BayWalk

In other news, there's a new round of "Is BayWalk safe?" worry following what sounds like an awful time late on Christmas night in and around the downtown St. Petersburg shopping and entertainment complex. Shots fired in the air, a guy shot in the parking garage, fights and melees, some idiot throwing money in the air...

Now, BayWalk is a perfectly safe, mom-and-pop, Mayberry kind of place during the days and early evenings. I go there all the time. But I wouldn't step foot in the place after mid-evening on a weekend, precisely because it is jammed with raucous kids, even with the 10 p.m. curfew for the younger ones. This is more out of my being a cranky old guy than out of any sense of personal fear.

Still, I thought the statements of the mayor ("The police handled it well"), Police Department ("a couple" of troublemakers) and BayWalk management ("a security plan that worked") were a little forced. Your standards and mine for what constitutes the unacceptable breakdown of civilization might be different, but mine include gunplay and melees in public places.

Comments

[Bland]

Howard,

This recent Bay Walk incident and the attitude of the mayor and property management are at best troubling.

Gangs of kids with guns in a public place are a dangerous and ugly problem. I hope the City does not wait until someone is killed, beat to death, or raped before security is stepped up and these punks are run out of Bay Walk.

This will be a good test to see how the City would handle night baseball games if the Rays were successful at building the new stadium.

Isn’t it great to be working the news beat of a City with all this material from day to day. It has to make your job easier.

Here’s for a Safe and Happy New Year. I hope the City cleans up its act and your job gets harder next year for all of our sakes. Take care.

[Jim Johnson]

Howard,

You need to surrender yourself to the Mental Health Court for a little attitude adjustment. Diversity made America what it is; different strokes for different folks, etc.

[Phil]

"I hope the City does not wait until someone is killed, beat to death, or raped before security is stepped up and these punks are run out of Bay Walk."

So tell me "bland"... just exactly where do you think they'll be "run out" to? It's just like the homeless tent city in Pinellas. Moving the problem out of the public eye... is just moving the problem out of the public eye.

Out of sight may be out of mind, but it does not solve the probem.

[Patrick]

It's unfortunate that BayWalk eventually ran several nice bars, restaurants, and stores out of business. Central Avenue was about to have a really nice explosion of new businesses until they constructed that ugly complex.

[voxy]

I agree with Patrick. Now they can sell it 'at a loss' and the new owners (probably same as the 'old boss' can use this excuse of 'random violence' to up security, charge admission -- keep the poor and the blacks out ..whatever. You know? It's VERY upsetting to them that they have to tolerate the war protests and such.
BayWalk is built on skulls and bones. It's just nasty. A nasty feel. But, this whole incident has a 'made up' feel to it.
Something not right.

[T]

Phil,

Run them all to jail, charge them, get them off the streets!

As for the homeless, they have a place to go if they choose to abide by the rules!

"Diversity" can kiss my sweet bippy.

It's not about diversity, it's about an element within the community which feels empowered to do whatever it wants, whenever it wants, social standards be damned. Black, White, Purple or Blue - as a city we should have no tolerance for the ignorant and violent amongst us who feel our streets can become a shooting gallery because one moron insulted another moron's "ho".

When Baker surrendered his testicles to the Uhruhus and Harmon moved out of the city our police force was provided a mandate of "ethnic sensitivity" rather then "effective policing". When this trend is reversed, and the police are empowered to clean up the streets, only then will things change.

I don't care what color you are, or how old you are - a crack dealing, gun toting pimp belongs in jail. Period.

[Kay]

I agree with Howard about Baywalk being a nice place during the day. And also that I stay away out of crankiness and not fear.
The problem is the teens (and their parents). I see a car pull up and a bunch of teenagers exit, unescorted, for a night of what? Unless your kid is going to a movie, what other reason would you essentially drop your child off on a street corner? Because, parents, that is what you are doing. It is not a skating rink or mall or a teen club there. The courtyard is not intended for 100s of teens to loiter about. If your kids want somewhere to hang out with their friends, how about your back yard? It's better than a street corner.
Majical

[John Gibson]

Kay,

Right you are! I often wonder what is going on in the heads of parents who do not seem to be paying attention.

[John]

This kind of news is "the norm" for the city of St. Pete, happens all the time. I imagine some citizens that are either natives of have been here a while remember when it wasnt so violent.

[Jim Johnson]

I'm a student of Florida history. Violence was much worse a century ago. In the 1920s 1000s stormed the jails at Tampa and Pensacola, to hang inmates. A 14 year old white boy was hanged at the Volusia County Jail. Marshals, deputies, and cops had short shelf lives. And lynchings were common occurrences across Florida.

Well then... that's a pick-me-up if I ever read one. everything's just fine folks, nothing to see here... move along, nothing to see.

[bill northrop]

Guiliani for Mayor?

[CarolAbernathy]

Have they tried to reduce the size of the rowdy crowd by playing Mozart or just elevator music all evening? It's worked other places.

[Avoiding Baywalk]

Doesn't this go back to the lack of parenting?! Why are parents sending their kids down there? So they don't have to be parents and watch over them! Kids are YOUR responsibility until 18 for a reason. They cannot make responsible decisions without your SUPERVISION. The same things could happen at ParkSide in the evenings except it is better patrolled by the Pinellas Park Police Dept. The St. Pete PD and Mayor need to stop being fearful of the UHURU and others. Stand up to these people, send the kids home and MAKE THEIR PARENTS responsible for their behavior. This is ridiculous! Baywalk is supposed to be a classy place to hang out and I'd rather not!

[Dave]

I'm a white guy who lives in south St. Pete, so I'm getting a real kick out of these replies.

[WE the People]

The Mayor's attitude toward the Baywalk incident is not much different that the city's inaction toward the vagrant encampment at city hall. Heck, lets just all move to the old Northeast and give them downtown. First night should be fun.

[Ann]

Why are the "Community Activist" not out protesting and apologizing to the community for their children's behavior? Why is the police dept. not allowed to crack down on the drug problem? Were in the world do kids get GUNS? I am WHITE and I live on the southside I enjoy my neighborhood and wouldn't live anywhere else.

[Senor T]

I'll never forget the first St. Petersburg race riot. I was working late and had a great view from 20-floors up. The burning buildings looked like twinkling stars. There's always some good in every bad.

[Jim Johnson]

WE THE PEOPLE
Moving wont work. The miscreants will follow you and do the Baywalk Boogie at your new location. OR the city can promote their antics to tourists as native folk dancing.

[guy]

We had a great gathering at my sons house for christmas, but the conversation slowly turned too how bad our streets are, not just Baywalk.
The police do nothing but promise and if you notice on TV Mr. Foster said very clearly "They" have to do something about it.