The SPARlisted Convenience Stores

[fsujax]

well, Stenodave the best thing you can is just give up debating the issues in these forums. Myself and many of my neighbors often read, but never really comment. As soon as you say something negative about the BP station or the carwash, or whatever it may be you are held to firing squad. My advice would be to not even read these threads, and stick to your block in Springfield like I do and you will find all this back and forth on the web is just silly. Good luck. My check didn't go to SRG, but ONH, so at least they cant use that one against me. haha

[uptowngirl]

This would be hilarious if it was not real. Watching TV forms my opinions? WTH? Have ya talked to any of these people? I work with immigrants everyday. So we are just going to take the word of two of the biggest fans of turning this neighborhood into a gated community? Dealers on PUBLIC, CITY property dealing drugs becomes the issue of the property owner? The fact that off duty police officers took advantage of and MURDERED a store owner in our neighborhood (a well documented story btw) is not reason enough for this family to fear the police more than the drug dealers? The owners do not have any responsibility for what occurs on public. city property- actually the city-i.e. JSO should be taking care of this issue. Why should the owner call the police and suffer the wrath of these dealers if the police drive by and can do nothing (I assume this since they have done nothing per the meeting minutes)? How would the owner have any more authority about what happens on the crow and sidewalk then the police who drive past it everyday seeing the same behaviour as the owner? If the police know about this activity what exactly do the expect the owner to do? Go out and make a citizen's arrest? How about the owner's of the property around the BP (which is where a LOT of the issues complained about are stemming from)? These "vacant homes" have been taken over by dealers and homeless squatters. I complained about the one across the street on Liberty at least a hundred times (HUGE homeless camp in the back yard) to no avail. I have never observed one single item for sale in this store that is not legal. Attacking and blaming the store for the activity around it is not the answer and leads me to believe perhaps in this case, Sheclown may be on to something.

BTW, I stopped as usual at the BP this morning, it was sparkling clean, I had great friendly service, I did not see one person just hanging out, and I did not see any scales at all, anywhere in the store. I also did not see any hookers turning tricks on the property, just a bunch of people getting gas and soda's on their way to work/school. I did see about ten people at the store at 8th and Walnut, they were all standing around drinking, one dood passed something to a car who pulled over and one of the neighborhoods notorious prostitues was standing in the lot- though I did not see her flag down a car. I also saw a lot of people standing around at the labor pool both on 8th and on Ionia (that Ionia spot is turning real bad- it' s the one with the sneakers hanging too), there were a bunch of questionable people at the store on the corner of 8th and Hubbard too they were drinking and were actually flagging down cars- now that is a store I will not step foot in ever again (it is hell being stopped at the light there!).

I also drove past the apts around the corner- they were also pristine. No trash, no people (maybe they are scared of their neighbors across the street?), paint looked good, yard looked good. Probably some drug dealers live there, I don't know but the property is now being kept clean and quiet.

I want great businesses in our neighborhood, this store is great for what it is, I am tired of empty store fronts (which cause MORE issues), and want real issues addressed. This is a store that is good, could it be better? Of course, but not until a few other things happen: clean up the houses around the store and kick out the squatters/dealers, get rid of the dealers on the three sides of this property (none of which is the owners property), and start using the store so as to make the corners and sides of this property uncomfortable to sell drugs. Shutting down decent stores is not the answer, cleaning up the area is the solution. The fact that these owners trust the dealers more than the actual residents living around them speaks volumes and is an issue that needs to be addressed.

[uptowngirl]

I agree Steno.

You know, I personally don't have anything against anyone in here, I just hate to see this huge divide.  I love hearing both sides of the story, I don't have an allegiance to either side.  I am a new home owner (yes I have written a check to Mack at SRG) and I just want what is best for my wife and kids in our new neighborhood.  I don't give a crap which side is going to make that happen, I just want it to happen.

Absolutely!

I give my opinion and usually move on, but in this case I have a passion as I truly believe this store is being maligned. Open container and loitering laws should be enforced, if they are not then there is not much an owner can do, and nothing if it is not even on their personal property.

[strider]

Just to clarify, if I say "a few of you", the "you" only really includes you if you believe it does. 

As a future new resident, you need to be realistic in what you hope for and the time frame you wish it to happen.  Many are not.

The information I have about Sizmore's came from Mr. Sizmore himself.

My statement: "It should be a wake up call for what is heading to be worse behavior by a few of you in this community than is ever going on at the Liberty BP."

