I Bet Australia Is Pissed At Us

Well, we may not have stolen their thunder, but we did steal their van! While there is some humor to be had in this, I have to wonder a few things:

• Why was the van unlocked?
• What about security at the Ram's Head?

Very embarrassing for Annapolis!

But here's a sneak peek at what no doubt will be The Capital's leading story tomorrow:

RE: $5,000.00 REWARD OFFERED FOR RECOVERY OF STOLEN VAN

On May 31st between 12:00 and 12:33 AM, the Tour Van of the professional Male Revue Group known as the “ Thunder From Down Under” was stolen from the rear of the Ram’s Head Tavern, 33 West Street, Annapolis, Maryland. The group had just finished a performance at the venue and was preparing to depart. The keys were left in the van, and it was unattended for brief periods. Person(s) unknown drove it away, and it has not been seen since. It is described as a 2008 Toyota Sienna, Tan, with a Georgia tag of 2139 APB. The van contained all of the group’s costumes, equipment, and merchandise that they sell on their tours. They had to cancel their next show in Rhode Island due to the Theft. Due to the importance of the contents of the van to them, they have offered a reward of up to $5,000.00 for information leading to the recovery of the property. Anyone with information about the Theft or the Van’s whereabouts is asked to call the Annapolis Police at 410-268-4141.

Other Local Blogs With Interesting Posts...

The local blog I Live on Clay Street continues to play a positive role in many aspects of life in that area of our city. Visit www.iliveonclaystreet.com/ and see the video posting and the piece about public housing.

Want to learn more about the city's capital budget? Check this out: annapolispolitics.blogspot.com/2008/05/capital-projects-2009-2014.html I cannot verify any of the numbers but this topic should be of concern to all of us. If you can ignore the frequent personal attacks and mean-spirited anonymous comments or its heavy-handed and predictable Republican outlook, Annapolis Politics often is a useful source when it sticks to legislative and budget matters such as this post. Previously I had reported that it seemed to have become inactive, and despite having said many positive things and provided many references to that blog in the past, my observation brought the misguided wrath of the publisher and some of his readers upon me. Oh well.

A Stroll Around Eastport "It's Private Property!"

CP has been an Eastport resident for over two decades and frequently walks and rides his bike. I am not unaware of the tremendous changes that have occurred and intensified in the past few years, most visibly in the form of architecture. Of course the architecture reflects the demographic changes, and it also reflect the transportation choices of the residents.

I always see and meet people when riding a bike or walking. I've often written of the value of walking and bicycling to build community and therefore, of its antithesis in wrecking communities--automobiles. Nowhere is this more evident than on the crowded and tony peninsula where the multi-million dollar homes are "complemented" with fancy garages and fancy cars with fancy bumper stickers.

Is it just me, or is there something supremely ironic and perhaps even offensive about mega-mansions crowded on the bulkheaded waterfronts with huge driveways full of cars--mainly gas guzzling and resource guzzling SUVs sporting "Save the Bay" bumper stickers? Many of them also have "St. Anne's Day School" stickers on them as well, but perhaps that's just a quibble on my part.

Homes that are already bigger than the domicile of the average family keep getting additions built on and mega garages attached. We already have a handful of gated communities and a marina in Eastport and we know where you can and cannot go. A favorite path to stroll down to the water is getting squeezed in with "No Trespassing" signs and the neighbors get angry when I walk upon it, even though it is a public right-of-way over a sewer line. The residents there may not be aware that years ago the turfed and bulkheaded lot they now occupy was slated to be a public park. It gets worse.

CP's youngest son and a friend were innocently riding their bikes by a private community when an elderly resident scolded them for riding on private property. What's up with that?

We have precious little access to the water and few places to enjoy the view. Lord knows why people need to keep biggerin and biggerin (apologies to Dr. Seuss)but so much of the crowding, the pavement, the congestion, the construction is due to cars and more cars. They bring air pollution, noise and decrease green space everywhere. Which brings me to the next ironic question: Why do people who build bigger and bigger houses and invest so much in making them comfortable and livable, then devote so much space and energy and resources to so many cars to take them to other places? And why so much space and resources to having them sit most of the time--which is neither an attractive site, not economically intelligent in my view.

The cars, for reasons mentioned above, hurt the communities in which we live, but their purpose is to take us away--to somewhere else. But it gets worse if you consider the idea of pulling up in your car, pressing a button to raise a door and then getting sucked in to your house--sharing your home with your car! This completely isolates us from our neighborhood and community. What do we do when inside? I dunno...watch tv I guess? (the purpose of most tv being to comfort us about our consumerist lifestyle and make us want to buy more...and more)

Yet it gets even worse. Have you seen the ads for these companies selling "garage organization systems"? They appeal to our most base consumerist instincts. One of them even has a content, self absorbed yuppie saying "My car is my life." What a loser!

