| Author | Message | ||
     Just The Aunt Supporter Username: Auntof13 Post Number: 5073 Registered: 1-2004  |
Maybe the best thing to do with the library is to close it for the first hour or so school lets out? I think it comes down to lack of respect. When I was a kid one wouldn't do 1/4 of what the kids in the libraries do nowadays. If we did, we'd be tossed out on our ear... | ||
| Bajou Citizen Username: Bajou Post Number: 378 Registered: 2-2006 |
Just: Always knew why I liked you! How about this, identify the children that cause the problem then go to their parents and tell them that there will be an after school room available at the school but a pool of the parents have to alternate to supervise. Otherwise your kid ether behaves or will get in trouble. I know it's hard with most parents being working parents. Hey I am one but the kids are getting the wrong message. Bet you these kids would not behave like this at home. They just feel unsupervised. People in the library can't cope cause they can't punish for bad behavior. How about any kid that misbehaves at the library has to spend a couple hours on Saturday or Sunday and sort books. And again ... if you see it call it. You would be amazed ... most kids will apologize when an adult turns around and confronts bad behavior. I have made it a point now because I am fed up by it. Not at the Library but at Mountain Station where every school day afternoon about 60 kids wait for the train. When I first moved here twenty or so would go on the train track and pick up rocks for everybody. They then would proceed to pelt the station building with a couple hundred rocks. After a year I got pissed because I could even sit in my yard without getting pelted. I walked out and started yelling at them. Needless to say a couple of wise a..es yelled back so I took my dog and walked over. Was pretty quiet real soon. I also did get on the school which was by the way not horrible, scary and racist CHS but good old Seton Hall Prep. They assigned a monitor until the train came. It's peacefull here now.. most of the time. But every so often that crazy lady will walk over and tell them to cut the crap. | ||
| james brown Citizen Username: James_brown Post Number: 22 Registered: 5-2006 |
Everyone seems so happy about white people moving away from town . Here's a question for you. What kind of town will Maplewood be when the last white family leaves? Is this what black people want? Allow me to tell you a true story. When I got married 25 years ago,my wife and I moved back to Maplewood. She was originally from Cranford. I bragged long and hard about what a great town Maplewood was. My wife was a little skeptical. Anyway the first week we lived in Maplewood there was a cross burning on Walton road, because a black family moved in. We were shocked, upset and embarrassed by this. Maplewood has changed and evolved since then. My family, and my mom and dad never considered WHITE FLIGHT. We were and are happy to stay and live and let live. Not only have almost all our long time white friends moved, but during what I will call our war with the gangstas, many fine black families left as well. One family whose little girl had been hit in the face with a rock thrown by a gangsta moved despite the fact the dad was a hero state trooper. He moved his family rather than fight this war! Another black family moved in spite of the fact the dad was the founder of NAGS (NEIGHBORS AGAINST GANGS). At least on my street we have a new term for the dictionary- Black flight! Both families were very up front about why they left. They felt many of the problem black teens(gangstas) wanted to turn our peaceful, quiet neighborhood into a ghetto. This was the term THEY used.} They left rather than subject thier families to that way of life! The issues are not about race- hard as that may be to believe. They are about behavior, and parenting, and respect for town and nieghborhood. So tell me- what will Maplewood be like when the last white family leaves. I for one want to know. | ||
| Bajou Citizen Username: Bajou Post Number: 381 Registered: 2-2006 |
Dear James: That was by far your most intelligent post but I can assure you I would not leave town because of blacks. I might leave it because I can't afford to buy here or even if for some reason I could suddenly do so I couldn't affoed the taxes. I live right on the border to Orange and I have problems here too. However I don't attribute them to color but to lack of parenting. Have you talked to the parents of these kids and if it is to the point of being dangerous then call the cops. Hey call them twenty times a day if you have to. Have a block party and invite all the kids that cause trouble. Talk to them and treat them like the human beings they are. Hey Glock why not join the effort and actually make a difference. I am game. What do you say... Let's give it a shot and maybe it'll work and if it doesn't then we didn't loose much. Hey Brooklytonj what do you think? | ||
| Scully Citizen Username: Scully Post Number: 488 Registered: 8-2005 |
james brown; I think people are happy when BIGOTED white people move out or at least that's the sense I get. It's not a given that the next family won't be white too. And not everything comes doen to race. I was raised in the Caldwells 50 plus (oh my!) years ago. Lily white. And STILL there were all sorts of tensions in the neighborhood. | ||
