All posts in the topic Another 4th ruined (Short link)
Summary
- There are 7 posts — by 7 authors — in this topic.
- Latest post made by caty royce at Jul 07 18:10 UTC
By 10:00 P.M. last night was forced to close up my house and use the air
conditioner to improve the air quality. This was after having to take
medication for asthma. The amount of incendiary devices was enough to make the
air thick with the odor of gun powder.
I do NOT understand why the police require me to provide such exacting
information, when all they need do is look in the sky and follow in the squad.
The incendiary devices started at about 11:00 A.M., but continued until well
after 3:00A.M. this morning.
Now, beyond this being a disruption in my life-I must board my dogs in
Delano as they can't tolerate the amount of noise in my residential area-, it
has now also become a health issue for me,needing medication so I can breath,
lack of sleep and often questioning whether the sounds are firecrackers or
guns, 2 hours spent cleaning refuse from my lawn, etc.
I really wonder what the air quality was like last night in our residential
communities!
I am frustrated by the total disregard by the Mpls. Police Force and it would
seem, our Mayor and city council to enact changes that would make this a SAFE
holiday for all the people in Mpls.
Chris Painter
Lind-Bohanon
Chris,
Lucky for us, we had plenty of fireworks go off most nights this week in
Standish. It was our dog's first year in the city and he adjusted better
each day to the sounds. By the time last night's disturbances were unleashed
we had the house closed up and the a/c and t.v. on. We sailed thru the night
without a hitch.
Some of our neighbors left town for the weekend. Have you considered taking
you and dogs away for the holiday? Seems easier than battling the whole
neighborhood each year.
Steve B.
> From: Christine Painter <<email obscured>>
> Date: Sat, 5 Jul 2008 14:51:33 -0500
> To: forum <<email obscured>>
> Subject: [Mpls] Another 4th ruined
>
> By 10:00 P.M. last night was forced to close up my house and use the air
> conditioner to improve the air quality. This was after having to take
> medication for asthma. The amount of incendiary devices was enough to make
> the air thick with the odor of gun powder.
> I do NOT understand why the police require me to provide such exacting
> information, when all they need do is look in the sky and follow in the
squad.
> The incendiary devices started at about 11:00 A.M., but continued until
well
This is what happens when a city lets the criminals take over...
North Minneapolis had the look and feel of a war zone, though thankfully
missing the blown apart bodies. MPD was powerless, and those fireworks
could have just as well been firearms.
I was back in the metro area, doing suburban parades for the DFL
candidates on the 3rd and 4th. I considered heading back to Starbuck,
but figured I may as well stay in town to protect my near worthless
home. Well, actually more to protect the vehicles in the garage- they're
worth more than my house or garage.
For decades the hill in Farview Park in Hawthorne was the best
fireworks watching spot around. But when criminals were allowed to take
over the park, that tradition ended.
About 9 last night I rode by the hill, noting not a single citizen
dared defy the criminals that now rule the Northside by climbing the
hill. So I rode on to the riverfront by the Park Board HQ. Of course,
our imperial Park Board had blocked access to their parking lot- god
forbid a mere taxpayer be allowed to park on the Park Board's turf!
The pro's put on an excellent show. Meanwhile the junkies blindly
threw up thousands of dollars in fireworks from the streets of the
Northside. After the pros ended their show at 10:30 I headed home and
fired up the power washer- it's SOP on the Northside to have your garden
hoses charged and ready to fight fire on the 4th, and the power washer
can shoot water higher and farther.
Meanwhile, our supposedly broke homies continued their barrage, at
times bringing visibility down to a few blocks. At Crystal Airport, the
weather station closest to the Northside, the recorded conditions went
from clear with 10 mile visibility at 10 pm to hazy with 2.5 mile
visibility by midnight. With no wind the particulate matter was slow to
disapate, but at least the hot embers didn't blow far and start many
fires. I made a mental note of where I had put the N95 breathing masks...
The readings at Crystal Airport didn't return to normal until 2 am,
although a few hardy crackheads were still lighten' 'em off until dawn.
I made a 3rd trip to pick up the last of the ton of wood pellet fuel I'd
bought on sale at Fleet Farm, then rode back to Starbuck.
The official (and only) fireworks start here at 10... I'm off to
watch them!
from Starbuck, where they keep fireworks and firearms in their
proper places...
Dyna Sluyter
Christine Painter wrote:
> By 10:00 P.M. last night was forced to close up my house and use the air
conditioner to improve the air quality. This was after having to take
medication for asthma. The amount of incendiary devices was enough to make the
air thick with the odor of gun powder.
> I do NOT understand why the police require me to provide such exacting
information, when all they need do is look in the sky and follow in the squad.
> The incendiary devices started at about 11:00 A.M., but continued until
well after 3:00A.M. this morning.
> Now, beyond this being a disruption in my life-I must board my dogs in
Delano as they can't tolerate the amount of noise in my residential area-, it
has now also become a health issue for me,needing medication so I can breath,
lack of sleep and often questioning whether the sounds are firecrackers or
guns, 2 hours spent cleaning refuse from my lawn, etc.
>
> I really wonder what the air quality was like last night in our residential
communities!
>
> I am frustrated by the total disregard by the Mpls. Police Force and it
would seem, our Mayor and city council to enact changes that would make this a
SAFE holiday for all the people in Mpls.
