Comments on Silver Spring, Singular: Downtown Silver Spring Sinks to New Low

These teenagers and pathetically enough adults jo...

2009-09-19T20:37:55.616-05:00

These teenagers and pathetically enough adults joining gangs from 3,000 miles away or gangs period is sad, and pathetic this liberal approach is not working these animals laugh at this approach they should be delt with accordingly mcpd could take a cue from the pg police of 15 years ago cowards run in packs

This is diversity and multiculturalism in action. ...

2009-03-19T11:33:00.000-05:00

This is diversity and multiculturalism in action. Of course, the liberals pushing the sort of policies that encourage this behavior never seem to have to deal with the consequences of the policies themselves.

Springvale Roader wrote:Let me tell you: E.J. Olmo...

2009-03-12T13:44:00.000-05:00

Springvale Roader wrote:

Let me tell you: E.J. Olmos' face in high def on AFI's big screen is a geography of wonder.

And in the modern day, given the context of his current series and the popular phrase:

His face is a map of the worlds. All twelve of them! Or is that 13? How many worlds is that, again?

Incredibly strong actor and definitely has the whole thing of 'gravitas' and 'dignitas' down to a science.

Personally, I have yet to make it down to the AFI, I have been to the Majestic but didn't have to deal with noisy kids because I caught a matinee on a weekday.

There is, at present, a total dearth of movie theaters out here in Council District 4. Thus, I watch a lot of cable.

BTW -- in a related development, Dan Reed over at Just Up the Pike quotes one of the organizers of this event:

"We're going to let the community know that the youth have the power," 19-year-old Herson Bautista, a Wheaton resident and member of Mixed Unity, said at the concert . . .

Meanwhile back in Aspen Hill, this is what we get instead of non-violent concerts.

Thomas,"Did you catch the performance of Olmos bac...

2009-03-12T11:56:00.000-05:00

Thomas,

"Did you catch the performance of Olmos back in the venerable classic "Blade Runner"? Bad skin. Superior performance. 'Latinos in Space' to quote the man himself."

But of course. In fact, a couple of years ago (or was it last year?) the missus and I went to see the new HD director's cut of "Blade Runner" at AFI. Being more of a movie trivia buff than she, when Olmos' character showed up, I whispered to her, "Recognize him?" My wife said no. I whispered, "Check out the pock marks," and she said, "Adama!"

Let me tell you: E.J. Olmos' face in high def on AFI's big screen is a geography of wonder.

P.S. For reasons I cannot fathom, the theater was not even half full, thus, our whispering didn't disturb anyone. (It was "Bladerunner"!) As anyone who knows me can attest, I take quiet movie-viewing very seriously. Thus, my aversion to the Majestic.

Springvale Roader: Yes, Adama can glower with the ...

2009-03-11T22:28:00.000-05:00

Springvale Roader: Yes, Adama can glower with the best of 'em. Did you catch the performance of Olmos back in the venerable classic "Blade Runner"? Bad skin. Superior performance. 'Latinos in Space' to quote the man himself.

And your clarification is on target. We can't confuse individuals with statistics. It's one thing to say "my own ox was not gored" (to use a biblical referent) and it's another thing to say "few oxen were gored". It's another thing to say "A good time was had by all except me, 25 kids kicked my head all over the pavement and I'll be attending five funerals tomorrow, one of them my own". A relatively low number of victims is still victims. We don't need victims. But all I can say is that this is one of the biggest shows we've seen here in the County for a long long time, and with it all being done, more or less, what are the lessons learned? Number One, we need more and better bouncers and we need them mixed in with the crowd, not standing around guarding the door when the problem is already inside the hall. Sorry to bring in the metaphor from the bar scene, but I think it's closely apropos to the situation. BTW glad it was not you or your wife or any of us getting whipped-on by fools, and my apologies and condolences to any who did get on the bottom of those idiots' stomping feet.

A brief digression about our local police: a lot of people like to float them a raft of crap over this-or-that, but they are actually awfully good at tracking down suspects. I don't expect those same fools will be pulling the same stunts next time there's a show in DTSS.