| crabby Citizen Username: Crabbyappleton Post Number: 620 Registered: 1-2004 |
I think that is what james brown said, that it's not race, it's behavior. Unfortunately, people like glock like to say it's the color not the behavior. | ||
| james brown Citizen Username: James_brown Post Number: 23 Registered: 5-2006 |
Perhaps I'm not hearing from black posters- I haven't heard anyone answer my question! What will Maplewood be like when the white people are gone? AND... Is this what black people want? | ||
| Tom Reingold Supporter Username: Noglider Post Number: 14340 Registered: 1-2003  |
James, my impression is that a great deal of people moving in, of all ethnic backgrounds, are seeking a diverse place. Or at least they are content with it and are aware that that is how Maplewood is billed. So I don't think blacks are hoping for Maplewood to become all black. And I don't imagine that it's likely to happen, so it's impossible to answer the question of what it will be like "when" it happens. But what do YOU think it would be like if it happened? You point out that the problems are not issues of race but rather of parenting and behavior. You point out that there are good and bad white kids and good and bad black kids. So I can imagine an all black town filled with folks who are both good and bad. Can you? | ||
| james brown Citizen Username: James_brown Post Number: 24 Registered: 5-2006 |
Dear bajou, you so don't get it. The rules the library needs to run properly are allready in place. They can throw anyone they want out.BUT THEY DON'T. Now why don't you guess why. If you can figure it out,you'll be ahead of the class. Here's a hint. The library staff is 99.99% white. | ||
| james brown Citizen Username: James_brown Post Number: 25 Registered: 5-2006 |
Tom I almost missed your post. You are right. I can imagine a town filled with all black people, good and bad. Here's 3 towns for you. Newark, Ivington,and Orange. Is this where Maplewoods future lies? | ||
| Phenixrising Citizen Username: Phenixrising Post Number: 1674 Registered: 9-2004  |
What will Maplewood be like when the white people are gone? AND... Is this what black people want? Seems you have nothing better in life but to seek confrontation JB. Get a life! And, that is the most assinine question thus far from you. If Black people wanted and all Black neighborhood, why did they move here HERE? @ Tom…good post. | ||
| Tom Reingold Supporter Username: Noglider Post Number: 14343 Registered: 1-2003 |
James, I realize that Newark and Orange are mostly black and Irvington is almost entirely black. They are also very predominantly poor. Well, Orange doesn't seem as poor, but it's close. East Orange seems very poor. If you want to look at trends, I think it's more useful to look at economic trends. There's a correlation between poverty and bad behavior. And certainly there are important exceptions, but as far as trends go, you have to admit there are connections. I don't see Maplewood getting poorer. In fact, I see it getting richer, quickly. Did you know that South Orange has a higher concentration of upper income blacks than anywhere else? Maplewood could become like that. So if Maplewood ended up becoming more black but also richer, the town would improve. But that improvement would have nothing to do with the predominance of blacks. So the trends in the poorer neighboring towns don't trouble me. | ||
| Bajou Citizen Username: Bajou Post Number: 382 Registered: 2-2006 |
Dear james: The fact that adults are too chicken to inforce existing rules is not the fault of the kids. Do they only let black kids brake the rules or any color kids? Frankly that is not only unfair but plain assed stupid. There is a police officer outside that is a crossing guard in case they need "reinforcement". My god our world has really taken a turn for the worse when we are no longer able to turn around to a kid and say.."Listen buddy cut it out. (kid blah blah blah) What did you say? What is your name and your moms telefone number and if you give me lip one more time I won't bother to call..I'll stop by tonight and speak to her in person. Please don't tell me there are only black kids there .. I drive by there alot. Can I just point something out to you though. I sense alot of fear from you. You are afraid of the kids, your kids are afraid of the kids in CHS. What's going on with that? Why do you seem to be the only one who feels constantly threatened by young black youths? Do you or your kids have black friends? To steel the lyrics from a good old and now single man: Ebony and ivory live together in perfect harmony Side by side on my piano keyboard, oh lord, why dont we? We all know that people are the same where ever we go There is good and bad in evryone, We learn to live, we learn to give Each other what we need to survive together alive. Maybe you see threats that are not meant as such but just kids being kids. Maybe you are overly sensitive and your fear might be trickling down to your kids. I mean I know your neighborhood..it ain't that bad... | ||
| james brown Citizen Username: James_brown Post Number: 26 Registered: 5-2006 |
