| Author | Message | ||
     harpo Citizen Username: Harpo Post Number: 1326 Registered: 6-2001 |
Cyncialgirl, I think people have repeatedly told you that if you want answers to your questions, call the police. The chief is very community oriented and makes himself available to answer questions or can refer you to people who know. Don't expect to find accurate information on Maplewood Online. It's a place many people expoit to spread rumors for their own reasons. | ||
| Montagnard Citizen Username: Montagnard Post Number: 464 Registered: 6-2003 |
My son tells me that at MMS there are quite a few kids that proclaim themselves to be "gangsters". I'm sure this is just the empty talk of 12-13 year old boys, but it comes from somewhere. I'm not sure that denial is best response. | ||
| michael Citizen Username: Michael Post Number: 500 Registered: 1-2002 |
First of all, Marie receives a phone call from an eyewitness. This eyewitness and local resident describes the incident in great detail.. Someone who lives right there, walked out of the house and saw it all happen. Yet… yet….. According to Kathy she (Marie) “seems to consistently overstate the case" !!! Disgusting. Cut the CRAP ! Enough already! Kathy read... read for content. Second if anyone "consistently" does anything around here it's you who "consistently" scrambles to downplay any incidents that might be a negative for the “sacred” image of the town” (read real-estate values). How DARE you knowingly try to obfuscate the truth when the safety of our children and other residents are at stake What does Marie possibly have to gain by “overstating” the case as you put it. You think we want our real estate prices to go down? Think Kathy. Think. It’s your motives are obvious and your credibility keeps taking a nose dive. No one wants bad publicity for the town. Especially those of us barely keeping our heads above water in order to just afford to live here ! What’s it going to take ? Where’s your line, or do you have one ? A drive by shooting? How will you spinthat ? All I can say is , “Shame on you .” And Harpo ... same goes for you. | ||
| bklyntonj Citizen Username: Bklyntonj Post Number: 191 Registered: 7-2003 |
I must agree, whenever questions are asked that jeopardize the "prestige" of Maplewood, people become very sensitive and defensive here on MOL. On a more positive note, constant complaining and gripes from the comunity definitely gets the right attention and changes made for the better. Question, isn't our police force big enough to post a squad car outside of CHS & MMS when school let's out? Their presence would make a great difference and deter many of the problems or outsiders from coming to Maplewood. | ||
| harpo Citizen Username: Harpo Post Number: 1331 Registered: 6-2001 |
bklyntonj, Why not call the police chief with your questions? | ||
| harpo Citizen Username: Harpo Post Number: 1332 Registered: 6-2001 |
Michael, Your rhetoric and Marie's rhetoric is consistently over the top and unreliable. I've checked it out with responsible officials in town and encourage others to do the same. The two of you are afraid, granted. You constantly try to portray those of us who aren't living in fear, who instead approach these issues reasonably and methodically, as out of touch with reality when it comes to "gangs" in the schools. People need to be told where they can find accurate information. Anybody can play this game about anything. I could post over and over again on MOL that Maplewood is fire trap, it's an arson's playground and I keep smelling smoke and where is the government and is the fire department doing it's job? I could probably even scare up a posse of neighbors to videotape every backyard barbecue and every cigarette flung from a car window, anybody seen carrying a gas can, tracking down every story of kid's playing with matches and berating everybody who didn't share my sense of doom and terror about the incompetence of the Democrats who run the town. And if there actually was a fire in somebody's house -- well! Wasn't I right? Didn't I tell everybody! By the way, I noticed at the very end of Marie's other hysterical post on this subject that she wrote: "I have formed a group that will document on film and video any and all legal transgression that take place in and around the High School." Really? You've formed a group to do this? Have you thought to consult with other parents about this? Or the school? I don't know about other people in town, but I've been taught by police authorities that when I see adults photographing or videotaping students around the schools, I should call the police for the protection of the students, and I understand why that is the right thing to do. I think there is more cause for concern in your over-the-top actions than in the doodling of a second grader. I hope the absence of any mention of this "film crew" in this post means you have abandoned the idea. | ||
| michael Citizen Username: Michael Post Number: 501 Registered: 1-2002 |
Please share with us who your "responsible sources" are and exactly what they said.. Harpo you either play the fool extremely well or you really are one. There is not a single private citizen in this town that has gathered more information utilizing a huge variety of reputable, unbiased sources then Marie has. Yet ... No we should listen to.... ta dah "Harpo" Fine. N’ough said. --- Please continue… I’m done The people can and decide for themselves, so please, post away. If any one would like more details and other information on this issue, please private line Marie. PS “Harpo” As for your videotaping comments, laughable and pathetic. a new low (even for you) Wha' ya think it’s illegal? (Not) Or do you just personally "not care" for that sort of thing? Think it’s “hysterical” . (why is everything “hysterical” with you ?) Well guess where the suggestion comes from “Harpo”. The Director of the Essex County Gang Task Force. Hello ? Another “hysterical” person, I’m sure. And furthermore, who the hell are you? | ||
| kathy Citizen Username: Kathy Post Number: 792 Registered: 5-2001 |
Michael, Popo (who seems to have a direct line to the police) says that no one "jumped out" of a car, and yet Marie's eyewitness is quoted as saying just that. So how much nitpicking do we have to do here? The police have said on numerous occasions that there are not gangs in our schools, so I consider Marie's headlining of this thread as "Superintendent's response to gangs in SOMA schools" to be intentionally inflammatory. The incidents referenced above were instigated by people coming in from another town. And I don't want Marie videotaping my kid after school, either. That's just creepy. | ||
| lumpynose Citizen Username: Lumpyhead Post Number: 770 Registered: 3-2002  |