And now then to Anonymous of March 11, 2009 10:11:00 AM who says:

I hope the Fillmore hosts a concert of radical punk and heavy metal bands. A concert that brings lots of anarchists wearing black and covered in tattoos to DTSS. This will scare the living shit out of old farts like "Dirty Harry" Hardman and the other "pro-family", prudish clique of Montgomery County residents. After all, the typical concert goer wants to overthrow the US government and smash capitalism to pieces--two things I support completely.

This is the classic case of some bonehead dipspit who hasn't got the slightest idea of to whom the frak they think to address.

Let's just say that 20 years ago I wore so much black that to this very day, special operations swat teams dressed as bushes in my back yard and practicing mad ninja skills on the oxycontin dealer they're surveilling the next block over have the audacity to declare that I think I'm dracula because I've been more goth as fsck on my own dime for 20 years than they get paid to be in the present day.

You want anarchy? Fine with me, bud. That means that there's no government to defend you when I sniper your ass because you are a clear and present danger because you're just a stupid little squab declaring fight the power when you don't realize that the power you're fighting is the only thing keeping seriously scary sociopaths from stocking their freezer with you in the starring role as their favorite road kill.

Lessen up, CHILD, I know about the scary white folks. You maybe think I want to have 10,000 brain-damaged skins moshing to RAHOWA or something? Get over yourself. Bad is bad, whether it's White Power Racialists or Anti-Racist Commie Upstarts From Twelve Thousand Countries In Solidarity For Whatever On Internet Because Blogging Is, Like, Um Cool, Ya Know.

What we're looking to do is to have places where all kinds of people can get together and have their say and listen to their music and if other people want to come on down and learn something, meet some people, that's all good.

Welcome to America, welcome to Freedom, welcome to the place where we let even nazis and KKK talk their rude scat because the test of freedom is what people are allowed to think and to say.

But as to what people are allowed to do?

Well alrighty then. Let's have some Hip Hop, yo. Let's have some folks up there glorifying abandonment of children, egregious misuse of recreational chemicals, murder of police officers, and subjugation of women.

Like I said, we let even nazis and KKK have freedom of expression.

Why not you, too?

Just STOP THE VIOLENCE, okay?

Or we'll stop it for you.

The weak ones are the artists crowing about keepin...

2009-03-11T13:40:00.000-05:00

The weak ones are the artists crowing about keeping it real when they glorify all this violence just to make a buck. It's no joke when it's you or your loved one.
Gangsta please, you work for UPS!

Springvale Roader said: Am I the only one who tho...

2009-03-11T11:06:00.000-05:00

Springvale Roader said: Am I the only one who thought his head would explode we he saw this headline in today's Gazette: "Violence won't stop future youth concerts"?

Um. No. No you are not the only one.

Your Pershing Road Neighbor who cannot register on this site for some reason.

IHATEYUPPIES said..."Dirty Harry" Hardman made som...

2009-03-11T10:11:00.000-05:00

IHATEYUPPIES said...

"Dirty Harry" Hardman made some good points in his last post until he writes this:

"As long as they[concerts] aren't Hip Hop."

In other words, middle-aged, white guys like Hardman don't want a certain racial demographic in DTSS for concerts.

I hope the Fillmore hosts a concert of radical punk and heavy metal bands. A concert that brings lots of anarchists wearing black and covered in tattoos to DTSS. This will scare the living shit out of old farts like "Dirty Harry" Hardman and the other "pro-family", prudish clique of Montgomery County residents. After all, the typical concert goer wants to overthrow the US government and smash capitalism to pieces--two things I support completely.

A group of white anarchists is a FAR greater danger to this society than a bunch of gangsta wannabees from the Hood.

Remember that.

Anon and Thomas:Anon: I have already written my l...

2009-03-11T10:05:00.000-05:00

Anon and Thomas:

Anon: I have already written my letters to my reps. You're advice is sound.

Thomas: Point well taken on the relatively low number of injuries, but (to sound a bit cliched), if my neighbor's young daughter who was there that night had been killed in the melee by, for example, being knocked down and hitting her head on the street, that one death -- or any death like it -- would have far outweighed anything positive from the event. On a personal note, the only reason my wife and I weren't in the vicinity at the time is because our plans to see the 9:45 showing of "Cool Hand Luke" at the AFI were thwarted by the fact that we couldn't get our lazy asses out of house on time for dinner and the movie, so we opted just for dinner (in Wheaton). But if we had been there, and my wife had been seriously injured or worse, I cannot describe how fierce my reaction would be.

