February 23, 2008
A neighbor writes in about shots fired in front of his home
A neighbor writes: Around 1:00 P.M. [Feb 18], mid-day, while working in the backyard, heard four shots fired in the street. Went around to the corner of the house in time to see a black car speeding away up the block. Found three of the four shell casings in front of my house. 9mm. I wondered if I had been working in the front of the house instead of the rear they would have thought it good sport to shoot me. My wife and daughter were not pleased by this event. Do you think Petersburg will ever decide to enforce its laws and scatter these people? Or, is it just something we are expected to tolerate. I look at my tax bill, the state of the roads and sidewalks, the drug houses and illegal group houses that operate with impunity. I shake my head. I think: I must be stupid to be here.
The Time has come when things in Petersburg need to change and change BIG TIME. We are Paying Higher Property Tax! and I ask why should I or anyone else in this city be paying for things that seem to go on and on. ie: the Crime, the state of the roads, the city side walks, drugs being sold in neighbor hoods, panhandlers, The traffic on the streets going way to Fast. Load noise coming from said cars and No Presence of the Police where there should be. I have lived in this city for 14 yrs now. and Still ASK the WHY Question.Because we the people have let it go on for far to long. Its time we Stood up and made more of our voices heard. then maybe those in Charge Would feel some sense of Moral Obligation to the People of this City. how far do we have to let things go before we All Feel Like JUMPING SHIP !!
“…stupid to be here.” I think not. In fact I think this may be one of the best times in history to be in Petersburg, Va. Expansion is happening all around us. Opportunities abound for progressive activities and positive growth and development.
There is a clear distinction between those who wish this city to take the needed steps to stop corruption, crime, mis-appropriations of city funds, and might I add, the wide spread apathy of citizens that permit the same to perpetuate it’s manifestations in all areas of city life government.
Even though citizens gather together to voice their opinions, input and yes SIGNED PETITIONS to slow the process of throwing away millions of dollars on a bottomless pit of a golf course while neglecting to fund more police, fire & safety, education and public works projects, our city leaders trod along with blinders on as though the citizens had not spoken and appropriate funds for this, that and the other, while this street has potholes and that street has gunshots and the other street has open air drug markets in full view.
I dare not point a finger at any single entity, because we all have a role and we should most definitely examine our own participation or, lack there of in the process to change the methods of the way things get done in our town. Again hats off to PPN and to the citizen who wrote to make us aware of the shootings in front of their residence. I am sure you have filed a report with the shorthanded Petersburg Police Dept. More often than not, crime goes unreported thereby enabling our local legislators to pretend that there is no need for allocation of more funds for police. Report everything. Join an organization that is working to promote actual change in our community and you will get some sense of relief to find out that you are not alone, in fact, you are in the majority. It is a process that is lifelong. We will not reach nirvana, that is the myth that keeps the drug addict stuck in misery. We will not solve our problems through violence, that is the myth that perpetuates the gunfire, and we will not fill our potholes, strengthen our police, increase fire & safety protection or educate our community by dropping endless millions on a golf course, that is the current myth that has our city leaders stuck. We must clearly identify the problem and put the money where our problems are, that will put us in the solution process. Not overnight, my friends, but overtime. Have faith, patience, and sincerity as we study the past, look to the future and be active in an organization today.
C’mon, this is Petersburg, village of 30,000, not D.C. The principal problems and the solutions to the problems are not complex. It just takes a kick-ass attitude and grit.
I agree with you Michael, and what will the kick-ass attitude and grit look like? Council meeting attendance, calls to council members, public works office, school board rep, study of city code, knowledge of what didn’t work, view of what plans are in the making, etc.?
If nothing changes, nothing changes. People should be encouraged to join and participate in the change. Yes, Petersburg is just 30,000, and it should not take a rocket scientist to see what needs to be done. In fact, many already know. It is the process of going about doing it that often turns into shades of gray.
Hey, thirty yearts of apathy is not going to change in 30 days. I am just suggesting that we strap in for the ride of our lives. And… as we, the people wake up from our slumbering attitudes and non-participation, organizations should take care to use all of the new communication and technology available in order to stay in touch with one another so that we don’t step on each other as we march into the future.
Thanks for the response. See you at the meeting or during completion of any number of task that will require our healthy attitudes and stick-to-itive-ness grit.
I’m with Akin Smith all the way.
It’s not fair to blame an entity called “Petersburg”. Petersburg is us. If we have to point finger, its those guys in the black car who are the enemy of the people. Did anyone get their license plate #? It is people who don’t report crimes and people who don’t get involved who aid and abet thugs.
It’s all about attitude. Despair is a mental disorder, spread too often by outsiders, and over the years as Akin says despair has taken hold. We have some great kids in our schools, great people working in every kind of job in this city, we great city employees, policemen, firemen, etc. Public service is often thankless and its worse when citizen don’t back-up law enforcement, teachers and others on the frontline against the despair and disorder that seem to run in some peoples lives. We all need to be cheerleaders for those volunteers and employees on the front lines making a difference. Rather than complain, help develop a solution.