Thursday, December 1, 2005

* Right On Maam

"Morse Avenue is some kind of Baghdad/ghetto/South Central/Englewood shit pile with ever-escalating crime."
posted by Just The Fact, Maam

9 comments:

Knightridge Overlook said...
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
Hugh said...

once again Thomas leads with "this blog"

Jocelyn said...

I think this is funny. Craig can do what he wants- this is HIS blog after all. And if he wants to tease those who disagree with him, it's his choice.

JTFM- Bagdad?? Kind of extreme I'd say. I'd wager no one thinks Morse Avenue is that bad. But then, I didn't see your original comment.

Thomas- I get your point BUT there are still countless times when I do the same thing you did and I see the familiar Drug dealers or panhandlers unfortunately. The street remains something to "get through" or endure rather than enjoy. And the littering is still horrendous. But, I agree Morse Market is improving, the flower shop looks great and the new fasade on "Fragrance Island" is looking good. But I don't buy perfume or care to shop at Dollar Stores. Oh well.

dan2 said...

"Nope, I didn't think so, because you REMOVED my comment from last night."

I find it funny that Craig and Toni are now censoring comments from those who question the assertions and accusations put forth in their postings.

Hmmm...wasn't there a post previously about what a fascist David Fagus was for removing comments on his blog?

I believe it was a posting on Oct. 25th, when Craig said this about his comments being deleted from Fagus' site:

"I never once called him a name. I just asked too many tough questions...Commenters are important in blogging. Letting people speak their mind. Good or bad."

What was once a promising forum that pushed for change is now a running joke. Anyone who disagrees with wild assertions is cut-down in venom-filled posts, dripping in ill-will and sarcasm.

What a waste.

gf said...

dan2 writes-
"anyone who disagrees with wild assertions is cut- down in venom-filled posts, dripping in ill will and sarcasm"

tw has written-
"don't give me that b.s."
"so get off the ridiculous"don't understand cause your a man"yeesh. what a crock"
"poor and black folks"
"let's make the poor homeless"
"diaperload of logical sense"
"same set of crocks"
"ms. santa"

d2, are these appropriate examples of what you are complaining about?

these comments preceded any sarcastic rebuttal here or at 24/7.
check the record.

i don't have any problem with disagreement, d2, it's the delivery.

gf said...

d2-

by the way. you might want to add "offensive" to your laundry list of complaints.

Jocelyn said...

Now that you mention it,(and at the risk of being slammed big time), I honestly can't recall a time I have seen a group of white teens on Morse. I can't even remember a group of hispanic teens. I don't think Thomas even needed to identify their race. No offense to anyone- it's just what I've observed- not saying it's good or bad- just the demographics of the Avenue...

and teenagers of all races act like fools (again, no offense- they can't help it right?)

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Pamela said...

Maybe our Alderman could take a tip from the Indians and try to get this kind of a law passed in Chicago:

Banishment Law set for Hobbema

11/30/05
BY JOHNNIE BACHUSKY
Red Deer Express

HOBBEMA - Hobbema's Samson Cree Nation is set to introduce an unprecedented new law that will banish band members who engage in violent gang activities and drug dealing.

The new law, tentatively called the Banishment and Residency Law, is set to be introduced to the Samson tribal council in January.

"We have people involved in the drug trade, stuff that is unsavoury.
We have to address it," said Mel Buffalo, the band's director of operations. "I think council will agree to it."

Buffalo said the new law, which is now being fine tuned by lawyers, is a measure to counter the escalating violence and gang activity that has rocked Samson and the area's three other reserves over the past decade.

The violence and gang activity has also underscored the deep social issues facing the four reserves, which include a criminal caseload for the RCMP that is more than three times the national average, an 80% unemployment rate, a 59% increase in child welfare caseloads since 2000, as well as rampant alcoholism, drug addiction and suicides.

Buffalo noted that while a policy of banishment against band members has been introduced at reserves in Quebec and Saskatchewan, the Samson initiative will be a precedent in Alberta.

"They sent the guy in Saskatchewan a few years ago to a deserted island in northern Saskatchewan so he couldn't have contact with his people for a whole year," said Buffalo, adding the provincial courts in Alberta have in the past ordered convicted band criminals to stay away from reserves.

The proposal for a legislated banishment policy at Hobbema has been gaining momentum over the past year.

Kirk Buffalo, a tribal law supervisor at Samson, is one of the community's leading proponents for a banishment law. While he admits there will be some backlash from some over the policy, the community must take a firm stand against the gangs.

"One person may make a difference but it is going to take the whole community uniting and standing together and saying, 'Let's all agree to banish these drug dealers and gang members," said Kirk Buffalo (no relation to Mel), adding he would even agree to banish his own family members if they were known gang members or drug dealers. "Sometimes these are drastic actions this community needs to do."

He is further proposing that every band member sign a contract that he or she agree to be of good behaviour and follow band rules, or else face the possibility of banishment.

"It is like a probation order. You be of good behaviour, and respect your home," he said. "If they don't follow the rules then we do whatever is necessary, including banishment."

Meanwhile, social service officials are also rallying around the initiative, adding the onus is now on the leaders of the community to make a firm stand no matter what sort of adverse reaction the proposed new law may create.

"I think there is also accountability and not being afraid, and letting leadership and the right people make the right decisions to get the community safe – get rid of the bad apples," said Steve Mulley, a case supervisor at the Kasohkowew Child Wellness Society.

However, Mulley conceded the issue could prove to be a local political minefield, especially if the band wants to banish a relative of a community leader.

"Somebody who you want to banish or ostracize may be connected to someone in council, and it ain't going to fly, simply out of loyalty to family," said Mulley.

Mel Buffalo added the new law may also face legal challenges, notably from federal justice officials who might argue the band does not have the legal authority to banish people.

"But we have an argument to that. Under Treaty 6, we have the authority to do whatever is necessary to govern our community," he said.

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