Finally, while riding around on my two-wheeled, human propelled system, I came across a neighborhood yard sale. Now I used to live in that section of town 25 years ago, and I can tell you that just about every home there has either been built or seriously renovated in the last few years. Hardly a single resident has been in that part of Eastport for more than a few years. So here they are on a Saturday morning, holding a yard sale. Being a yard sale afficionado myself, I poked in and out of the driveways (and garages) where the wares were displayed.

I must say, it's pretty darn weird seeing people at the upper heights of the economic ladder taking a Saturday morning (when they could be at the horse races or on their yacht)displaying all their excess bric-a-brac and tschotchkes to pick up a couple of extra bucks. Why don't they just give it to GoodWill or the Salvation Army?

Chief Pristoop On The Move

He's only been in his job a few weeks and has already participated in a drug bust, has been seen on the streets, and I've even heard it said that in a certain "hot spot" around town, there has been a noticeable increase in police presence and a decrease in criminal activity.

I talked with an officer in Eastport last night who confirmed to me that there are major changes afoot in APD. I repeated my hunch that the governor and maybe other elected officials chose Chief Pristoop, and that he was not the mayor's choice. This officer confirmed my hunch. Of course I cannot take that to the bank, and maybe only a few insiders really know for sure but many locals continue to wonder why former Chief Johnson stayed on so long. However, Pristoop was quoted in the paper recently as saying that police resources need to be employed where the crime is occurring. Well! That would be a welcome change from his predecessor.

Just A Sad Story

From this morning's police report:

ASSAULT: On May 22nd, at 11:00 AM, an 11 year old student at Bates Middle School, located at 701 Chase Street, was assaulted by four other students while the victim was on his way to a class. Investigation determined that the four suspects discussed and plotted the attack earlier in the day. Three of the suspects initially confronted the victim, with some of them restraining him, while the others struck him. The fourth suspect had to run from the second floor to the basement in order to join the attack. All four of the male suspects were arrested and charged with Assault. They were identified as two eleven years olds, one twelve year old , and one thirteen year old.

2 11-year olds, 1 12-year old and a 13-year old beating up an 11-year old. While it is obvious that nothing of significance will be done, I have to ask how have the parents let their kids slip this low? There is a finger to be pointed here, and it is directly back to the parents!

Very sad.

Remembering Memorial Day

Remembering those who have served and continue to serve......

The land of the free, because of the brave!

Child Support--The Forgotten Step-Sibling Of Justice?

While I could not find it online (no link) there was a disturning letter to the editor in this morning's Capital Gazette:

Having majored in criminal justice and having a father who was a police officer for 23 years have given me insight into our criminal justice system. It's not that hard to understand. When you have done something wrong, you must face the consequences.

My aunt is going through a child support case that has been going on for several years. Her ex-boyfriend owes over $11,000 in child support. Circuit Court Judge Philip T. Caroom apparently doesn't believe this is a serious issue.

My aunt and her ex are supposed to have shared custody of their child, but he has yet to show his son any sign of love or support. He hasn't seen his son once in the last year.

My aunt has been in court over three times in the past six months because she's not receiving child support. Judge Caroom has ordered her ex to pay child support, but her ex has yet to do this.

So she keeps going back to court, with the same judge, who just sits there in his big chair telling her that they will keep on coming back to court for the same thing over and over until he feels that it is enough. Are several years without child support not enough?

To add insult to injury, my aunt's ex admitted in front of Judge Caroom that he broke into my aunt's house, and Judge Caroom did nothing.

My aunt is a hardworking woman. She works two jobs and takes very good care of my cousin. He is a bright 15-year old who makes honor roll at school almost every semester.

My aunt has no support from her ex-boyfriend. Now she has no support from the court system as well. No wonder people have no trust in our court system.

AMANDA FREEMAN
Pasadena

While this may not be the violent crime that we have all come to know; it is indeed a crime and highlights a crucial weakness in our justice system. Granted, this is only one side of the story, but if true, I think Judge Caroom has some questions to answer.

• Why were his wages not garnished?
• Were his bank accounts garnished?
• What about a lien on personal property?
• Tax refunds?
• Economic stimulus refund?
• Has this delinquency been reported to all the appropriate agencies--local, state and federal?

It takes two to tango and make a baby, but both parents have a legal and moral obligation to that child. It appears from this that the courts are turning a blind eye. If you are not able to handle the violent crime, and you are not able to handle the domestic crime; what crime are you handling? Jaywalking?

I hope for the sake of this writer's aunt that someone realizes what this is doing on many fronts and makes it right. Dad--come forward and stop being such a loser--make a payment--any payment would help. Judge Caroom, issue an order--stop wasting everyone's time with hearing after hearing--the time could be better spent earning a living!