5 points? Underground (Atlanta, Smyrna, Rome: suite, vacations, office)

[reet4587]

Originally Posted by JPD

I see police cars every day, but I can't remember the last time I saw a cop standing on a sidewalk watching people in any area of downtown. As I said before, I rarely go to Five Points proper, but I'm in Fairlie-Poplar/Woodruff Park area (on the edge of Five Points) all week.

I'm not familiar with the situation during the weekday mornings and afternoons, but I can tell you that at nights I've been really impressed with the police presence in Fairlie-Poplar. Especially since GSU is back in session, there are police in cars, on foot and on bike patrolling the area regularly.

Centennial Park is patrolled well too. The police presence oddly disappears as you go north or south of this area, though. I'll walk up to Max Lager's, for instance, and I rarely see police around that area of Hardy Ivy Park on up to Ivan Allen Blvd. Castleberry Hill could use more police presence too (though I say this mostly because my car was broken into there a couple of years ago and I'm still bitter).

[JPD]

Originally Posted by reet4587

I'm not familiar with the situation during the weekday mornings and afternoons, but I can tell you that at nights I've been really impressed with the police presence in Fairlie-Poplar. Especially since GSU is back in session, there are police in cars, on foot and on bike patrolling the area regularly.

You'll also occaisionally see Federal Protective Service/Department of Homeland Security vehicles and officers in the area since there's a federal courthouse in the neighborhood.

[BobKovacs]

Originally Posted by JPD

You'll also occaisionally see Federal Protective Service/Department of Homeland Security vehicles and officers in the area since there's a federal courthouse in the neighborhood.

And also the federal building down on Peachtree. Unfortunately, they really don't do anything to solve the issues downtown has with panhandlers, homeless, etc.

[Atlantasfinest]

Also the Sam Nunn Federal Building/Atlanta Federal Center/Richard Russell Federal Courthouse on Forsyth and Broad Streets...There are tons of patrolmen in the area but they do nothing to stop panhandling, homeless.

With the APD being recently relocated Downtown South of Five Points maybe this will start to change?

[JPD]

Originally Posted by BobKovacs

And also the federal building down on Peachtree. Unfortunately, they really don't do anything to solve the issues downtown has with panhandlers, homeless, etc.

That's true, but you're probably not as likely to be victimized if there's a DHS car parked nearby, so all in all, their presence is a good thing.

Would you like the DHS/federal government to have a hand in "solving" homelessness and panhandling issues in Atlanta?

[arjay57]

This is unfortunate.

However, is this guy making too big a deal out of getting ripped off at Five Points?

Dutch tourist: ‘Don’t know if I’ll ever come back'

[JPD]

"He said he’ll wait in his room at the Western Inn and Suites at 1200 Winchester in Smyrna until he departs for the Netherlands."

I know first hand how unpleasant it is to be the victim of all sorts of crimes, but this is a reaction I would expect from someone who had been raped or tortured, and not the victim of petty theft. Hiding in a hotel room? Over a stolen camera? Really?

[arjay57]

Originally Posted by JPD

"He said he’ll wait in his room at the Western Inn and Suites at 1200 Winchester in Smyrna until he departs for the Netherlands."

I know first hand how unpleasant it is to be the victim of all sorts of crimes, but this is a reaction I would expect from someone who had been raped or tortured, and not the victim of petty theft. Hiding in a hotel room? Over a stolen camera? Really?

It kind of makes me wonder if the Dutch have gone Euro-soft.

Getting ripped off while you're trying to enjoy a chicken wrap is no picnic. Yet we Southerners are a hardy breed and I would not let that drive me all the way back to Smyrna.

[mike7586]

Originally Posted by JPD

"He said he’ll wait in his room at the Western Inn and Suites at 1200 Winchester in Smyrna until he departs for the Netherlands."

I know first hand how unpleasant it is to be the victim of all sorts of crimes, but this is a reaction I would expect from someone who had been raped or tortured, and not the victim of petty theft. Hiding in a hotel room? Over a stolen camera? Really?

It doesn't matter what you think... it matters what other people think. It might not seem like a big deal to YOU, but to this guy, it could have been the first time something like that has ever happened to him and it happened here.

Overall, parts of downtown Atlanta do not leave a good impression to most people, especially in the Five Points/Underground area. That part of the city has so much potential, but doesn't seem like anyone in charge really gives a damn about cleaning it up. A lot of the stores/fast food places cater to pretty much one type of demographic and that's why there is so little diversity in that immediate area. There's just too many bums and sketchy people loitering, shouting, etc... it's just not pleasant and they wander into the nicer parts of downtown like Broad Street. What might help is having police - both APD and Georgia State - on horseback and on the street, not just in their cars driving around.

[MathmanMathman]

Originally Posted by arjay57

This is unfortunate.

However, is this guy making too big a deal out of getting ripped off at Five Points?

Dutch tourist: ‘Don’t know if I’ll ever come back'

To add insult to injury, the tourist said the restaurant was full of people but no one would come to his aid. He said at least two people were “inches away” watching the incident unfold.
“Nobody saw anything,” Dinckgreve said. “Nobody could help me.”

Welcome to New York