Comments on: Unhappy anniversary http://blogs.creativeloafing.com/freshloaf/2007/11/27/unhappy-anniversary/ Atlanta news and views, one slice at a time Wed, 25 Nov 2009 04:44:46 -0500 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: Hannibal Wannabe http://blogs.creativeloafing.com/freshloaf/2007/11/27/unhappy-anniversary/comment-page-1/#comment-33642 Hannibal Wannabe Tue, 27 Nov 2007 22:35:58 +0000 http://blogs.creativeloafing.com/freshloaf/2007/11/27/unhappy-anniversary/#comment-33642 Where is the A-Team when you need them? Picture this all-too-familiar storyline: an inner city neighborhood struggles to make good and bring a sense of community back to what was once a violent, nasty part of town. Their efforts, however, are suppressed by a corrupt police force in cahoots with a neighborhood drug dealer and pimp. Beatings take place in the street in plain sight of children, prostitutes high on whatever scream at pedestrians and calls to 911 are rendered futile by the city's last remaining good cop's warning to "never call the police to complain about the dealers on your home phone...lots of these people are related." Throw in an ex-cop landlord overseeing the property and you've got the perfect setting for Faceman, Mr. T and Murdoch to come screeching along in their awesome van with the red racing stripe. The problem is, there is no A-Team any more. There is, however, a problem house in my neighborhood that has prompted dozens of complaints from all over the neighborhood with absolutely no action from the police. Is this because our Mayor refuses to pay them what they deserve? Is it because the Internal Affairs division of the ATLPD is laughable, resembling that of the Chief's previous post in New Orleans? (The emblazoned, "NOPD" on the side of Cajun cop cars seems sadly ironic) Or is it because guys like me have yet to pick up the baseball bat in the corner to do justice where others fail? In the absence of police protection, maybe I should set upon a course of action to rid the neighborhood of the threat. After all, I love it when a plan comes together. Where is the A-Team when you need them? Picture this all-too-familiar storyline: an inner city neighborhood struggles to make good and bring a sense of community back to what was once a violent, nasty part of town. Their efforts, however, are suppressed by a corrupt police force in cahoots with a neighborhood drug dealer and pimp. Beatings take place in the street in plain sight of children, prostitutes high on whatever scream at pedestrians and calls to 911 are rendered futile by the city’s last remaining good cop’s warning to “never call the police to complain about the dealers on your home phone…lots of these people are related.” Throw in an ex-cop landlord overseeing the property and you’ve got the perfect setting for Faceman, Mr. T and Murdoch to come screeching along in their awesome van with the red racing stripe.

The problem is, there is no A-Team any more. There is, however, a problem house in my neighborhood that has prompted dozens of complaints from all over the neighborhood with absolutely no action from the police. Is this because our Mayor refuses to pay them what they deserve? Is it because the Internal Affairs division of the ATLPD is laughable, resembling that of the Chief’s previous post in New Orleans? (The emblazoned, “NOPD” on the side of Cajun cop cars seems sadly ironic) Or is it because guys like me have yet to pick up the baseball bat in the corner to do justice where others fail? In the absence of police protection, maybe I should set upon a course of action to rid the neighborhood of the threat. After all, I love it when a plan comes together.

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