Again, I have no idea yet if it includes you or not.  You decide.  However, I know it does include some who post on this forum. They know who they are. I am sure they do not agree with my stance, and that is their right. There is a lot of misinformation put out there about the various businesses and people and what they do and do not do.  Find out the facts for yourself and do not just believe either side without doing your own research and reading.  And my statement encompasses much more than just this issue with this one store.

While there are some very reasonable and fair people here, there are also some that the word prejudice certainly does apply to. It is normally not about race, but race often plays a part in it.

I guess the bottom line is there are indeed issues to be solved in Springfield.  There are right and wrong ways to go about solving those issues.  For the last 8 to 9 years, one way has been tried by Louise and Company and really hasn’t succeeded or we wouldn’t be having this discussion.  Perhaps it was the wrong way and we need to try something different. 

Like I said in an earlier post, as Doug V seems to be involved, perhaps he can be the voice of fairness and something positive can be achieved.

And, Uptown girl, very well said.

[Dan B]

This is nothing more than good old fashion race baiting, and every bit as bad as anything you have accused SPAR or Louise of.

I wasnt boycotting BP Before, but I may now just because of your shitty comment.

[Karl_Pilkington]

well you effing people suck and I only mean you if you think it does!  nice argument, think I'll be keeping that one.

sounds like acting without acting.

[strider]

Hmmm, acting like you are "racist" is OK, right Dan B? But bringing up that it might be "racist" to do or say something is very, very bad?  Doing, OK, saying, bad.  Got it.

[Karl_Pilkington]

this is hilarious, crackers calling other crackers racist... its like an episode of trailer park boys, except funnier.

[fsu813]

Stenodave,

You guys should attend Shadco to hear the laundry list of concerns.

It's one of 2 topics of discussion almost every time (the other being prostitution on Perry).

For the record, he's sold pipes & scales, i've witness prostitution activity first hand, others have seen drug activity, he has not been cooperative with JSO, Shadco, or Spar, and he does nothing to discourage loitering or littering.

Interpret that how you wish.

&

well, Stenodave the best thing you can is just give up debating the issues in these forums. Myself and many of my neighbors often read, but never really comment. As soon as you say something negative about the BP station or the carwash, or whatever it may be you are held to firing squad.

&

This is nothing more than good old fashion race baiting, and every bit as bad as anything you have accused SPAR or Louise of.

1. I can get into details if you wish. PM me if you'd like to.

2. 99% of concerned residents don't post on MJ b/c, among other reasons, they'll get blasted, called names, etc by those who have an interest in the status qou for one reason or another (financial, emotional, political, etc).

3. If you haven't learned by now, everything has to do with Louise specifically, and her puppet organization Spar. Or so they would like you to think. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Propaganda

[Dan B]

this is hilarious, crackers calling other crackers racist... its like an episode of trailer park boys.

Im pretty sure thats racist....

[Karl_Pilkington]

^can't be, some of my best friends are crackers.

[Dan B]

Hmmm, acting like you are "racist" is OK, right Dan B? But bringing up that it might be "racist" to do or say something is very, very bad?  Doing, OK, saying, bad.  Got it.

I live and work in the urban core. My kids both go to school in neighborhoods and schools where they are in the minority. Just because you and Gloria have decided you are the arbiters of morality and all thats just in the neighborhood, doesn't make you right, or even close to the issue. It just makes me lose a little more respect for you.

But hey, at least you have Stephen carrying your bags for you, so you always have that going for you.

[Springfield Girl]

Perhaps the owner could put out a sign:  "For Whites Only"

You know the thing that always gets me about this type of quote, which usually comes from the mouths of liberals, is why they bring race into it. All people are saying is we don't like crime, blight and litter. It seems like the true racists are the liberals who just assume that non whites are the only ones involved in this behavior.

[uptowngirl]

LOL- Dan B is NOT racist, I can vouch for that. This is getting off topic- at least for me, my real issue is we keep beating up on the wrong people and this makes real issues worse. A vacant BP is going to be worse for that corner. The owner is easier to pick on because we know who he is, his business is there, and hey we can't complain about nameless dealers and hookers who hang out BY the BP, we can't beat up ont he nameless homeless squatters who live in the vacant homes AROUND the BP, and well we have a long history of not holding those same JSO officers who are whining with everyone else at SHADCO for not enforcing the loitering, open container, and drug dealing laws currently on the books.

If it is too difficult for the police to enforce the laws currently on the books, how in the world can you expect a property owner to do it?

[fsu813]

.. has not been cooperative with JSO ..