Giddens Park Vandalized
From the SESH email group:
It seems as though there are people out there who have no appreciation for all our efforts to improve the life style in SESH. We are nearly at the end of our six year battle to get the fountain and the Gazebo ready to use, and it seems it has become an irresistible attraction to those who can’t stand anyone having anything nice!
In the past three weeks, since the Gazebo itself was finished, someone drew in the wet concrete of the Gazebo, someone broke the gate and stole the sod, and someone tagged the concrete with orange paint. This was in spite of the fact that TPD has spent a great deal of time in this park kicking people out, and just watching over things. In addition, at least one neighbor has noticed suspicious behavior and called TPD to investigate.
My point of this email is to let everyone know that we are under attack and to ask all of you to pay particular attention to the happenings in the park. No one is to be in this park after dark. If you see anyone, please call the non emergency number. No one is to have a vehicle in the park beyond the fence, unless it is a city authorized vehicle. Please, please, everyone, help out and keep an eye on our park.
Lets make these thugs as unwelcome as possible! Thanks!
Thank goodness TPD is on the case. Nothing will happen under their watch since they are always in the neighborhood.
Since the “drive-by” shooting several weeks ago there has been a lot more attention to activities at the park, but even so the aforementioned damage has occurred. In addition, two seperate fences or back walls of garages facing Giddens have been tagged with graffiti. The groups of basketball players every evening are getting more and more disrespectful with the excessive amounts of trash thrown on the ground in and around the park and have always parking on top of the sidewalks which pushes walkers out in the street to walk by and some actually park their cars in the little remaining remnants of landscaping.
TPD has not yet reached a point where they are willing to make people move their cars or ticket them. My thought is that if you allow minor disrespect and illegal activity then it opens the door to escalate and that is what is happening at Giddens. For a long time there have been late night activities in the park. Adults in the dark under the pavillion. Having sex, selling/buying drugs, etc.
I am sure there will be some negative comments about SESH but according to TPD and Parks and Recreation the same thing is occuring at the parks on the river and in all of our neighborhoods. It is the lack of education, lack of supervision of children, and the inwillingness of residents to call TPD and complain that allows this to continue. If we want a better Quality of life in Seminole Heights overall then we must all engage in the process.
This is extremely sad. Unfortunately, not everyone shares the same pride in their neighborhood as the rest of us. I can’t tell you how many times I have driven by the park to see the young men hanging on the fence, leaving their trash, etc. Is the disrespect a cultural, social or education thing?
What Drive By Shooting? At Giddens Park? When? Was anyone hurt/killed? Was it in the news? Were residents notified? I live just over Hillsborough and frequently walk the kids to the playground. This is the first I have heard.
I live next to the park and know nothing of a drive-by. I would think if it would have happened TPD or Sherry would have notified neighbors. I think number 2 may be referring to another area. SESH has a great relationship with TPD, I don’t think something this significant would have been overlooked or allowed to fall through the cracks.
Nothing fell through the cracks. It was the result of an earlier altercation. Cars were hit, no people. It was not advertised. No tribune story. It is still under investigation. Because of the location it could have been worse since kids and families are always in the park.
Since it was an earlier altercation it did not warrant any type of community notice? I take my kids to the park at least 2-3 times a week. Honestly, I think if it is something that affects their safety then it should warrant a notice.
Here you have a park that is “being tagged” combined with a shooting. Isn’t that cause enough to be somewhat alarmed to notify neighbors to be on the lookout?
I really don’t appreciate our neighborhood leaders keeping this under wraps or “not advertising” it. Yes, we are fortunate that no one was it but as number 6 pointed out “Because of the location it could have been worse since kids and families are always in the park.” I am beginning to feel that it was not discussed as it is one more egg on the face of TPD. I am starting to think we have our own troop of Keystone Cops.
# 7 & 5. It was on this blog several weeks ago when it happened.
I am a daily reader and don’t recall something this significant.
I tried searching using every keyword I could find and nothing came up on this site or google. I am confused on why it is being buried. As a parent, I want to know all details. It’s one thing for them to down play it as a “former altercation”, but as we have seen in the past I am not so sure we can trust TPDs assessment. (ie, we have not problem with prostitution, we didn’t realize that drugs were back up, etc.) I would like to see the facts and may my own assessment before allowing my children back in the park.
jesus people…what does it matter? there is no big conspiracy to hide anything. crime happens everyday around the neighborhood and sometimes we don’t know about it. i didn’t know of a series of burglaries a street north of me until after someone was arrested. i didn’t automatically blame everyone for hiding it from me. keep vigilant no matter what. keep your eyes open and share what you know. but please stop assuming there is some vast conspiracy going on. it’s really getting old.