I am all for more concerts in DTSS, even country (only if it's old-timey, please). But any kind of music that attracts or inspires violence, like gangsta rap or death metal or go-go, should not be allowed outdoors -- at least not in downtown.

Incidentally, I did get the BSG ref in your earlier comment. We could use Admiral Adama down here, as there is absolutely no other character on television who can glower so menacingly.

Anyone up for starting a Facebook group with petit...

2009-03-11T09:53:00.000-05:00

Anyone up for starting a Facebook group with petitions? Easy way to do this, can also include letter to these folks on the wall...

Puts the public opinion out there and we can send links to elected officials with "here's how many people are super pissed off."

BTW reading another commmenter, I JUST figured out what Miss. Spring meant... WOW

Springvale Roader: You have to admit that for a cr...

2009-03-11T09:49:00.000-05:00

Springvale Roader:

You have to admit that for a crowd of 7000 (estimated), having less than a few dozen people get out of hand is actually pretty good statistics.

That being said, let me point out that in the Roman Republic, amphitheaters were built in the first place so that the Greek traditions of Drama would have a place. This was a positive force imported by the new society from the old one. Through both Tragedy and Comedy, political opinion was expressed, and more importantly, the audience might experience Catharsis, or a release of the pent-up energy internalized in the individuals comprising the audience.

Yet as time went on, somehow the Drama of playwrights -- which originally attracted only a fairly limited and generally intellectual and cultured crowd -- morphed into the infamous bloodsports of the Circus. Yet whether or not the show was to be one of culture, or of blood and guts, the already ancient credo was heard: the Show Must Go On.

So, one might ask, for whom will future events be intended?

After all, the show didn't just provide entertainment or a distraction to those who attended; even we out here in blogspace, and days later, are being diverted from our usual ways by mere discussion of the spectacle.

In some ways, a precedent has been set: massive public use of "celebratory public space". Though this first event was marred by some violence, no doubt there have been lessons learned. On the more positive side, nobody can tell organizers of other productions that "we don't allow that kind of public event".

Why should Takoma Park, as an example, be the only place that sets events designed to attract thousands of old hippies? Why shouldn't Downtown Silver Spring become a gathering spot for hundreds of aging Bikers? Shouldn't the streets occasionally be flocked by Country Western fans doing the two-step or a line dance to artists like Vince Gill? No, we really do need more concerts in DTSS:

As long as they aren't Hip Hop.

Springvale... What folks need to do is contact ou...

2009-03-11T09:45:00.000-05:00

Springvale... What folks need to do is contact our local elected officials and tell them how pissed off we all are. THAT is what they will listen to. They like to get reelected, and if they sense voter (read over 18)opinion is against them, they sometimes have been known to change course. So instead of writing volumes here, write to where it matters. (sorry Sligo)

Am I the only one who thought his head would explo...

2009-03-11T08:16:00.000-05:00

Am I the only one who thought his head would explode we he saw this headline in today's Gazette: "Violence won't stop future youth concerts"?

Argh! Can our local leaders not take a second to *pause* and consider whether or not, or to what extent, "future youth concerts" will happen?

As with most things in this world, people do not act until there is a real crisis (see Wall Street, Collapse of). Sad to say, but it will probably take a fatal stabbing or shooting, possibly of an innocent bystander, for our local leaders to realize that some things, no matter how noble in intent, are not practical in downtown Silver Spring.

After someone's child is killed by a stray bullet during one of these concerts, expect to hear all sorts of recriminations among the powers that be as to how they warned something like this would happen, blah blah blah. I hope this tragedy never happens, but tragedies do happen, unfortunately. The crime is not doing all we can to prevent them in the first place.

Hello my name is Huwey Kelly I feel like these you...

