part by TeaHugger.net a Greensboro business selling fine teas to the world. Please support those businesses that support the Greensboro Gang Report.

Update: It's not just Greensboro, those of you in Oak Ridge, Summerfield and Stokesdale also have street gangs in your communities. From the Northwest Observer:

“We’ve identified some during traffic stops, at parties, and at school.”

Caliendo says that law enforcement officers have noted drug activity along Haw River Road, which they believe may be connected to Latino gangs. Prior to the opening of the Sunoco station at the corner of Haw River and Highway 68, graffiti identified as that of a Latino gang was painted on the rear of the building.

“We know there is drug activity (in that area), so they may have decided to mark their territory,” Caliendo said."

Life in Oak Ridge sure has changed since my first wife, my son and I lived on Haw River Road all those many years ago.

Update 2: 12:50 am. I knew they'd be back. Traffic is picking back up at 1108 Willard Street and I just got off the phone with GPD.

Monday Takes Flight

It might be I could stay inside, write verse, perhaps complain;
saddle my computer chair, my latest rant again.
It might be I could write a book on things that don't remain,
steer my readers to a world where nothing is the same.

It might be I could write a song, but no I'll just abstain,
patch the roof, fix the floor: of these I have disdain.
It might be I could get a job while my savings still remain
but hey, it's Monday morning and I'm off to fly my plane.

Don't you wish you had an airplane of your own?

Today's Parking Meter Poem is made possible with support from TeaHugger.net. Fine teas from Greensboro to the world.


Inspired by the picture, King Of The Parking Meter by Catnapping.

Today's Parking Meter Poem is made possible by StreetPlanes Motorized Bicycles.

For the first time in 30 years I'm living in a gang free neighborhood in Greensboro,.. Continued after the Greensboro Gang Report:

Recently Greensboro Mayor Kieth Holiday endorsed the NC Street Gang Prevention Act but rumor has it Mayor Holiday is also a gangsta'. Is it politically correct to say Mayor speak with forked tongue?

According to the North Carolina SBI the vast majority of crimes go unsolved and fail to result in convictions while state prison populations continue to soar. Stats like these add credence to my plan to fight gangs and crime in Greensboro and elsewhere.

The numbers aren't complete but as of June residents and businesses called the Greensboro Police Department over 167,000 times. 167,000 cries for help. And how many criminals were caught? According too the Greensboro Police Department-- 8,280. You do the math. Link via Fec where you can also find an interesting link to the GPD Monthly Arrest Report. In case you're interested the crime report for the month of August is 86 pages single spaced in small print.

Greensboro Crime Clock
* One major crime reported every 32 minutes
* One violent crime reported every 4 hours
* One homicide every 13 days
* One forcible rape every 4 days
* One robbery every 9 hours
* One aggravated assault every 8 hours
* One property crime reported every 36 minutes
* One burglary every 2 hours
* One larceny every 58 minutes
* One auto theft every 7 hours
source-- Greensboro Police Department

According to the FBI Greensboro has a higher crime rate than New York City.

I don't make these numbers up, click on the links if you don't believe me. When people tell you Greensboro is a safe place to live they're sadly mistaken or worse, liars. The rate of crime in Greensboro is twice the national average with the rate of violent crime ieven higher.

In Orange County, California gang membership is at a 10 year low but here in Greensboro, North Carolina gang membership is at an all time high and still climbing.

Are you aware that MS-13, the world's most dangerous street gang is operating right here in Greensboro?

The New York Times knows all about gang issues in North Carolina but Greensboro's leaders remain clueless-- what's up with that?

Jonathan Simon, Associate Dean for Jurisprudence and Social Policy, Boalt Hall, School of Law, UC Berkeley and author of Governing through Crime knows of our gang problems. How long will Greensboro continue to invest your tax dollars on marketing a lie to the businesses they hope to recruit for their "economic development" program?