Dear P-RISING I think youv'e lost your tiny brain. Here is a History lesson for you. 30 years ago Maplewood was all white. Got that? Now Einstein if it could all white, why not all black? What are you a racist? If we can't even share a fact, a common reality, how will we ever live together. From what I get from this site, I don't believe we ever will. All over the DIVERSITY thread, and on this thread people keep insisting it's just fine for the people moving out to do so. Fine. Is it possible that not everyone leaving is joined in white flight? Is it possible that it is the behavior of a large group of people who don't respect the town or it's people who are causing families to leave? How BRAINLESS AND STUPID do we have to be to just say good, go you're just a bunch of racists anyway. Were the black families who left my street because of the gangsta assh***** racist? how bout it????????????????? Don't fix a thing - it's all great WHAT A CROK | ||
| Bob K Supporter Username: Bobk Post Number: 11557 Registered: 5-2001 |
When we moved to Maplewood, in 1979, Maplewood wasn't all white. My recollection is that the town was about 15% African American, although I will give you that there was a lot of conflict and worry that Maplewood would become Irvington. Tom, wealth is an issue in Maplewood. While parts of the Town are becoming more wealthy, other parts aren't keeping up with the trend, or at least didn't as reflected in the 2000 census. Unfortunately these trends are race based. | ||
| C Bataille Citizen Username: Nakaille Post Number: 2622 Registered: 5-2001 |
Tom, sometimes higher SES actually means more attitudes of entitlement and "my parents can/will just hire a lawyer to get me out of trouble" and bigger unsupervised allowances going for drug purchases, for kids of any race. Here's an example of an "intervention" I did recently after my car was stolen. I happened to be home when a group of h.s. kids (black males as it happened) walked down my block on their way home from school. My rental car (cheap, boring KIA) was across the street. As they walked by, two of the kids slowed down and looked inside. I was upstairs and saw/heard them from my window. I called out to them: "Excuse me, are you interested in that car?" They looked up, surprised and said "What?" To which I replied: "I said, are you interested in that car? Because a car was stolen in this neighborhood recently and if you're looking into that car someone might think you were interested in stealing it." One kid said "Oh, sorry!" and they all started to move on. I turned away from my window and hear what sounded like "..K You" I turned back and said "What did you say?!" The kid replied: "I said Thank You!" He sounded sincere. I said "You're welcome!" And the incident was over. So the kids learned that people are observing their behavior and are willing to call them one it. And they responded appropriately. And I learned (again) that it's worth sticking my neck out instead of sitting around fuming or scared. I've been known to call kids out on cursing (especially in front of my kid) or bullying one another or what appears to be date abuse/violence. Most of us tend to behave better when we know others are watching us. Kids/teens are no different. I've also called the police when trash talking turns into fighting or a sudden host of kids descends on the local park, all talking hurriedly into their cell phones or grouping together to watch whatever is about to come down. I'm not going to wait for a serious problem. I'm happy to let the police sort it out. If it's nothing or if a fight can be averted, great. | ||
| Phenixrising Citizen Username: Phenixrising Post Number: 1675 Registered: 9-2004 |
Dear P-RISING I think youv'e lost your tiny brain. Here is a History lesson for you. 30 years ago Maplewood was all white. Got that? Now Einstein if it could all white, why not all black? What are you a racist? tiny brain? racist? (((Sigh))) Sorry to disappoint you JB. Far from it. And you? Ya know bad behavior comes in ALL colors! And I'm seeing a display of that by your posts! if we can't even share a fact, a common reality, how will we ever live together. From what I get from this site, I don't believe we ever will. That's an insult to some of the good folks who contribute POSITIVE solutions on diversity et al. Guess Big Poppa was right about you. Peace out!  | ||
| Bajou Citizen Username: Bajou Post Number: 384 Registered: 2-2006 |
Dear JB -You gonna answer my post or did I hit the nail on the head! By the way...Maplewood was not all white..I am not even sure what the heck you are talking about anymore. My exhusband (white in case it makes a difference) grew up here and I know lots of black friends he grew up with. Ask mem, she grew up here and was kind enough to introduce me to a bunch of her school friends (all colors and yes black) By the way you never answered my post about making an effort to meet with them? Maybe you don't really want a solution ... you are not really open to trying anything. James I really think you need to address something. Your reality is so far away from everybody elses experiences.. I think you might want to look at this link: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Negrophobia C BAT - YES THANK YOU!! The world needs more crazy ladies (or men..don't know what you are) like me. Come on all of you let's make a pact. Let's call it out when we see it..Hey it takes a village right well then let's be a village. Tell'em off when a kid is rude, fresh, obnoxious and basically a pain in the a..! Not rude not mean not childischly but as an adult because this behavior will not be rewarded later in the childs life. | ||