Evidently number 11 you do not have children. To compare burglary to SHOOTING IN A PARK is absurd. While they are both extremely bad for the neighborhood I would think that something of this magnitude would not have been swept under the rug. I read the other commenter’s and don’t see where they indicated a conspiracy theory. Instead I see upset parents and neighbors who may have put their children’s lives in harms way unknowing. I don’t see a conspiracy, I see ignorance on our leaders and our polices part. If this was for retaliation and they missed, who is to say that they do not retaliate again? People are now talking about building and gazebo’s being tagged. Is this the work of gangs? To withhold this information is extremely reckless to those of us that use the park on a regular basis.
#12 you’re so right. i don’t have children and obviously WANT people to get shot. spare me! my point was that i don’t think there was a conerted effort to keep information from getting out. obviously other posters had heard of the incident so some info was out there somehwere. i do take it seriously, i take all of it seriously. i’m just so tired of people on this blog automatically assuming there is an effort to pull the wool over our eyes. we all have an obligation to stay informed and SHARE that information. we need to increase our presence at the park rather than run away. it’s becoming all too easy for people to say “i’m done” or “it’s not my problem”. certainly tpd could do more, we all could. i am so tired of hearing people talk about witnessing crimes or at the least being suspicious of possible criminal activity and NEVER calling police. how stupid is that? like magically the police know to show up? they can’t respond if they don’t know about stuff. i’m not being their cheerleader i’m just asking why do people resist calling them? it can’t get better if they don’t know and then we they do step up to do stuff people still complain. everone always says they should just do their jobs. we have to help them do their jobs. we all have to participate in the process.
#13, I have to agree with 12 on this one. This was not an item to sweep under the carpet. What would happen, God forbid, if the perp would have come back and attempted again days later and an innocent bystander be hurt/killed? To you comment that we all need to increase our presence- Why would we if we think all in hunky dory in the park. TPD is always wanting our assistance and cooperation. However, they must realize that this is a two way street. They love for us to give 100%. Yet when it comes to them, they like to give when they want, or if it is not convenient for them, they will give to Sherry or the crime watch guy and say “we told the neighborhood” yet it never trickles out. Until we know more information about the park incident I’ll choose to take my children elsewhere!
Residents making the effort to stay informed would help. ie: There is no “crime watch” guy right now. He evidently got burned out from a lack of support or help from the roughly 2,000+ adults that live in the community.
There was a shooting in the hood? Where and when did this happen?
Are those who are making the “Swept under the Rug” claims participating in ANY way w/the Neighborhood Watch? Signed up on the email list? Go to any meetings? Do you even know the names of the neighbors behind you?
Calling in odd sightings?
Yes to all number 17. I have not seen anything on the email groups about any drive by shootings. I must say that it does cause some concern to worry.
17 what does any of that have to do with TPD dropping the ball and not notifying ALL citizens of a dangerous shooting in a busy public park? One has nothing to do with the other unless you are advocating for vigilantism in the neighborhood?
# 18, You are lying!
#20, why are you accussing 18 of lying?
If you are #18 then you know why, if you are not, then you don’t need to know.
18 here. I am confused as to why you feel I am lying?
18 don’t sweat it. There are two options according to our association leaders. You are either lying because they know everyone in their little club, or you are a turncoat that speaks their mind and does not fall into the rank and file. I am so glad I live in SSH where we have a live and let live attitude. I woudl had the crap you people put yourselves thru. By the way, if I had a shooting near my home and was not notified, I too would be pissed! But if your in SESH that is to be expected as that whole group s the TPD cheerleaders.
This is why term limits are so vital. Remember when we had our elections last year, term limits came up in discussion. Same with SESH. Look at how long everyone on their board has been sitting. Was speaking with some of their members at the dog park. They said their activity is at an all time low and most have stopped renewing. Not sure if it is economy or need for new faces but it is taking a toll on all associations. Look at the makeup of their board and see how long they have served. I think our neighborhood will progress with our new board. I am hoping some new ideas can be acted on. If only the detracters will sit back and watch it happen.
Good after noon neighbors. Just on the site and playing catch-up to the flood of posts and comments. I am trying to follow the “shooting” thread but it seems to lead to no where. From what I can gather it happened at Giddens Park. Does anyone have more details? ie, date, time, arrest, location, etc? Susan
Susan you know as much as the rest of us. For some reason thoses in the know are not sharing. The only thing so far is that TPD and whoever in the know that had commented said “We didn’t want to advertise it and all of us should hang out at the park to deter something that we know nothing about” and that concerned neighbors are trying to make a “conspiracy theory”.
