Friday, November 20, 2009

Where's a guy supposed to go?

So I just got my District 2 Newsletter, which included notes about the seasonal removal of "portolets" (Porto-Johns, Ameri-Cans, you know) from many parks. And I quote: "It is that time of year when we reduce the amount of portable toilets in our parks since permitted activities drastically drop off until spring."


So long story short, the discrete places for "the regulars" (you know, drunks, riff raff, hood rats, gang-bangers and crack-heads) are going to be rapidly diminished very soon.

Fair enough, but it's not the permitted activities that are the problem... it's the non-permitted (and even illegal) activities that are the problem. (Again, drunks, riff-raff, hood rats, gang-bangers and crack-heads.) I'm no physician, but when you pretty much live on a streetcorner, and consume a quart of Kentucky-D every hour or so, you're going to have to go at some point.

Where's a crack-head or drunk go to the bathroom when these toilets are removed? I'll tell you, because I know it first-hand. They go in your back alley, or worse yet, right out front. Even on your neighbor's house. And it's not always that quick number one we're talking about. (Nothing like seeing your neighborhood drunk defacate on your neighbor's house... A happy Memorial Day it was!).

But then again, this guy did it two doors down from his own house. "I really had to go..." he said. There likely could be a "portolet" on every corner in Cole and you'd still see "the regulars" doing their business in public.

Like looking forward to the changing of the leaves in fall, winter in Cole has a unique charm all its own.

Monday, November 02, 2009

Progress on the 3700 Block of Franklin is happening fast!

Has anyone been over on the 3700 block of Franklin lately? I posted a couple weeks ago how the cool old building on the NE corner of 37th and Franklin was being fixed up. Also, a duplex on the block just got a very tasteful flip. Now the awesome old "Railroad Overall Laundry" building is being renovated. No idea what the story is, but guessing it will be a residence like the similar building a few doors north. Looks like it's already on someone's radar, too. Boy, that block is changing fast! Great stuff!