| james brown Citizen Username: James_brown Post Number: 27 Registered: 5-2006 |
Dear bajou, in the world of Rev. AL, the people who run our town are too afraid to have the race card thrown at them to enforce any rules. They are not afraid of white law suits, because they are white! They are only afraid of black law siuts. They know it doesn't matter if the suits are justified- they will have to spend real money fighting them WELCOME TO THE REAL WORLD. All I want is for one set of rules to be enforced for all people regardless of race creed,sexuall orientation etc. Please tell me what is wrong with that??????????????????????????????????????????????????????? It is so very cheap and tacky to deflect every problem by calling people racists. I have never stood in front of a black persons home and screamed HEY NIGG** WE'RE GONNA GET YOU. I NEVER TOLD SOMEONES WIFE TO SUCK MY **** These things have been done to my family. I never wanted a war on my street, I built my home with my family and had no reason to believe we couldn't live happily ever after. The war was not my choice , nor is it over, and still people, from the GOOD SIDE OF TOWN choose not to see what is happening here. I blame the town, the mayor and the council for letting things get so bad and turning a blind eye. For those who suggested I move, forget it. Nobody beats me . Nobody pushes me out. I have the police, some good neighbors, my dog, bat, and chain. I don't care what color Maplewood is. It should be a decent place to raise a family. People should be able to walk in a park, or study at the library, or swim laps at the pool. My family has never been the problem in Maplewood. We are good neighbors to anyone who respects our neighborhoodand our town | ||
| james brown Citizen Username: James_brown Post Number: 28 Registered: 5-2006 |
Just for the record, there were three black students in my graduating class at MMs in 69. That doesn't sound like an all white town to you? YOR MATH SUCKS | ||
| james brown Citizen Username: James_brown Post Number: 29 Registered: 5-2006 |
PS idon't have negrophobia, I have GANGSTAPHOPIA and so do most people with a brain | ||
| harold Citizen Username: Harold Post Number: 373 Registered: 5-2001 |
Oh James, don't you realize there is no crime, gangstas, poor schools, problems at the pool and library ? Come have a latte with me in the Village and we'll discuss!!!!! | ||
| Hoops Citizen Username: Hoops Post Number: 1372 Registered: 10-2004  |
JB - you are guilty of massive thread drift. If you have issues staying on topic about CHS, then please start a new thread called JBs Rants. That way you can go and complain your little heart away and no one will have any problems because you will set the topic. In fact may you should just start a blog where you throw slime and sludge, mangled ideas and low brow humor around as you see fit. However since this was suposed to be a thread about Mrs. Pollack and her accomplishments (or lack of) at CHS, I suggest you get back on topic. Right now you have told all of us that you are not in favor of civil conversation and instead prefer to drift into JB land where all things are <ahem> black and white. | ||
| crabby Citizen Username: Crabbyappleton Post Number: 623 Registered: 1-2004 |
What's wrong with the pool? I love the pool. | ||
| james brown Citizen Username: James_brown Post Number: 30 Registered: 5-2006 |
Go DUNK YOURSELF HOOPS. CHS is up and running better than many parts of town. SCREW PC how about making the whole town work. You know where you can stick your b& w comments. Drift THIS******* | ||
| Hoops Citizen Username: Hoops Post Number: 1374 Registered: 10-2004 |
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| james brown Citizen Username: James_brown Post Number: 31 Registered: 5-2006 |
Boy talk about DRIFT! | ||
| Parkbench87 Citizen Username: Parkbench87 Post Number: 4219 Registered: 7-2001  |
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| Phenixrising Citizen Username: Phenixrising Post Number: 1684 Registered: 9-2004 |
GOOD ONE Parkbench! | ||
| Bajou Citizen Username: Bajou Post Number: 393 Registered: 2-2006 |
Dear James: I am actually going to make a point of driving around your neighborhood in the next few days just to get a feeling of the front line gansta warfair you got going there. I might be wearing a bandana but don't go after me with your bat ok. (Oh and I am white and female so I should be a major target) Oh by the way that front line war language you mentioned...I have been told that by construction workers here in the city on my way to work. Man you would really freak if you were a woman. | ||
| Glock 17 Citizen Username: Glock17 Post Number: 953 Registered: 7-2005  |
Don't steal my daytons! | ||
| james brown Citizen Username: James_brown Post Number: 32 Registered: 5-2006 |
