[StBernard] Behavior

[Westley Annis]

"I am getting very concerned about the behavior in St. Bernard.  People are
acting like there is no law, like we are back in the old west and anything
goes.  I am very happy to be returning to the parish.  Every week there are
major improvements with the clean up and the re-building of homes and
businesses, but people's behavior is getting worst.  I have seen people
racing up and down Judge Perez like there is no speed zone.  I have seen
people driving across lawns with no hesitation.  Another major issue is that
people are letting their children run free.  Many people are moving into new
neighborhoods, and the old neighbor's welcome you, but please respect the
old neighbors and their boundaries. The children of these new families are
learning their new neighborhood, like children do, but they are going
through others houses/yards.  They are going in areas that are not cleaned
up and they are looting/picking up things left in other people's yards that
do not belong to them.  I am not sure if they know they are looting, but
they are. I would hate to have one of these children get hurt/shot by a
returning home owner not knowing what is going on.  Yes, we are in a real
mess, but we need to stop and step back and look at the real importance and
that is respecting others.  We do not have much left, our yards/houses may
be a mess, but it is ours, and we do not need others to disrespect us, but
disrespecting our property. Concerned resident"

***Sounds like St. Bernard before Katrina <smile>...

Actually, I didn't expect anything less. If everyone's residence where a
trailer)does not exist (and in some cases, with trailers), looting,
lawlessness, speeding around, "Kids Gone Wild!", etc., it would be similar
to a ghost town or the old mining west where drinking, gunshots by men on
horses speeding, etc. for entertainment. Many crooks take advantage of
communities and exploit their criminal activities when the law is sparse and
seems paltry. It reminds some of just short of Iraq's police force of
disrespect of the law. I would have to say. When I return, my firearm is
with me and no one had better be in my home. I can't afford going in and
someone turns around and shoots my family trying to escape. We didn't write
the rule about returning to homes, and sometimes it doesn't pan out.
Therefore, since deputies are not around to escort everyone into, while
there, and leaving their humble abode, it's left to us and "ya gotta do what
ya gotta do". At the moment, it's the wild west, but east of Baton Rouge).
It's a sorry though, but we're not getting the help we need in this
situation.


Jer