Warding Off Evil
The Old Fourth Ward Association, perennial cartoon villain of this site, is at it again, Arbor Update reports. This time they’re opposing a condo development on North Main that would threaten to “squash the small-town charm of Kerrytown,” as a News article that’s not online put it. North Main is not considered part of the Old Fourth Ward, at least according to this map.
My favorite subgroup of weirdos–Americans who insist on referring to themselves by political-geographic categories that no longer exist. Sort of like being members of the “Old Confederacy Association,” or citizens of the “Republic of Texas.” Bleagh.
posted by AP on September 22nd, 2004 at 7:54 pmThe small-town charm of Kerrytown? Every Wednesday and Saturday I watch with jaundiced amusement from my Kerrytown office as SUVs crowd into the Farmer’s Market and refuse to move an inch for people trying to back out of Detroit St. parking spaces. Middle-aged soccer moms in “screw-me” tight pants emerge from said SUVs, after idlng for 30 minutes and spewing emissions into the air, in order to buy organic produce. Yeah. Real small-town.
posted by Laura on September 23rd, 2004 at 12:12 amA lot of people walk there, too.
posted by c-loh on September 23rd, 2004 at 9:36 amIf I can still wear “screw me” pants when I’m middle aged–well, I probably won’t, but I would still be proud!
My favorite subgroup of weirdos–Americans who insist on referring to themselves by political-geographic categories that no longer exist.
Like those Pangaean anti-Federalists. Man, are they annoying.
posted by ann arbor is overrated on September 23rd, 2004 at 2:51 pmI’ve often wondered how the Romanians did it, but after seeing the e-mail addresses for reporting various “quality of life” issues, I don’t wonder anymore.
posted by Kozzie on September 23rd, 2004 at 4:45 pmLet me tangentially quote from the OFW’s Web site:
“The OFW is one of Ann Arbor’s safest downtown neighborhoods, and it is becoming even safer because we:
•Lock all doors and windows. Unlocked doors or windows invite thefts and more serious crimes. If you see suspicious activity, call the police at 994-2911 (911 for emergency).”
Unlocked doors or windows do not invite theft. Only people who are already trying your door or window to see if it is locked are invited to steal by its being unlocked. This is like the university claiming that its dorms are safe because they are locked 24/7. Only UNsafe places need to lock their doors.
The OFW is paranoid.
posted by Dale on September 26th, 2004 at 7:05 pmI actually agree with the OFW on this, in that a neighborhood of mostly locked doors and windows makes potential thieves try a lot of different houses and run a greater risk of getting caught. If landlords equipped their houses with functioning locks and people actually used them, we’d probably see a lot less crime.
posted by ann arbor is overrated on September 26th, 2004 at 8:32 pm