Greensboro suffers from a shortage of affordable housing but here in my neighborhood affordable houses set empty everywhere. While most of these houses are not big houses they are some of the best built homes in this city with oak hardwood floors throughout, stronger walls, roofs and foundations than newer homes and built on solid ground. I can't recall a single cracked foundation or sagging roof in my neighborhood and most of the empty homes are over 60 years old. And unlike newer houses these houses have copper wiring which makes them less likely to catch fire. And the cost of living in my neighborhood is 26.95% lower than the national average and .07% lower than Greensboro's citywide cost of living. The median price of a home in my neighborhood is said to be $110.000 but the few that actually sell usually go for under $60,000. (When last evaluated the property tax value on my home fell from $58,000 to $42,000 even though the home and property were improved during that same time period.) So why are these houses empty and taxes falling? Because people are afraid to live in gang infested neighborhoods.

On Friday the United States Senate approved $1 Billion to fight gangs. I wonder if Greensboro's leaders will even bother to try and get some of that money before it's all gone. And if they get it will they use it to stop gangs or to satisfy their own addictions?

For the first time in 30 years I'm living in a gang free neighborhood in Greensboro, North Carolina. Oh sure the gangs are still in your neighborhood but the gangs left my neighborhood Friday. Yes, they'll probably be back but for now they're gone. Want to know how that became possible? Want to know how you can legally and safely force the gangs from your neighborhoods? E-mail city council and tell them to adopt my plan then contact me and ask how you can help. Your other option: read about the deaths of your children in the Greensboro Gang Report.

I'll be at tonight's League Of Women Voters At-Large Candidate Forum with a chip on my shoulder. Those candidates who are brave enough to stand-up for the working class in our struggle against Greensboro's street gangs will have the chance to do so. Those who fail to do so become targets for my band of picketers. How will your bosses feel about their places of business being picketed? How will your neighbors feel when we picket your homes?

 

KFC Snacker

A KFC Snacker called me late last night,
said, “Come on down and see me.
You know I’ll treat you right.
I’m cheap and yes I’m easy,
you only need a buck.
Come down to the drive thru,
you can eat me in your truck.”

“But KFC,” I told her, 
“I’m not that kind of guy.
I don’t pay for snackers
until I’ve had a try.
So tell me we can work it out,
let me try a little taste,
I’ll gladly pay a dollar
if you’re all that great.”

She hung up the phone so I decided to get an Eight Piece Box instead.

Last night Greensboro Police were dispatched to 1108 Willard Street no less than 3 times. The result: No one was arrested but the gang was forced to another location which resulted in lost profits from drug sales, prostitution, gambling and other illegal pursuits. Kudos to the 3 officers who responded, it's a shame you're forced to face so many criminals with so little back-up. I'd hug you but I'm not that kind of guy.

I e-mailed the following questions to City Council: How many new officers are to be added under the Chief's plan and WHEN can I expect results?

Last night City Council responded to my concerns via e-mail: "Immediate (short-term) plan reassigns 2 CRT squads (8 officers) and 4 TSET officers to form two gang squads plus one Criminal Intelligence Squad member and 2 others assigned to Violent Crimes Task Force to provide assistance as needed.

Long-term -- adding money in the 2008-09 budget to hire personnel for 2 new squads (1 Sgt., 1 Corporal, 6 officers) + 2 detectives, 1 admin. assistant and 1 crime analyst.

There's no way to predict when results will occur -- could make a big bust tomorrow or could take longer. Just as the problem did not happen overnight, neither will the solution."

City council needs to be reminded that reassigning officers from TSET is simply robbing Peter to pay Paul. TSET is Greensboro's name for our neighborhood patrol officers. TSET patrol officers patrol your neighborhoods and respond when you dial 911. Fewer TSET officers means response times will become eroded even worse than they already are. I don't know about you but I'm sick and tired of waiting hours for the cops to show up.

