Joe has no brains. U guys beter hope nothing happens at Howell while he is there going through the parking lot. u don't ever know what to except from this lunatic.

Wait til you get a detective and he calls you a LIAR! He knows who he is. I hope and pray that nothing comes of this Mr. P.. I warned you that joe would continue his crap and has. Driving through the Howell parking lot so that i can see his presence. Ha Howell has camera in the parking lot. I just hope you have stopped paying him to be an informant.

kassiejean25

I guess you were one of the ones that left early, because the meeting was two hours long. I welcome the police. Zero Tolerance?? Not a problem-cause I am not the one causing the problems. The ticket for a small sidewalk hinderance is not going to solve the problems. If my paying that $118 ticket solved your problems then - you owe me. If it didn't then we are in the same boat -what was the point? Did paying that $118 make me feel safer-no! I could have spent that money elsewhere. Yes -not only children walk on sidewalks, but an adult can take a step over and walk around a bumper. That is what they do throughout Victoria, because a lot of people are guilty of parking on or over a sidewalk -everyday!! Also, as far as I know we are still under a "Zero Tolerance Policy" -I have not heard anything different.

exresident..."After receiving a complaint about the tickets, police chief Bruce Ure then said, "don't want our help? Fine, deal with the drug dealers on your own, since our work is so unappreciated."

I find it laughable that VPD's response to pleas for help against gangs and drug dealers -- probably the same people -- was to enforce a zero tolerance policy about parking violations. Yeah, that'll put the fear of god into a gang banger. "Dude! I got a ticket!" Uh huh.

andgeo3005
Not only children walk on sidewalks.The meeting was only an hour and yes you did talk about the ticket for approximately 30 minutes.You are correct houses are not selling very well here,But would you buy again on Wildwood after what you have been through? Stray bullets, that says a lot. I think I would welcome the VPD being in the area as much as possible. I can say that while they were in the area with "Zero Tolerance" this was a very quiet area and people were able to sit out like they used to. Questions for you, Do you feel safe? Do you feel you can walk your neighborhood alone at night? This is what we were trying to accomplish at the meeting and yes it did get out of hand, I agree with you there. It should never had been about anything other than what we were told it was going to be about and that was "taking the neighborhood back."

Exresident
I was not the one that got the ticket.For further information I was not attacking anyone. I was merely stating that her ticket became the topic of a meeting that was to be about taking our neighborhood back with the help of the Police Department. VPD was doing a great job and they are very appreciated for the work they do. Well if my question was distasteful to you, so be it. I was merely asking due to the fact that (who the question was directed to ) made the statement she was a home owner. To me it does not make a difference, we all have things that belong to us and with all the crime in this area ( as all over Victoria) we work hard for what we have and all we did was ask for help before things get even more out of control. VPD was doing this after the warning was given.I did not intend to offend but if you were offended then so be it. You do not live here in this area I assume or you would understand.

kassiejean25

Maybe you were warned in detail about the zero tolerance policy but we were not. All we were told was not to park on the wrong side of the street. As for the parking ticket the vehicle was parked in such a way after 9:30 p.m. and was moved by 6:45 a.m. the next morning. No children should even be out at that time. Besides that the ticket has been paid. Case closed. As for the meeting I in no way consumed the meeting. I said what I needed to say in less than 30 minutes and the rest of the meeting was consumed by feuding neighbors which ended in an outburst- which resolved nothing. The only difference between a home owner and a renter is that when your lease is up it will be a lot easier for you to pack and leave. You can't do that as easily with a mortgage and no buyer. In case you haven't noticed the houses on this street have not been selling.

andgeo3005
I understand your thought and complaint, I was also here during that time; matter of fact my grandchildren had just passed moments before the shooting on their bikes.The whole purpose of the meeting from what I was told was to help take the neighborhood back from the idiots that seem to think they run this street with their drugs and gang activity. We were all warned of the "Zero Tolerance" before it started.It was explained in detail what would be happening. Sidewalks are for walking on not "parking" on anyway.What about the woman that almost had a breakdown and was so upset because of the threats on her life and she did not get to speak because it turned into "all about your illegally parked truck?" She is still being threatened as are the others that tried to speak but were unable to. SO I ask you, Do you feel safer now that you paid your ticket and police are no longer patroling as they were do to your complaints about your ticket? I would think "Not". I know we don't and we still have to deal with the drug dealings, the thefts and the threats.One more question, You being a homeowner; Does this make you more important than those of us that pay rent?

Ms. White,

While I appreciate your letter, and your references to the ticket we received - I hardly think
you got the thought behind my complaint. My house was hit by a stray bullet on January 1st of 2009, the year is almost over and I still have not heard anything about this. Why didn't the zero tolerance policy start then? You don't know how we lived months after this happened. I was standing near the window where this bullet almost hit. The mark from the bullet is still there. My complaint was merely a starting point. I still want answers. Instead of getting results I get a ticket for a bumper hanging over the sidewalk. My husband and I own our home and have lived in the neighborhood since 2000. I was at the meeting and I did speak.

Many years ago there used to be "town hall" type meetings with the neighborhoods and the police. If I remember right they dd these once a year to hear concerns of the residents. So, why did these meetings stop?

Now before my post gets deleted for "namecalling" someone a criminal,

Definition of a criminal: One who commits a crime.
Illegal parking is a crime hence the ticket. Therefore the person who committed the illegal parking offense is a criminal.

It's not namecalling, it's just being accurate.

It would be nice if the Advocate actually INVESTIGATED a problem as "watchdog" claims to do rather than just pass on complaints from disgruntled criminals.

"Watchdog" turned a parking ticket complaint into a media sideshow and there has been NO in-depth (read: fatal funnel-like) investigation into the ongoing problems on Wildwood that lead to the ticket in the first place.

Hint to Mr. Watchdog; The ongoing problems on wildwood is the story, not some parking ticket.

now...
GO FETCH us a story worthy of reporting.

i commend you on ur letter because of the fact that no one is wanting to voice their concerns and also for pointing out who wasn't at the meeting.This letter should open eyes here in Victoria