| Author | Message | ||
     Richard Citizen Username: Rikky Post Number: 77 Registered: 7-2005 |
Well life in South Orange just keeps getting better! My wife was walking with my 3 month old son on South Orange avenue today when what comes spilling out on the street but 30-40 kids from the Niecy's parking lot involved in what appeared to be some kind of after school gang fight. There were no cops around and everyone else just walked right by not seeming to care. If a mother and baby can't walk through the center of town in broad afternoon daylight without having to worry about things like this the town isn't safe for families. I'm outraged and sure hope I don't see apologists on this board saying this was just another instance in a series of unfortunate events. There continues to be an ever growing series of incidents of dangerous and/or criminal activities in 'safe' South Orange whether they should up in the official crime statistics or not. I think we need police presence during busy foot traffic periods e.g. commuting time and school recess. Anyone else hear about this? | ||
| Pizzaz Supporter Username: Pizzaz Post Number: 3267 Registered: 11-2001  |
I'm sorry to hear it. I trust the loved ones are home safe. How was the mayhem broken up? | ||
| Kitchenguru Citizen Username: Kitchenguru Post Number: 22 Registered: 9-2005 |
I didn't hear anything and the South Orange police and Mailbox etc. also in that parking lot haven't heard either. | ||
| growler Citizen Username: Growler Post Number: 909 Registered: 11-2001  |
What do we expect? SO does look like a war zone. | ||
| Agrackle Citizen Username: Agrackle Post Number: 20 Registered: 2-2004 |
How about taking the $250,000 we're spending on the Tony Smith sculpture to hire a couple extra cops? | ||
| Ace789nj Citizen Username: Ace789nj Post Number: 293 Registered: 2-2005  |
Now that's the best thing I've read on these boards ever  | ||
| Josh Holtz Citizen Username: Jholtz Post Number: 304 Registered: 4-2004 |
Just curious - how was it determined that this was, in fact, a gang fight? | ||
| Jen Sonstein Citizen Username: Formercowgirl Post Number: 1 Registered: 3-2006 |
I, too, want to know how this was determined to be a "gang" fight if no cops were around. Was it just a bunch of the middle school kids on their way home from school? I notice when I'm out with my toddler in the afternoons, it can be a little rowdy on SO avenue and near the library with teenagers. I've never seen an actual fight though. I hate to say it but I've gotten old enough where a bunch of rowdy teenage boys can make me a little nervous. LOL! | ||
| Dave Supporter Username: Dave Post Number: 8815 Registered: 4-1997  |
Richard has posted misinformation about crimes before. | ||
| Richard Citizen Username: Rikky Post Number: 78 Registered: 7-2005 |
Dave, you win a gold star for being the first apologist by claiming I spread misinformation! If you noticed my post, I put a question mark after the topic line. I'm not sure if it was gang related as in the crips versus the bloods, but there was a gang of kids at least 30. There were at least 4-6 kids in a multi-fight situation and they spilled onto south orange avenue The bottom line was it was dangerous to pedestrians and no one seemed to pay it much attention. Frankly I find that disturbing. | ||
| Kibbegirl Citizen Username: Kibbegirl Post Number: 404 Registered: 5-2003 |
Perhaps no one paid it much attention because nothing "dangerous" was going on. If there was actual fighting, I'm sure MailBoxes and the pharmacy would've called the cops. These are probably the same obnoxious kids who make mayhem at the S.O. library. A bunch of tweens who don't have to go straight home and keep themselves entertained by being loud and annoying to all. | ||
| Kibbegirl Citizen Username: Kibbegirl Post Number: 405 Registered: 5-2003 |
By the way, what time of day did this occur? I had my two little ones very near that spot a bit before 3:30 for their guitar lessons. Didn't hear or see a thing. | ||
| John Caffrey Citizen Username: Jerseyjack Post Number: 87 Registered: 11-2005 |
Having been around kids and having been one myself, I wonder if the episode consisted of two or a few kids going to "settle" things after school. This type of event will attract a large number of kids to become spectators. Yes, I do agree that it could become dangerous to passersby but it is not the same as a gang fight. | ||
| Jersey Boy Citizen Username: Jersey_boy Post Number: 295 Registered: 1-2006  |
Are you sure they weren't dancing? I mean look at these gangs.  Sometimes it's hard to tell the difference. | ||
| Debra Davidson Citizen Username: Peanutslady Post Number: 134 Registered: 5-2005  |
What I do not understand at all is were was the cop that is always directing traffic at South Orange Ave and Scotland Road? One would think he would radioed for more cops to brake up the gang fight. I very, very strongly feel there must be cops walking around the business district to make sure things like this never happen again. | ||
| cmontyburns Citizen Username: Cmontyburns Post Number: 1773 Registered: 12-2003  |