2009-03-11T03:10:00.000-05:00

Hello my name is Huwey Kelly I feel like these young adults have alot of rage an anger in them,an they just don't know how to control their tempers. It was a positive day for everyone and it became mayhem for no reason at all,it was a smart and brilliant idea for the young adults but Go-Go music is known to get the young massives out of control since the late 80's. I grew up listening to Go-Go music and never got into a fight with anyone but I can actually feel how this music made me rowdy at times. Today's Go-Go music is hard core with more string's more bass to get the massive rowdy. Silver Spring is a very beauitful place an we have to protect are city Miss.Spring came a long way the reason why I know is because I am a native I've been here all my life,it's a very beautiful place. Crime will be on a rise here because it is beautiful an people from all different areas will come to see Miss.Spring we have to protect our house. I was on the front page of the Gazette Jan.22,2008 for a Hip Hop Summit it was overwhelming we have to stop violence in our city it doesn't have to happen here we have to team up to "MAKE IT HAPPEN". Someone please reach out to me I have the keys and techniques to make this possible.

"Reach Out" Huwey "Black Goo" Kelly
I was once a teen with a temper!
(240)374-3093

My understanding is that the fight was between the...

2009-03-10T14:53:00.000-05:00

My understanding is that the fight was between the Purple Line supporters and the Save The Trail group.
Please note that there will be a charity concert this weekend in DTSS to support the victims of last weekend's charity concert.

Ah yes. We have our own set of tags and taggers he...

2009-03-10T13:35:00.000-05:00

Ah yes. We have our own set of tags and taggers here in Aspen Hill.

I kept reporting these tags to the PD and they kept patronizing me and telling me that it didn't exist, that perhaps I should seek professional help to get over my paranoid delusions. I stopped talking to them and just started taking photos and putting them on the InterNet; I suggest everyone else should do the same. When they tell you that you're a demented liar and should maybe take a nice vacation, just point them to the photos and mention that since they're least likely to believe you, they're the last people you pointed to it. Then expect to hear something like "now all you're doing is giving them free publicity for all time on the internet". Why, yes. Yes I am. And I'm logging every last hit on the site.

And yes, there is such a thing as the Black Guerilla Family, associated believe it or not with such groups as the Symbionese Liberation Army of Patty Hearst fame. Then there's some rather minimal evidence of the presence and activity of Nuestra Familia.

Locally there's also the "Vatos Locos" ("VL") which is a sort of Chicago-DC axis, mostly American Chicanos but they're supposedly getting very multi-ethnic if not so much multinational like the infamous Mara Salvatruchas. There seems to be a lot of crossover between the MS-13, Sur-X3 and VL with posse/clique names like "Sur Locos" or "Maras Locos" (not real examples), but these seem to be pretty localized, especially in places like Flower Avenue/Piney Branch.

Plus there's various white Skins but I somehow don't think you see them too much in DTSS.

Come on folks, listen to IHY. Leave these innocen...

2009-03-10T13:14:00.000-05:00

Come on folks, listen to IHY. Leave these innocent gang members alone. . . .

http://www.montgomerycountymd.gov/Apps/Police/News/NA_details.asp?NaID=4201

7/25/2008

Strong-Arm Robbery Arrest in Silver Spring

Members of the Montgomery County Police 3rd District, Special Assignment Team (SAT) have arrested one adult male, and four teenage boys, for the strong-arm robbery of a Silver Spring man that occurred on Monday, July 21. SAT members were in the downtown area of Silver Spring, due to a recent increase in street robberies, and the potential of “Bloods” gang criminal activity. Third District Gang officers had advised SAT of an increase in red “Bloods” gang paraphernalia being displayed by teens in that area.
On July 21 at approximately 10:50 p.m., 3rd District SAT officers observed a group of young men wearing red, walking in the area of Second Avenue and Cameron Street. SAT officers observed the men as they approached an adult male walking on Second Avenue at Leighton Wood Drive. One of the group ran ahead of the man and the rest of the group lagged behind. The man became alarmed and ran.
The group was then observed walking to the Silver Spring Post Office located at 8616 Second Avenue, and hiding in the bushes. As two adult males approached the post office, they observed the individuals hiding in the bushes. The men rushed to their car which was parked near the bushes and drove away.
The group of young men then walked off towards the Silver Spring Metro, where they found an abandoned backpack in the bus kiosk. SAT officers observed the men as they rifled through the backpack, and took what appeared to be a can of spray paint from the backpack. One teen then sprayed something on the wall of the kiosk. The group walked off and a SAT officer went to the kiosk and saw the word “BLOODZ” painted on the wall.
The group came across an adult male who was walking alone, and one suspect approached the man and engaged him in conversation. SAT officers observed the man hand the suspect what appeared to be his cell phone. The suspect ran off and the victim chased him. SAT officers quickly came to the victim’s assistance, and were able to safely arrest all five of the young men without any further incident. It was learned that the victim, age 22, of Silver Spring, was asked by a suspect to use his cell phone to call his family.
A 15, 16, and two 17-year-old males were arrested. They were charged as juveniles with robbery, theft over $500, assault in the second degree, and other related robbery charges. Johnte Cash Long, age 22, of the 4200 block of Gorman Street S.E. Washington, D.C., was charged with robbery, theft over $500, conspiracy to commit robbery, and conspiracy to commit theft over $500. Long is currently being held at the Montgomery County Detention Center on $25,000 bond.
###

