Up to speed

Its been nearly 8 months since I've settled into the neighborhood and things for the most part have been calm, quiet, and non eventful. The first few weeks I was here I was occaisonally stopped by the aformentioned white tee'd entreprenuers asking if I needed a piece of the rock. Not Prudential. That has for the most part stopped. Every once in a while there is a new sidewalk pusher that mistakes me for someone looking for a way to escape reality. Easy to think that, especially since 90% of the "traffic" that comes back here that is white is here in search of that high. The other 10%? Well, they are either lost or looking to get into the parking garage or maybe they are coming to visist me!

Truth be told, most of these hustlers are just trying to make a bit get a bite to eat at the local chinese food shop located on the corner of Washington and Clay. I don't get the feeling that many of them are really that successful. There is no blinged out attire, no pimped out rides, except for the occaisonal big rims here and there. This neighborhood is one that has earned a reputation and with that many of these hustlers migrate here. None or very few actually live here, they come here because this is where the crackheads come, demand needs supply. The users are a mixed bag, some come from out of town and others do dwell in the varied housing units.

One day I actually drove 2 of the dealers to the hospital because a friend of theirs had fallen in the heat and was experiencing a siezure. During the ride to the hospital we got to know a bit about one another. Funny but, there was a slight bonding that occured. One of the dealers I had barked on (yelled at) a few months before when they were making a transaction outside my door when I was going to my car. We spoke about that day and the dealer said to me he respected my request and understood it. Its not always Hollywood, while I am not positive I don't think Tony Montana lives back here. This dealer in particular said he got caught up after high school, couldn't find work and fell into dealing as a means to keep food for himself and his fiancee. I'm not condoning the behavior here just reporting what I've learned.

I've heard gunshots twice in 8 months. There has been 1 murder in 8 months, that murder was back in College Creek Terrace one of the two public housing spots located halfway between Washington and Harwood streets. The murder was drug related, it occured inside of one of the homes. The killer was apprehended a week or so later.

Speaking of the public housing, the two public housing units are actually the oldest on record in the United States. They are a tragedy, they look like they could crumble any day now and you wonder why despair has gripped this neighborhood over the years. Funny but, Obery Ct Houses are located directly on the water back here. They are slated for demolition in the Spring of 2009, rumour is they are not going back up. The other rumour I hear is that College Creek while not slated for demo and instead slated for rehab is not going to make it. Some of the people that live in those houses have lived there for 3 generations. Scary how the cycle plays itself out over and over again in some families.

So 8 months and barely a peep. So far, Clay Street isn't as rough as they make it out to be. Knock on wood.