Richard: What did the police say when you (or your wife) called them about this incident? Also, just curious... how do you know they were gang members? Were they all carrying the same color lacrosse sticks? Thanks in advance. Sincerely, A Fellow Concerned Citizen | ||
| Dave Supporter Username: Dave Post Number: 8817 Registered: 4-1997 |
I saw this gang fight today on Sloan Street.  | ||
| Josh Holtz Citizen Username: Jholtz Post Number: 307 Registered: 4-2004 |
Richard's wife runs into these gang members all of the time - be it in the Montrose section or in the heart of town. Soon there will be no place to walk. | ||
| kegel Citizen Username: Kegel Post Number: 3 Registered: 2-2006 |
Why was this labeled a "gang fight?" Perhaps because these kids of a particular ethnicity? This leads me to ask why is it that if a large group of kids of one certain race converge it's assumed to be gang related, but if the kids are of another race then it's just a group of rowdy school-children in an afterschool fight? And I know most everyone know's which races to use to fill in the blanks. Sorry if I offend anyone, but I feel that this is what's really going on here. | ||
| Jersey Boy Citizen Username: Jersey_boy Post Number: 299 Registered: 1-2006 |
Which one's? The West Side Story dancers or the Martial arts master and the guys with the black suits. I just want to know what to look out for. | ||
| mrosner Citizen Username: Mrosner Post Number: 2633 Registered: 4-2002 |
From what I understand, it was kids hanging (and maybe horsing) around. Richard: Perhaps you would like to explain why your wife did not call the police. You claim others walked by seeming not to care. It would appear they did the exact same thing your wife did. Kept on walking and did not call the police even when she got to a place where she felt safe. Since no crime took place (at least none were reported) then yes, it it won't show up in any statistics. You still have not stated what evidence you have to show an increase in these types of incidents. | ||
| Just The Aunt Supporter Username: Auntof13 Post Number: 4245 Registered: 1-2004  |
Mark- I was going to ask the same thing. If I see something out of the ordinary, I'd call the police. For example, I called them shortly after I saw you . As I was getting back into my car I heard a man yelling 'Mr Policeman! Mr Policeman!' He was waving his arms try to get the attention of the police officer driving towards the circle thing on Sloan. The man kept walking back and forth by a car parked across from the station, and it was facing the wrong way. He seemed to be peeking in the car behind the driver's seat. By now I was in my car. I thought this was odd, so I called the police to inform them. Not too sure what actually happened; but I'm thinking someone might have been sick because a squad came. | ||
| Hoops Citizen Username: Hoops Post Number: 875 Registered: 10-2004  |
"Mark- I was going to ask the same thing. If I see something out of the ordinary, I'd call the police. For example, I called them shortly after I saw you ." I always call the police after I see Mark. | ||
| Just The Aunt Supporter Username: Auntof13 Post Number: 4247 Registered: 1-2004 |
 | ||
| mrosner Citizen Username: Mrosner Post Number: 2638 Registered: 4-2002 |
(they still have not caught me) | ||
| bettyd Citizen Username: Badjtdso Post Number: 110 Registered: 12-2005 |
This sounds like a rather innocuos incident. Let's hope so. However, on a related topic, there was a post a month ago or so that stated Maplewood had installed video cameras in 4 locations around town to monitor "gang activity." I aked for particulars but there was no response. Anybody know anything about that? True, untrue, just a rumor? | ||
| monster Supporter Username: Monster Post Number: 2369 Registered: 7-2002  |
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| Popo Citizen Username: Popo Post Number: 62 Registered: 1-2003 |
This incident doesn't sound "gang-related," but if it took place as described, it's far from "innocuous." When did brawling in the street become acceptable? So often I hear the terms "kids will be kids" and "boys will be boys" to excuse the inexcusable. Would those of you who are making light of this situation be so accepting if this were to happen in front of your house? | ||
| cmontyburns Citizen Username: Cmontyburns Post Number: 1774 Registered: 12-2003 |
We still don't know a single "fact" about this "incident." This is your standard rumor run wild on MOL. And if there was a single white face in the "gang" richard saw, I'll eat my hat. He saw a group of black kids (or, more specifically, his wife did), assumed it was a gang, and quickly barricaded himself inside his center hall colonial. | ||
| mrosner Citizen Username: Mrosner Post Number: 2641 Registered: 4-2002 |