As the gangs grow in Irvington and the animosity between certain CHS students and Irvington students escalates, it's only a matter of time before an life threatening incident occurs. Put cameras outside the schools. | ||
| Tom Reingold Citizen Username: Noglider Post Number: 2336 Registered: 1-2003  |
As the number of hours the average person spends in a car increases each year, it's only a matter of time before someone gets hurt or killed in a collision. Take action now! Lower the national speed limit to 50 MPH. And consider banning motor vehicles in the future. If only one life can be saved, isn't it worth it? How could we dare fail to do something that could save lives? Tom Reingold the prissy-pants There is nothing | ||
| lumpynose Citizen Username: Lumpyhead Post Number: 772 Registered: 3-2002 |
That towel has been on your head for too long Prissy. | ||
| harpo Citizen Username: Harpo Post Number: 1336 Registered: 6-2001 |
No, Michael, I did not say listen to me. I recommended, quite plainly, that people to talk to the police and other officials themselves. I didn't offer an opinion about whether Marie forming a group to film and video CHS students was illegal. I said my concern was protecting the students. I want students at CHS and elsewhere to be delivered a clear and consistent message that if adults they don't know film and videotape them, they should report that activity to authorities, no questions asked. I want adults who see people filming and videotaping students, or hanging around schools with cameras, to do the same. Were you planning to wear double-sided sandwich signs saying "I am not a pedophile" --? I believe CHS students deserve to have their privacy respected. And parents should have a say in whether their children are being filmed and videotaped. I'll find out what the director of the Essex County Gang Task Force thinks from the director of the Essex County Gang Task Force. | ||
| J. Crohn Citizen Username: Jcrohn Post Number: 974 Registered: 3-2003 |
"Were you planning to wear double-sided sandwich signs saying "I am not a pedophile" --?" You go, Harpo. Everybody knows the only people who videotape adolescent misbehavior are pedophiles. | ||
| michael Citizen Username: Michael Post Number: 502 Registered: 1-2002 |
Kathy : The police are employed by.... The Town of Maplewood. The Police chief is an employee of the Township Committee by appointment (no?) Any "official answer" you receive has been directly approved the Chief of Police. I believe that officers DO NOT and are restricted from giving such information WITHOUT direct approval from the chief. Read between the lines. | ||
| Nohero Citizen Username: Nohero Post Number: 3001 Registered: 10-1999  |
Okay, cutting to the chase: Does anyone think that our law enforcement professionals would lie to a citizen, such as Kathy, who asked a direct question about this issue? | ||
| harpo Citizen Username: Harpo Post Number: 1343 Registered: 6-2001 |
Oh for heaven's sake. Next they'll be telling us the numbers that show crime has been going down in Maplewood are all a conspiracy too. Maybe what Michael means is we should do away with the TC and the police chief and make Marie Maximum Leader. Read between the lines. (Sure we don't have to first sound it out?) Since I'm in a mood to pile on, I'd just like to say that I'm agnostic about school security cameras outside the school. I'd have to learn more. But at least we know whatever security tapes are made by schools are going to remain in the control of the school. Michael will go ballistic, but I will point out that Marie likes to keep copious files of MOL posts to deploy politically out of context. (Hey, read between the lines.) Those of us nutty enough to post here deserve what we get from Marie, but I think students entering and leaving CHS being videotaped and edited by Marie is wrong. Can we all trust Marie's judgment about what adolescent behavior is acceptable and what's not and promises that only what's illegal will be taped? Well, Marie has a history of making unverified accusations and jumping the gun to make others look in the worst possible light. I recall from past posts of Marie's that she's suspicious of all kinds of behavior she encounters in public that isn't illegal, but just very suspicious to her. Will students be videotaped for making hand signals to each other? For their wardrobe choices? For telling her to buzz off (only more colorfully)> Michael, Marie: Have you thought about joining the Auxilliary Police Force? If we're going to have a police state in Maplewood, perhaps it would be nicer if at least it was a trained police state. | ||
| harpo Citizen Username: Harpo Post Number: 1344 Registered: 6-2001 |
Sorry Nohero. Our posts crossed. That "for heaven's sake" wasn't in response to you. | ||
| lumpynose Citizen Username: Lumpyhead Post Number: 775 Registered: 3-2002 |
A lot of crime in Maplewood is not reported to the paper or MOL. Believe me on this. Columbia has an issue with gangs but it's in it's infancy stage. My CHS tells me that there are wannabee gang members in Maplewood. For whatever reason, this is pissing off the real gang members in Irvington. Go figure. | ||
| Tom Reingold Citizen Username: Noglider Post Number: 2337 Registered: 1-2003 |
I realize I risk sounding like I feel there's nothing to worry about and nothing to do. I don't. My aim is to put things in perspective so we do what we should, but not more. A lot of crime everywhere is not reported. And because of that, it's impossible to say if the unreported crime in one place is a larger percentage of all crime than it is in another place. Tom Reingold the prissy-pants There is nothing | ||
| lumpynose Citizen Username: Lumpyhead Post Number: 777 Registered: 3-2002 |
Tom- I meant unreported in the paper but not unreported when it comes to crime stats. I know of an instance where an older couple was having a small dinner party in the vicinity of Maplecrest area. After dinner they went to the livingroom to drink coffee and heard a very large crash. Someone had thrown a large rock through their kitchen picture window to steal a pocketbook that was on the table. I never read about this but I am sure the police reported it in their stats but not to the News Record. I don't know what the criteria is for reporting crime or how it works. The murder on Richmond Avenue was reported but left people with the impression it was a passion crime and not likely to happen to them. WRONG. That could have happened to any woman home alone, it was a crime of opportunity from a fellow living right in Irvington. In fact he did attack another woman a few months later but failed since she was not alone in the house. |
