Hi Craig,
I need to bring this matter to the next CAPs meeting, but I thought I'd see if you wanted to do a story on it and call attention to the problem now. I decided to head to the Mor-way laundrymat this morning and wash some bulky items that are too big for my home washer/dryer.
What do I see? First on my way to the Washington Mutual to get cash, I see three guys hanging out in front of the Gyro's place looking around- nothing unusual I know. This makes me mad, but what can I do?
Then I head back to the laundrymat and two of these guys are hanging out in front of the laundrymat and going inside to sit and arm up when they get chilled. They are not doing laundry. They stand like sentries in front of the place and look around.
The worst part is that everyone just pays no attention. I guess this is a normal Saturday at the mat. The manager doesn't even bat an eye.
This stuff makes me so mad I almost can't bear it anymore. I want to confront them and say, "If you're not doing laundry, then you should not be here." But the Laundrymat management should do this- not me. It's their business.
I have met the owner before and next time I see him, I am going to ask him about this, but besides bringing it up at CAPs, I don't know what else can be done. Maybe finding out the owner's name and writing him a letter. Shock of all shocks, he lives in Wilmette, but owns a crappy strip mall in RP.
Signed,
RPNeighbor
Depressed by the situation at our local laundrymat
10 comments:
I do want to mention that later on that day, I saw the owner there and the "hangers on" gone. He does stop by and check on things. Maybe he told them to leave-it's possible. I may have over reacted a bit.
I can also understand what the nice woman manager might not want to "police" them too.
Thanks for posting Craig- maybe others will comment if they've seen the same thing going on there.
I would like to see zero tolerance for this kind of thing of course.
Picket, protest and boycott.
We could walk a pickett line in front of the business to raise awareness.
The police will be called to disburse the protesters and media will likely be involved. All of that a good thing. If we were successful it would have an effect on the owners balance sheet. Who would cross a picket line to do laundry and support crack dealers?
Maybe some flyers distributed in Willmett to inform the owners neighbors what kind of business they run would have some kind of impact.
What is that name and address again?
I have a feeling they are all in it together. I don't know what the relationship is but I see Soo liquors let these guys hang out in front and in their store every day. The other day the guy ringing the register at Soo told me Joe Moore will win again (even though yesterday I saw a Gordon sign in the window). Last month I parked in the same parking lot as RPNeighbor to run into the little store next to the laundry mat. I needed to buy some overpriced batteries for a "radio" I listen to. I was also picking up pizza at J.B.'s. After I purchased the batteries at the store I asked the owner if I could leave my car in that lot for 2 minutes while I ran over to get the pizza. He acted like he was doing me a really big favor by not having my mini-van towed. Whatever. I won't stop there again. Little things like that set me off. Nice to know that the gang bangers are welcome to hang out though. 'Big surprise there.
It's "Laundromat" not "laundry mat" or "laundrymat"
And since when has hanging out in front of a laundromat been a crime?
"Hanging out" in front of a biz is not precisely a crime, but no responsible business or apt. owner will let packs of goons clutter up the entrance to his business. It makes the business and the neighborhood look disreputable and dangerous, and drives off legitimate trade.
The ordinance against 'loitering' may or may not be legal, and I really doubt it is, but it is definately illegal to obstruct the sidewalk, or the entrance to a business, and make people step off the walk to get around you. And no property owner has to put up with packs of glowering goons intimidating people trying to enter a business.
If you let this sort of thing take place on your property, be prepared for the neighbors to raise hell with you.
I agree with rpsense. There are serious racist undertones to many of the posts and youtube videos posted on this blog.
Are these individuals hanging out in front of the laundromat hispanic? Are they black? Is this why it poses a problem?
I remember a couple of months ago there was a video posted that received great reviews by many of the "regulars" on this blog and the owner of the blog. It supposedly showed the "crime problem" or something like that. Really it was just footage of a bunch of black men walking around. Oh my god! Black men! Walking around! CRIME! It was quite possibly the most racist thing I had experienced in a while.
It must be very insulting and stigmatizing to see an individual follow you around with a camera - insinuating you're a criminal. It was tantamount to racial profiling. It's not illegal to be black, to be a person of color or to walk around on the street.
College bound,
I'm going to give you some slack because you seem new.
Come to a CAPS beat 2431 meeting sometime. You'll hear from lot's of people that the Ashland Viking Nation street gang uses this strip mall as a major open air drug market.
This businesses in the strip mall offer the open air market salesman a warm up center when the weather is so cold like this. The businesses also are used as a hideout when the police drive by.
It's so bad, the Special Service Area tax levy #24 is installing a police style camera across the street, just to keep an eye on them.
So, instead of commenting on things you don't know about, come to a CAPS meeting, listen and learn before spouting off about racism.
This is about a open air drug market, gang turf and a business owner that doesn't seem to care it's going on, at their own front door.
Sorry College Bound on Lunt,
My bad, it's the Almightly Brazers.
The corner of Morse and Wayne - better known as 'Murder Row.'
Click to read their bio.
college bound:
Black, white, hispanic or whatever-if the best thing young men have to do in the dead of winter is hang out in front of a laundromat (I believe Laundry Mat is acceptable too), they've got problems and that is a sad state of affairs. I believe if one hangs around like that- trouble will find you soon enough.
Can you honestly tell me you think this is recreation for them? please. They were standing like sentries on the job.
Dear College Bound,
Normally you have to get to college before you get all liberal. That being said these people are hanging around dealing drugs, beatting up my neighbors, running prostitution, stealing, fencing, gambling, shitting, littering, throwing beer bottles and cursing infront of childern (all caught on tape and published here). So write a research paper on who these people are the people in front of and behind the camera.
I am sure it would be worth a read.
If it is deemed a worthy, well written accademic paper I will pay for the first semester/session of your books at any college you get accepted.
What ever it takes continue your education.
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