Enough is enough

Great and encouraging news. The two problem houses on our block, that I write about often, have each improved dramatically recently.

The first, a house on the corner of Bruce Randolph and Marion, has been a consistent nuisance since we moved into the neighborhood. Mostly because the owners have left the home vacant, and haven't aggressively policed their property from the frequent drug users and dealers that have used that house, and the street corner adjacent to it, as their home base.

How this house cleaned up is simple--The police finally adopted a zero-tolerance policy for individuals illegally hanging out on the property, as well as frequently contacting individuals loitering in front of it. In these two actions, they not only arrested numerous dealers and users, but have set a precedent in the area that it is no longer "safe" to hang out and buy or sell drugs there. What used to be a magnet for criminal activity now is safe for the rightful residents of the neighborhood to pass by unharassed and unsolicited, as well as wait safely for the RTD buses.

The second house to show improvement is the one that I've described that houses a motley collection of brothers, sisters and cousins all living free in the home of their aging and failing mothers. I'm sure I'll get flamed for saying this, but the reasons why the residents have cleaned their act up I think is a perfect illustration of some of the principles evangelized by George Kelling and one of his key disciples, William Bratton (formerly chief of the New York City Police Department, now chief of the LAPD) in the Broken Windows theory. Namely, that if troublemakers realize that their disorderly and criminal behavior is no longer acceptable in a neighborhood, they'll either clean up their act or just move on.

Why do I say this? First, because the presence by the police has been so great on the block, the drug-dealing son has almost comletely moved his "operation" somewhere else--The end result being a dramatic reduction to the formerly ubiquitous stream of buyers coming by their house at all hours of the night. It was still happening over there, but very infrequently, instead of all the time.

But since day one, and even with the recent increased pressure by the police, the one straight son that we know of at the house, a guy that is in general a really intelligent, neighborly fellow, has looked the other way as his other family members buy, sell, and use illegal drugs and bring the criminal element into his yard and house.

But a couple weeks ago, as I was out watering the grass, I waived and greeted him as normal, and he came over to me to chat. The nature of the conversation was very interesting. Basically, that he had reached his breaking point and had told some of his family members "enough is enough". He sounded as tired as we were of the almost daily occurrence of drunken shouting matches, strangers coming by at all hours, family members bringing drug addicts over, and his family being arrested.

What had caused him to reach this crossroads? A family friend had come by one day and told him "Man, your mother's house is a nuisance." That apparently hit home for him, that their house--His mother's house--was viewed that way. And the fact that the city could take the house away from his mother, if it continued to be such a problem. The neighborhood had changed, and what used to be acceptable behavior on the block, was no more.

"I can't tell you what to do, because that's your business..." he said he told them, "but you're not going to do it here anymore, not in my mama's house."

Which is all we've ever wanted. Just law-abiding neighbors, that's all. Black, white, Hispanic, whatever. Just take care of your home and don't perpetuate the neighborhood's history of drugs, crime and violence.

He's always been a diamond in the rough of that household. He's super friendly, intelligent, and has welcomed us since day one. And I'm glad to have him as a neighbor, and friend. And 100% happy now that he's drawn his own line in the sand.