By all means come and say hi, but you would do better to camp out at the main library on Mon, or Tues.- any day at 3.30 except Fri. If you are looking for the gangstas on my street ,look at the corner of Jacoby and Boyden. Look for me on my porch- I promise you will be safe. Come and talk. JB P.S. That language you were referring to- imagine 4 men standing outside your mom's house yelling that at your mom. That's what my kids heard as they yelled at my wife. How would you like it, and what would your dad or boyfriend do? | ||
| Bajou Citizen Username: Bajou Post Number: 395 Registered: 2-2006 |
My dad has passed and I don't have a boyfriend (hint, hint at all you single poster men ..just kidding). I will be coming by since I am off for the week. Not sure what day though. I know I will be safe cause I have spent time in much much worse neighborhoods. Imagine you walk with your 15 year old daughter on your way to your job on "bring you daughters to work day" and you got four adult (white) men standing there and whistling at your daughter and calling me an MILF. I turned around and told them that I will be instrumental in getting them into the boys choir if they don't zip it. I also got the name of the construction company and called and complained. I know it sucks but I would just walk out there and walk right up to that kid till my nose is about 0.02 inches away from his nose and very directly ask him to repeat that one more time. See I just got that way after beeing a single mother of 2 for 15 years and pissed of with taking sh*t from people. Some call me harsh or too direct but others call me no nonsense and effective. My nickname in New Orleans was UMB (unsinkable Molly Brown). | ||
| james brown Citizen Username: James_brown Post Number: 33 Registered: 5-2006 |
Well take no -sh*t works for me. I chased those assh***s all over in my car- the police did not approve. I must admit- you mystify me. I have never turned away anyone who needed help on my street, I have always introduced myself to my new neighbors no matter what color they are, and I have never looked for a fight. In fact I have gone up agianst the bad guys over and over again,without ever losing my cool and hospitalizing them. People don't have to make my street better, but they don't have the right to trash it either. On Sat. morning 6 am some of my new neighbors were beeping their horns . Why would anyone have to explain how rude that is? Do you get that on your street? A while ago 5 teens were going past my house Sun. 3 am. They were drunk, lewd, dissorderly, and when I told them to knock it off- I'm the bad guy. Infact I'm the racist badguy. Noone has the right to turn a decent neighborhood into a ghetto. I mean no dissrespect Bayjou, but I don't see where we are so different. I guess I am less PC than you. But... I respect anyone who stands up for themselves,instead of running away. Please come and find me- I'll make you a great cup of coffee and we can talk. | ||
| Bajou Citizen Username: Bajou Post Number: 396 Registered: 2-2006 |
The only difference between you and I is that I sleep through horns at 6AM. However I dont' find it shoking if teens are lewd and rude when they are drunk. I know adult men who get that way. Yeah you are going to be the bad guy when you tell them off but so what. They are kids, they are suppose to be mad at you when you throw a wrench into their grand, impromptu, Oh-won't it be fun plans. You are not supposed to be cool but why do you let everyhting bother you.. Pick your battles ... the once that are worth it. Constantly yelling and blaming them is not going to indear you to them either. See you think they are assh**s and they think you are a racist pig. That ain't gonna get you anywhere. I like my coffee with milk and splenda..and I'll bring the donuts... and the CD... You do somethin' to me, Somethin' that simply mystifies me, Tell me, why should it be? You have the power to hypnotize me . . . Let me live 'neath your spell, Do do that 'voodoo' that you do so well! For you do somethin' to me, That nobody else could do! Just kidding James...I am not flirting with you just thought your choice of words was funny (I mystify you  ) | ||
| K_soze Citizen Username: K_soze Post Number: 258 Registered: 11-2005  |
I managed to snap this pic of James Brown being mystified by Bajou  | ||
| crabby Citizen Username: Crabbyappleton Post Number: 630 Registered: 1-2004 |
There's an old adage...Kill 'em with kindness. | ||
| james brown Citizen Username: James_brown Post Number: 34 Registered: 5-2006 |
OK I give up ! I know when I'm licked.....................ALL OVER | ||
| Psychomom Citizen Username: Psychomom Post Number: 128 Registered: 5-2005 |
yeah James, those gangstahs just need a little love that's all and then maplewood will be perfect and wonderful again...WINK GRIN | ||
| Maplewood Parent Citizen Username: Mplwparent Post Number: 3 Registered: 11-2005 |
Wow sitting back and reading all of these posts really shows an ugly image of life in our two towns and how none of you get how precious life is, all life. Are the kids fueled by their own convictions or those of their parents? You, as a parent, do you teach them; right from wrong; good from bad; walk on the sidewalk not in the street; respect others as you think you should be respected; except that people are different; be nice to everyone not mean and cruel... As adults you are supposed to know better, be wiser, and educate the young! It is time to break the cycle, we are all equals, and we all must learn to live together. If we don't things will only get worse… |
