7/06/2006

Pools

Several in the local scene are irate over they City's apparent determination to starve our neighborhood pools until they die. (Some question whether the City should even be in the pool business, but that's a story for another day.)

Here's another take on the issue. Recently, the wife of a local professional (not my wife) was at the Water Park with her kids. She noticed a roving band of tough looking, middle school age kids wandering around the park. At one point, she saw their apparent leader glance about, and then quickly reach into a purse and pull out some cash before the whole group quickly walked away.

She immediately went to a lifeguard and reported the incident. His first response was "how do you know it wasn't his?" She admitted that she did not know that it wasn't, but that the whole thing looked suspicious. The lifeguard refused to do anything. Finally, when the lady returned, the lady went back to the lifeguard and said "there, go ask her if she knows them." She had to leave, so she doesn't know what ever happened.

On the same day she saw the same group of kids hassling a younger boy of about 9. "Come over here...what did you say? Buy me lunch," that kind of thing.

I have witnessed similar 'gangs' of kids at the pool when I have taken my kids. If we are going to forsake the neighborhood pools in favor of one, giant, public gathering place, the City damn well better make sure that we have better security than a few high school kids in swimsuits.

18 comments:

Anonymous said...

Maybe you could take up a collection from all the Big Daddies in town and hire Blackwater USA to provide security at the water park until your petition is approved and your check clears to join the Meadowlark.

GeeGuy said...

A little paycheck envy, anonymous?

Anonymous said...

No. Reminds me that the Commandant of the United States Military Academy at West Point NY had to implement mandatory boxing lessons for all plebes (that freshmen for you Missoula frat boys) because most of them had never been in a fistfight in their lives and couldnt defend themselves. They had grown up at the Country Club swimming pool and going on designer vacatiosn to Jackson Hole with their prfofessional Fathers and Soccer Mothers and taking piano lessons instead of getting their noses bloodied at the *gasp* public pool where the commoners go.

GeeGuy said...

Assuming you're referring to me, you're wrong on a lot of counts. First, never was in a frat. Pledged once, but didn't like it. Second, I was a member of the Country Club for a grand total of about a year growing up. Third, the first time I was ever in Jackson Hole was last week. Fourth, never took piano, and never played soccer. I went to grade school at Longfellow and had my nose bloodied plenty.

You're kind of right about the fistfights though. While I got in a lot of them over the years, for the most part I got my ass kicked.

It still sounds like some reverse snobbery to me.

WolfPack said...

What kind of nut thinks theft and bullying at public pools is OK because that's how poor people's children behave? My guess is there are many low income parents who find that line of thinking insulting.

My wife had the same experience last week with our kids at the water park. My nine year old took a kick to the chest after protesting when some older kids took his tube. When he complained to a life guard the life guard made no attempt to talk to the older kids.

Anonymous said...

If you kid is getting picked on, tkae him over to Mr Johnson's dojo on Central West so the kid can learn to defend himself. He is great with kids.

Anonymous said...

Have any of the local media ever reported on this?

GeeGuy said...

Yeah, I want my kid to defend himself against a gang of thugs. He'll come out great, just like Grasshopper on Kung Fu.

Anon, this ain't the 50's anymore.

Anonymous said...

Funny how you Republicans want government out of your lives...until you get a little sand kicked in your face...then you want the SWAT team protecting your kids at the local pool. bwahahahaahhahahahahahaha

a-fire-fly said...

Damn, Gee, who did you piss off?

Anonymous said...

Just an anonymous jackass, firefly.
They seem to be everywhere these days, sort of like bloodsucking mosquitos.

GeeGuy said...

Actually, Anonymouse's comments make little logical sense. To say I want the government out of my life would be to say I don't want public pools at all (which is, of course, a debatable point).

It is hardly inconsistent with libertarian thought, though, to suggest that, if the government is going to offer a service, it should do so safely.

According to the mouse's logic, it would be inconsistent for me to suggest that all of our fire engines should have wheels on them.

Anonymous said...

Speaking of Fire Engines, wait until the Fire Chief shuts the private for profit ambulance in town so he can start a government run ambulance service and lose a lot of money.

By the way, the taxpayers are paying for the study to pull this brilliant stunt.

Anonymous said...

Sorensen when are you going to run for office and put your money where your mouth is.

Anonymous said...

Dueling anony - what is the plural of anonymous? Anonymice? And who is Sorenson?

Anonymous said...

So the mayor has a problem with anonymous comments? I know a painter, carpenter, and electrician that openly expressed opinions about the way they felt things were being managed by certain city staff. I think alot of what they said had merit. How did that turn out?

GeeGuy said...

I am not sure how that turned out, anonymous. Do tell.

And Mayor Stebbins, the reference to "Sorensen" is, I believe, a reference to Chris Sorensen, a City of GF employee who someone obviously believes is responsible for some of the anonymous posting in this thread.

Anonymous said...

Visit your own 6-30-05 post for some info. Of course I could be wrong and it really was just an opportunity for the city to save money. A visit to the 9-13-05 posting on this blog does show the mayor is consistant on this identity thing.