# # #

3/9/2009 Silver Spring Concert Ends with Arrests ...

2009-03-10T13:11:00.000-05:00

3/9/2009

Silver Spring Concert Ends with Arrests

Police from the 3rd District responded to a concert in Silver Spring Saturday night after fighting broke out among some in the crowd. Police from allied agencies and other Montgomery County districts responded as well. No serious injuries were reported.

On Saturday, March 7, a free youth concert was hosted and sponsored by community organizations on Ellsworth Street in Silver Spring. The concert’s stated purposes were to remember Tai Lam, a 14-year-old county resident killed in November of 2008 and to generally promote non-violence. The concert was well attended with most of those in attendance acting peacefully.

The concert was scheduled from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. Near the end of the event, fighting among a small number of the concert goers occurred near the stage. Police officers assigned to the area during the concert responded to stop the disturbance. When one officer attempted to make an arrest, at least one of the offenders resisted arrest. The officer then called for more assistance.

Due to the large number of concert attendees at this outdoor venue, additional law enforcement personnel were requested. On-duty officers from the other Montgomery County police districts responded as well as officers from the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office, the Metro Transit Police Department, and the Maryland-National Capital Park Police, Montgomery County Division.

After the arrival of the supplemental units, order was restored and the officers from other police districts and agencies returned to their primary duties. A total of 16 adults and juveniles were arrested for offenses such as assault and disorderly conduct.

The Montgomery County Police Department would like to thank the other law enforcement agencies, and the officers who responded, for their assistance at this event. Additionally, the department thanks the majority of residents present who cooperated with police.

###

# # #

http://www.montgomerycountymd.gov/Apps/Police/News/NA_details.asp?NaID=4658

For those who doubt we have real, live gangs in DT...

2009-03-10T11:51:00.000-05:00

For those who doubt we have real, live gangs in DTSS:

From a 2006 Examiner article:

"The biggest threat is now the Bloods," said Detective Patrick Word, president of the Mid-Atlantic Regional Gang Investigators Network. "We have gotten a handle on MS-13."

Word, who spoke Thursday at the first Maryland Gang Summit in Columbia, said 10,000 gang members are living in Maryland.

The Bloods’ prominence in Maryland has risen because of former inmates in the state’s prisons, Word said.

Inmates may not be associated with a gang before being convicted, but after serving time, they often emerge as a members of a gang, especially the Bloods, he said.

The second-largest gang on the minds of law enforcement is the Black Guerrilla Family, which Word called “an extremist group.” It also emerged out of the state’s prisons."

I walk to and from the Metro every day, and I see gang tags all over the place.

IHY is busy apologizing for the gangstas as if the...

2009-03-10T11:45:00.000-05:00

IHY is busy apologizing for the gangstas as if they had some sort of legitimacy. they don't; their subculture is a pernicious pox on everything everywhere. There's no excuse for it.

Maybe people like IHY would be willing to see places like Plaza del Mercado just handed over to the gangstas and their sick ghetto culture of child abandonment and woman-abusing; that's just fine, that place isn't "all that" and it's not hard for most of us to simply avoid it, not spend a dime there, and watch it go swirling down the tubes to the point where the realty company can't keep a tenant in there and goes swirling down the tubes of bankruptcy. Let the gangstas win so that the rest of MoCo can see what happens when you let the gangstas win: you get nothing but ghetto that nobody with sense will go near. That's a valuable lesson that MoCo needs to learn. When you kill the cash-cow by letting it get infested with diseased ticks, you can't pay off the Union people with permanent jobs because there's nothing left to pay them with.

