Another Day, Another Murder In Yuppietown (Atlanta, Roswell: hotel, townhome, neighborhood)

[aries4118]

Originally Posted by atlantagreg30127

Normally I'm just as critical as anyone regarding what long timers have seen as a downward spiral here, but a few things that need to be clarified regarding your comments.

1) Yes, the cutting of police/fire workers from the City and Franklin's budget is a disgrace, and her and her minions handling of the City budget the last couple of years has been disgusting. But, even if there had been three times the number of police on duty in that area that night, they most likely couldn't have done a thing regarding the bartender murder the way it played out. Unless you have a security guard or off-duty police officer at your location 24/7, these criminals are too quick to hit for the police to do much.

2) As far as leaving Atlanta, remember that a lot of these thugs generally drive around in fancy SUVs in the SUBURBS and look for places to commit their crimes. They break into homes and cars, only to return to the city later that evening. Atlanta is one of a handful of "sprawl cities" where the criminals are mobile and travel to the burbs to do a lot of their crime. So leaving the city at 5pm doesn't really help you much.

There are a lot of people to point fingers at regarding this most recent crime and others. First of course, are those who did it. Once you cross the line from burglary to murdering people who cooperate with you, then you are no longer a simple criminal - you become an incredibly dangerous predator, and one that needs to be dealt with quickly and with everything the police have. Due to the nature of the crime, way it played out, and weapons - I'm very curious to see where these people came from (I have a suspicion they are not common local Atlanta area criminals). Can we say "post Katrina refugees?"

Another to point at is the owner of the establishment. That restaurant has been the scene of NUMEROUS crimes, including a mugging in the past and multiple burglaries. Yet, supposedly there were no real security cameras in good spots, no impact resistance glass, and no security guard on duty. The manager was even shown being kind of nonchalant about the whole thing on TV when interviewed. The owner of this place need to have a certain amount of accountability for not providing the security measures needed for such an establishment, in the location it's in. No doubt civil lawsuits by the victim's family will follow (and rightfully so).

Atlanta is simply a higher-crime city. But it's not just the city - it's the AREA, so no, you aren't safe in the burbs after 5pm.

Very good points, ag. (see highlighted above).

[cityrover]

I do not understand why does it take murder for people to begin talking about the dire situation the city is in? I suppose some people had a ball pumping the crappy areas when gas was high and laughing at all the people paying for their commute but living in relative peace.

Houses get burglarized; everybody is quiet. People get mugged; not a peep. Certain people shoot each other; turn a blind eye.

Somebody gets shot in somebody's "gentrified" area of the slums and everybidy is up in arms about it?! Sorry folks, you don't ignore crime for years and then cry about it and expect something to change. Good luck, in your gentrified areas of urban utopia.

[atlantagreg30127]

Originally Posted by cityrover

Houses get burglarized; everybody is quiet. People get mugged; not a peep. Certain people shoot each other; turn a blind eye.

Somebody gets shot in somebody's "gentrified" area of the slums and everybidy is up in arms about it?! Sorry folks, you don't ignore crime for years and then cry about it and expect something to change. Good luck, in your gentrified areas of urban utopia.

While the recent murder has people talking quite a bit more, the recent wave of a variety of crime in the intown areas has spurred action by some folks. In this recent article, again while they discuss the murder, you do see where folks are dealing with a variety of issues (and some are taking action): Intown residents fearful of 'crime wave' | ajc.com

[cityrover]

I posted said article in the other thread too actually. My point however is that it took that, for them to talk about all the rest. The city is being run unopposed and without scrutiny, things to which the snobs in it ignore until it hits their backyard. In this case, an area *they* felt required attention.

I cannot agree with all the activism around this case as I well know that in a month or 2 the same mantra of selective ignorance will be preached.

What action are they taking precisely (that makes sense)? These are the same people who have for years embraced the exact same sort of actions that they are currently complaining of, but they are only complaining because it is happening in an area they care about. As long as it goes on "over there", you hardly hear a peep. As long as it helps them push their agenda of this place becoming some false bohemian paradise, crime is just "part of the fantastic city life" and so forth. But it does not work this way. Crime is crime and you cannot really prioretize one type over another, because it is all indicative of trends that over time become well rooted within the community.