As for Council's decision to hire 24 police officers-- active Greensboro police officers are telling me GPD has 89 vacant positions as of this week. Not to mention the fact that part of our current officers are on vacation, all are required to take time off for ongoing training, all are required to retrain because of a weapons change and occasionally police officers become sick or injured just like citizens without superpowers. 10 to 20 dollars per citizen in Greensboro would add over 100 patrol officers to the department. Are there any among you who think the 10 to 20 dollars is too high a price to prevent your children from becoming prostitutes, drug addicts or victims of gang violence? How much do Irving Park residents pay for their fancy alarm systems and can an alarm shoot a gun or put handcuffs on a violent criminal? Apparently City Council thinks your children are worth less than 20 bucks. Apparently our Chief of Police believes your grandmother is worth less than 20 dollars.

I want a return to the days when the cops had time to hang out at the donut shop! Or on the corner in front of my house.

As for the "big bust," all that does is put a new gang in control of the neighborhood. Reactive crime enforcement has never worked. Until GPD is heavily manned to the point that proactive enforcement becomes the rule nothing will change.

Did you know that Greensboro's nationally recognized gang expert is forced to work under a corporal and a sergeant with no experience in gang issues? Did you know this same upstanding officer has been on vacation for the last two weeks but with the exception of 3 days has been on duty every day of his well-earned vacation? The vast majority of GPD officers are dedicated to doing the best job they can possibly do-- why can't city leaders be expected to do the same?

I'm tired of lip service and token gestures from a token Mayor and City Council made up of court jesters and have to wonder if they might be toking themselves.

And the fact that the problem didn't happen overnight: City Council has been warned time and time again since the 1970s that they were facing this problem and they spent your tax dollars on marketing and paying incentives to rich multinational corporations rather than investing in what Greensboro needed most. Since when is "economic development" defined by giving tax dollars to the wealthy. Clean up our streets and the wealthy will come begging to get in. Walmart announced this week they were hiring armed guards to patrol their parking lot. Take the burden of fighting crime away from business and business will come.

Meanwhile in this post Fec points us to this map of felony crimes committed in Greensboro thus far during the month of September. No matter where you live you'll notice dangerous felons are active in your neighborhood. Especially interesting was the felony arrest on September 18th. for manufacture and possession of weapons of mass destruction that took place very close to Greensboro's exclusive Irving Park. Could it be that street gangs are America's biggest terrorist threat?

So tell me, Irving Park, will your fancy alarm systems protect you from WMDs?

In violent crime Greensboro ranks over 25% above the national average. Murders are almost 100% above the national average and overall every type of crime with the exception of car thefts are more common in Greensboro than nationally. But our City Council continues to spend your tax dollars on marketing rather than fighting crime. Isn't that criminal negligence in itself?

An effort is already underway by City officials to discredit me. They are trying to frame me as a means to silence me. Some are starting rumors that I've threatened the Mayor and City Council. It's true, I have threatened the Mayor and City Council with picketing in front of their homes and businesses. Since the City refuses to get rid of the gangs, violence and noise in my neighborhood I plan to take the noise to the homes and offices of City Council. I wonder how Mayor Holiday's employer First Citizens Bank will feel about picketers in front of their downtown and other branches. I hear the mayor's bosses are the reason he decided no to run for another term as mayor. I wonder how residents on quiet Pebble Drive will feel about protesters with megaphones chanting, "Holiday is a gangsta!" throughout the night.

Yes, the City of Greensboro will no doubt arrest myself and those who stand with me but in the meantime, while loud peaceful protesters are arrested violent gangsters are allowed to go free. But you can bet the YouTube videos will appear on the desktops and laptops of every marketing consultant for every city Greensboro competes with in their efforts to "bring jobs to Greensboro."

Welcome to Greensboro.

Want to help stop gangs and solve crime in Greensboro? Without risking being shot or stabbed? Step one is to e-mail City Council and demand results. Be careful what you say as the cowards spook easily. #2. Vote the incumbents out of office. #3 Contact me and I'll make you aware of the many safe and legal ways you can painlessly bring an end to the violence that surrounds you.