But let's just keep it confined to places like Plaza del Mercado. They're out of the way and if you let them go all to hell, the vast majority of people can just avoid it, and the amount of time and money invested in it wasn't comparably all that high.

But you let 'em take over a major crossroads where the investors have spent a gajillion dollars to create a safe and friendly disneyland that's got walkable centers around a transit hub and mixed-use business and residential, you've just taught investors that you can't trust MoCo: you spend billions and all you get is gangstas fighting on the street on your best business night of the week.

So go for it, IHY. I guess you really do HATE Yuppies. You're arguing for their best possible punishment, that they lose their money on the investment side, and that they'll never again invest in MoCo once their figure out what lesson they learned. That ought to bring 'em down a notch for the yuppies in the MoCo government, too, right? That is what you are arguing for, right?

Just trying to get your position clear and understood, okay?

I'm guessing that if you weren't posting as Anonymous someone would track you down and discover that you ain't nothin' but a little Bloods wannabee with your hat on backwards and wearing pants that would be baggy on King Kong, stackin' out signs at your mirror that you don't know translate to "I is one sorry *ss fool who don't know squat and be damn proud of it".

You probably live next door to Plaza del Mercado. ;)

Oh, yes, IHY, you're absolutely right. Let's welc...

2009-03-10T11:21:00.000-05:00

Oh, yes, IHY, you're absolutely right. Let's welcome the gangs to DTSS with open arms. Because all these innocent gangs want to do is have innocent fun that doesn't harm anyone.

And maybe next time, when their actions result in someone's death, we can have a "solutions-oriented" meeting with the gang members, listen to their sad stories about their upbringings, and brainstorm about ways that we might be able to help them.

Seriously -- what world do you live in? You're right that us educated MoCo residents are solutions-oriented. But evidently you don't like our solution -- aggressive policing and lots of arrests. It has nothing to do with minorities (no one afraid of minorities would choose to live in SS) -- it has everything to do with individuals who have no respect for human life.

IHATEYUPPIES said...So what. A kid got jumped. W...

2009-03-10T11:17:00.000-05:00

IHATEYUPPIES said...

So what. A kid got jumped. What is your conclusion? Did the kid know the other kid who attacked him? Did the kid get attacked b/c he provoked the other guy who threw the first punch? Was there a "beef" between these two guys? Did you interview the participants in this fight?

What can you draw from this?

I have lived in SS since 2001. Not as long as you. I moved here after Silver Spring endured its dark ages. I have always felt safe in downtown Silver Spring. I walk around late at night and I shop at various stores in the re-developed section of downtown.
If Silver Spring were REALLY infested with gangs, why do you see people shopping and dining in DTSS? You still see lots of yuppies moving into nearby condos. You still see diverse groups of families enjoying weekends in Silver Spring. Do you really think a street gang can thrive in such an environment? C'mon.

Silver Spring is not Langley Park. Silver Spring is not Anacostia or Trinidad. Silver Spring is not Temple Hills or District Heights in PG County.

Gangs don't behave like gangs out in the open, especially in such public spaces like Ellsworth. They prefer to terrorize residents and commercial establishments in their own neighborhoods of DC and PG County.

-IHY-

There's a lot of nonsense today about how bigoted ...

2009-03-10T11:05:00.000-05:00

There's a lot of nonsense today about how bigoted Montgomery County residents are, and the usual strawmen caricatures have resurfaced. The fact is that MoCo does have a large share of truly progressive residents, but those residents, just like anyone else, rich or poor, of any color, want a safe neighborhood for themselves and their families. For anyone here to use that as an excuse to label people racist is misguided, at best.

IHATEYUPPIES/Anonymous 10:29, so the kid who got j...

2009-03-10T10:37:00.000-05:00

IHATEYUPPIES/Anonymous 10:29, so the kid who got jumped by the movie theater the week before last, he has nothing to worry about with gang members around, right?

It's obvious that you don't know a thing about gangs, or your community, or what's happening in it.

The 10:20 anon message was from IHATEYUPPIES, btw....

2009-03-10T10:30:00.000-05:00

The 10:20 anon message was from IHATEYUPPIES, btw.