[KevK]

Originally Posted by Merin

What is the point of this post? Surely you aren't suggesting that those of us who live in town deserve whatever happens. While you are at it, please comment on the home invasion in Roswell. Last time I checked that was the burbs

Sure things happen in the suburbs but at least out here when you dial 911 you don't get a friggin recording telling you to "please hold for the next available operator".

[KevK]

Originally Posted by DeaconJ

Wow...3 murders in 6 months! Let's pack up and run away!

While these unfortunate stories are all horrifying, they are in no way indicative of life in Atlanta or any other city. They are examples of isolated random murders that sadly occur in cities, suburbs, small towns, and rural areas all over the world. The ones that occur in large cities happen more often because there is a larger concentration of people there...and these things do happen in affluent and not-so-affluent suburbs as well as in cities.

3 murders in about 3 months in an area about 3 blocks from each other- all with the same mo in a town where police services are being cut should make anybody a bit uneasy.

[KevK]

Originally Posted by atlantagreg30127

Normally I'm just as critical as anyone regarding what long timers have seen as a downward spiral here, but a few things that need to be clarified regarding your comments.

1) Yes, the cutting of police/fire workers from the City and Franklin's budget is a disgrace, and her and her minions handling of the City budget the last couple of years has been disgusting. But, even if there had been three times the number of police on duty in that area that night, they most likely couldn't have done a thing regarding the bartender murder the way it played out. Unless you have a security guard or off-duty police officer at your location 24/7, these criminals are too quick to hit for the police to do much.

2) As far as leaving Atlanta, remember that a lot of these thugs generally drive around in fancy SUVs in the SUBURBS and look for places to commit their crimes. They break into homes and cars, only to return to the city later that evening. Atlanta is one of a handful of "sprawl cities" where the criminals are mobile and travel to the burbs to do a lot of their crime. So leaving the city at 5pm doesn't really help you much.

There are a lot of people to point fingers at regarding this most recent crime and others. First of course, are those who did it. Once you cross the line from burglary to murdering people who cooperate with you, then you are no longer a simple criminal - you become an incredibly dangerous predator, and one that needs to be dealt with quickly and with everything the police have. Due to the nature of the crime, way it played out, and weapons - I'm very curious to see where these people came from (I have a suspicion they are not common local Atlanta area criminals). Can we say "post Katrina refugees?"

Another to point at is the owner of the establishment. That restaurant has been the scene of NUMEROUS crimes, including a mugging in the past and multiple burglaries. Yet, supposedly there were no real security cameras in good spots, no impact resistance glass, and no security guard on duty. The manager was even shown being kind of nonchalant about the whole thing on TV when interviewed. The owner of this place need to have a certain amount of accountability for not providing the security measures needed for such an establishment, in the location it's in. No doubt civil lawsuits by the victim's family will follow (and rightfully so).

Atlanta is simply a higher-crime city. But it's not just the city - it's the AREA, so no, you aren't safe in the burbs after 5pm.

I see your point but there is only so much the owner can do. The work place I report to is on Chester Ave just a bit from where all this stuff is happening and we have have high barbed wire fences around the parking lots with electric gates and cameras yet vehicles have been broken into and stolen many times. It got so bad that many employees- especially those that work after dark- will not even park in the employee parking lot which is across Chester Ave from the company vehicle parking lot- even though both have fences and gates. I am not sure that anything the owner did would have made any difference. I thought about taking my wife to The Depot one of these nights but now I am thinking maybe not.

[Merin]

(1) I have only gotten the "Please hold" message once, for the most part I get through
(2) The Depot is closed, I heard the food wasnt that great.

[KevK]

Originally Posted by Merin

(1) I have only gotten the "Please hold" message once, for the most part I get through
(2) The Depot is closed, I heard the food wasnt that great.

YOu gotta be kidding? The place just opened not long ago and there was always lots of cars there. I am surprised!

[George Chong]

Originally Posted by KevK

YOu gotta be kidding? The place just opened not long ago and there was always lots of cars there. I am surprised!

I had drinks there once. Patrons appeared to just linger and no one was ordering food.

Do you work for at&t on Chester? I sold one of the townhomes at South Park just across from the at&t work center.