Popo: Richard says he is outraged yet still did not call the police (and apparently his wife did not bother either). Richard says it took place in a parking lot, not in front of his house. A parking lot one block from village hall, yet she did not bother to make the detour to tell someone there to send police to the scene - and her husband says others seem not to care. What about the next mother walking with a stroller. I guess she did not care either. Richard also says there is an ever growing series of incidents yet offers no evidence or facts. Nobody said it was ok for kids to be brawling in the street, but one would think if a person was really concerned they would follow-up with a call. Plus the thread title seems to be a stretch from what might have taken place - because I know if I saw a fight with gang members, I would call the police ASAP. | ||
| Phenixrising Citizen Username: Phenixrising Post Number: 1456 Registered: 9-2004  |
And… here's another excerpt from Richard. Topic: What's it like to live near the University? Richard: “why would anyone look to move for the first time around seton hall? the ghetto that is vailsburg is a-knockin on your door. in 15 years the entire area will be overrun with the crack heads that wander downtown vailsburg just like what happened to east orange. for those who don't know east orange was THE place to live in the 50's. now you know why montrose has so many homes for sale and guess what? they aren't selling” See where this is going? Lot's of NEGATIVITY from this individual. Do a search and you'll find some other negative quotes from Richard about this town. | ||
| Mayor McCheese Supporter Username: Mayor_mccheese Post Number: 956 Registered: 7-2004  |
Phenixrising, that may be a bad thing Richard said about South Orange, but it is probably true. | ||
| bettyd Citizen Username: Badjtdso Post Number: 111 Registered: 12-2005 |
I'm not making light of the situation. Based on what I've read above (which is all the information I have about the situation) it sounds rather innocuous to me. I don't think it was a serious brawl because no one else has mentioned that it was. I assume if there was a huge brawl in downtown SO at 3:00 p.m. someone other than Richard would have seen it aqnd reported it. Whether it was kids fooling around or what, I don't know. Which leads me to repeat my question above. Does anyone have info of gang activity in Maplewood and the use of cameras to monitor the situation? | ||
| Phenixrising Citizen Username: Phenixrising Post Number: 1457 Registered: 9-2004 |
Mayor So within 15 years South Orange is going to be overunned by Crackheads? hmmm… they must be making good money to buy crack and to afford the taxes here. | ||
| Mayor McCheese Supporter Username: Mayor_mccheese Post Number: 957 Registered: 7-2004 |
Phenix, you don't have to believe it, but that doesn't mean things around here are not changing. (And not changing for the better) I have expressed this opinion in the past on this board, and still believe that 20 years from now that South Orange, the downtown area, will look much like Newark does today in the Vailsburg area. I hope that I am wrong, but I strongly suspect that I am right. It is a hard pill to swallow, especially for those living here; no one wants to be told that the area they live in will not last the test of time. | ||
| NORA Citizen Username: Norav Post Number: 148 Registered: 6-2004  |
At least we didn't have a shooting like Maplewood. I believe it was several days ago. Two people got shot but I have yet to hear anything else or even see it in the papers | ||
| Mayor McCheese Supporter Username: Mayor_mccheese Post Number: 958 Registered: 7-2004 |
Nora, I suppose that I shouldn't have limited my comment on to South Orange. Maplewood I would also include in there. | ||
| Richard Citizen Username: Rikky Post Number: 79 Registered: 7-2005 |
some summary thoughts. kegel, you should be careful accusing people you don't even know of racism. would i live in south orange if i had a problem with other races? John C., truth being stranger than fiction, the same exact thing happened again today at 3pm in the same spot! My wife didn't plan on being around that area at 3pm but her and her friend were walking with the babies and it just happened to coincide when they had to return to our house. What I believe happened is kids were once again 'settling' things after school and a group formed. One fight started and then one or two more spun off from that. While this doesn't appear to be gang related (as in crips versus bloods), what I find disturbing is this has happened on consecutive days. Now we all used to fight in school on occasion, but twice in a row? Yet another series of unfortuante events? Come on apologists, lets hear your story. You're starting to sound like Barry Bonds denying steroids. am i being negative? damn right. i see my neighborhood eroding around me with a BOT that has less decisive leadership than a school of fish. i'd like to be optimistic, but these series of unfortunate events just keep plaguing my view and perpetuating this negativity. | ||
| dave23 Citizen Username: Dave23 Post Number: 1438 Registered: 5-2001 |
What did the cops say when your wife called them? | ||
| Richard Citizen Username: Rikky Post Number: 80 Registered: 7-2005 |
the cops said it was probably just some after school kids having a fight and it happens on occasion. nothing to be concerned about. i begged to differ. no report was filed. i don't like to bother cops as i know they are overworked and understaffed. |