>
> Chris Painter
> Lind-Bohanon
> Eugene Swanson
> Lind Bohanon, MPLS
> Info about Eugene Swanson: http://forums.e-democracy.org/p/eugeneswanson
>
> This topic's messages may be viewed at:
http://forums.e-democracy.org/r/topic/3j6fg9xZ3QNaCDl0Mq2Qr
On Sat, Jul 5, 2008 at 10:02 PM, Dyna <<email obscured>> wrote:
> For decades the hill in Farview Park in Hawthorne was the best
> fireworks watching spot around. But when criminals were allowed to take
> over the park, that tradition ended.
>
> About 9 last night I rode by the hill, noting not a single citizen
> dared defy the criminals that now rule the Northside by climbing the
> hill. So I rode on to the riverfront by the Park Board HQ. Of course,
> our imperial Park Board had blocked access to their parking lot- god
> forbid a mere taxpayer be allowed to park on the Park Board's turf!
>
Actually, my family and I were joined by at least a few dozen other folks
atop the Farview hill to enjoy the fireworks. It was the 10 month old's
first fourth and she enjoyed it thoroughly with Mom, Dad, and big sister.
We were watching at least two "professional" displays simultaneously, and
several of us attempted to ascertain which displays we were able to see.
There was some thought in addition to the downtown display we were also
seeing the Harriet Island Taste fireworks, but maybe those were too far
away. Certainly, though, more than one official display was visible from
the hilltop, in addition to numerous amateur efforts that also appeared
quite well orchestrated. Living a block a way, we didn't rush out to the
park until just before 10, as that's the beauty of being able to not have to
worry about parking or staking out a prime viewing spot in the more heavily
frequented spots closer to the river.
Yes there was a lot of activity, and I would venture to say my block was up
there with any in the city in terms of volume (in both number and noise) of
home pyrotechnic displays. For a bit, we sat on the porch and let the kids
enjoy the efforts, while keeping on eye on things at the same time. Later
on, while it certainly did wear thin (as it has been for over a week
nightly), we kept the ac running and turned a big fan on in the bedroom and
went to sleep. Of course that's what we do every night, because there's
always a lot going on on our street. I figure we can complain and be
miserable, or take steps to mediate it (including calling 911 when it's not
the busiest night of the year for noise complaints) while making it as
pleasant as possible, all the while remembering that we live in the middle
of a city. Which is also not to say that no such activity occurs in rural
environments. I went to high school in a southern Minnesota small town, and
most recently lived in extremely rural Mississippi, and in both those
environments I saw all the same stuff I see in Hawthorne now, just not as
concentrated and close together by sheer dynamics of population and home
spacing. While I've not been to Starbuck, I find it hard to believe it is
personal firework free. My little rural community in Mississippi was awash
in fireworks, and not just on the fourth of the July. They broke out the
fireworks on Christmas, New Years, somebody's birthday, or whenever they
felt like it. Rural hardly equates with a narrow view of moral rectitude
and wholly righteous behavior, it's just more spreadout so it's possible not
to know exactly what your neighbor's doing all the time.
Anissa Hollingshead
Hawthorne
Why is it sometimes when I read this forum I feel somehow I am living in some
other dimension like Opposite Woman or something? I had a great view from the
balcony of the Science Museum both the 4th and the 5th with fireworks raining
down on my head. It was the most patriotic thing I have seen in awhile.
Unfortunately the minute it ended I had to get back in gear and clear drinks
and plates because I was banquet serving both nights. I wished I could be home
with my three kids but unfortunately my hours are being cut drastically over
the next month. I wouldn't mind some help from welfare or even daycare for my
kids while I'm at work unfortunately I make too much. I think 1000 a month for
myself and three kids is just over the cut off of "needy". How I wished I could
be hanging out with friends enjoying the 4th. Sitting on my friends stoop in
5th and Penn enjoying fireworks I cannot afford put on by the neighborhood head
honcho. Drinking beer and joking with the neighbors, dousing the kids in bug
spray and yelling across the yard when they get too close to the street. And
why not? It's Friday and the 4th of July! There are some real party poopers in
this city and they love this forum. Acting all hoity toity with their noses in
the air. Quit being so scared of all the "crackheads" and "criminals" and try
meeting your neighbors. Let your kids play outside and get to know each other.
Here in Southeast, I'm more worried about my rich neighbor's kids. I
dutifully and pointlessly called 911 when a group of four well off
spawn started firing rockets across the MPS parking lot next to me
towards my house, then I went out and told them what I had done (not
that anything would come of it) and that I had just come to get a
better look at them. They moved off to the MPRB property in the next
block. Scofflaws on the Fourth of July are found at all levels of
society, but although these four could have pounded me into the
pavement or worse had they been armed or so inclined; I am not sure I
would have attempted the same intervention on the Northside, but
still I sort of resent Quita's take just a bit as my economic station
in life is not much better than hers. And that's my rant for the day.
Seeing the fireworks and being able to enjoy the visual aspect of them is
completely different then blowing off M80's for two hours straight and
watching a dog freak out to the point of throwing up every ten minutes.
Having an issue with that is not my definition of party pooper. I do however
agree with the need to get out of a fear based place and meeting our
neighbors, we defintely need more of that!!
Caty Royce
Bancroft
On Mon, Jul 7, 2008 at 11:12 AM, Quita-B-Northside Belmares <