If you find anything out, please post and share.
I recall seeing the shooting discussed sometime back on this blog, not sure how far back though or under what title topic. Someone said it was mentioned on this blog and I agree, it was. I read it back then and was shocked too. I’m thinking it was maybe last summer sometime?
Robin
For those saying that “the shooting was discussed on this site” earlier is sadly mistaken. If you notice, there are two search features at the top of this site. One is for this site only, and the other is for google (www) if you type shooting in the site search, nothing comes up. It does search archives. I have emailed the site owner to double check, but this has never been posted to the site. I am not touting a conspiracy, but I am saying that for some unknown reason, TPD and Sherry did not want this out to the general public. I think they may think it was a crazy isolated incident and why bother scaring people.
I feel that since it could have been deadly, they shoudl at least share the details with neighbors. Until I hear more, I will not let my children play at the park. I feel this is irresponsible leadership at it’s finest.
Yeah, you guys down in SESH are starting to sound like OSH. God forbid a rape occur in your neighborhood. It may be to insignifigant to notify residents.
28, re-read number 2. It was only a couple of weeks ago. Are you saying there was another shooting this past summer. Have there been two shootings?
it was never a post but was brought up in one of the weekend threads.
Again. The search feature on this site comes all posts and comments. Unless if it was discussed in Spanish or code phrases, it was not on this site. Maybe someones said “The shizzle, did a drizzle bizzle at the parkizzle, but the shotizzle missizzled the targetizzle.” In this case, it would not appear in the search. Get real! It was not discussed on here. Now that they realized they made a mistake about not notifying neighbors, they are trying to act like “what, we didn’t bring it up cuz it was already being talked about”
Yup, it’s all the fault of volunteers for not informing you personally. Get a freakin’ grip.
Yes #33 those of us who said we read it are just making it up to torture you. We just imagined it. What is the point? What will change if you find it? What won’t change? Maybe you could montior the park with all the time you have trying to search out a blog reference. It would certainly be more productive.
why doesn’t someone just contact the police to review crime stats - wouldn’t that make more sense that looking for some BS that someone posted anonymously on this site? Would it be any of the the association’s responsibility to make sure that EVERYTHING that happens in the respective neighborhoods be posted on the “Official Unofficial SH blog”?
The blog is a good thing but it is not the end all, be all….nor should it be - rather than whipping up mass hysteria go to the source and get accurate information people.
Number 36 I disagree. Having lived near the park for several years, I know there are problems from time to time. I read this blog regularly, but joined the neighborhood/association email group so that I may stay informed and up-to-date on happenings in the n’hood. I too find it peculiar that this was never mentioned. Usually when someone walks down the street we get notices. So for a shooting to go unmentioned causes one to wonder. If our association leaders know what happened and more details, we elected them to serve us. Part of the job that they “volunteered” for was to represent us, work with the city, inform neighbors and be our liaison with various city departments. However this was not the case in this instance. I could understand something petty perhaps, but when it involves a shooting, it is their responsibility to notify the neighbors as best they can. And yes, that may sometimes include posting to this site. I have seen numerous post on this site that were emailed from OSHNA Members. I don’t think that is too much to ask given this site is for Seminole Heights. The good, the bad and the ugly.
Lots and lots of ASSuming going on here. Pick up the friggin’ phone and any one of you can call or email your elected leaders, and call TPD and find out some facts. Instead you rail impotently on a blog, indignant with your sense of entitlement because someone else didn’t do what every single one of you is capable of. What is it that frightens you by getting involved? Look in the mirror and examine why you are dependent on others to give away information instead of taking the initiative to protect your children by actively seeking the truth and staying informed even if it means doing something yourselves. Are you the best citizen of the neighborhood that you can be? Is your glass house so well-built that you fling away with your stones of self-righteousness unfettered by a willingness to perform to the same standard you place on others? We all know the answer, and instead we will continue to sit on our behinds and hope someone else will do it for us.
Since several people remember reading it. Can’t someone find the link and post it again so we can move on? How hard would that be?
Try this one:
It’s not specific, but should have alerted people to ask questions.
http://seminoleheights.blog.com/4589900/
40, that is what I thought, but this one was in the middle of the night when it occured. The driveby was evidently during the day as they said a car was hit.
Interestingly enough I thought it would be posted over at the SESHCA website or they also have one that is almost all TPD fluff, notices, BOLO’s, etc. It wasn’t there. I am assuming that TPD and the association have a valid reason not to share the information with the neighbors living around the park. Let’s all wait to see what happens instead of jumping to conclusions.
Was there mention in your Newsletter? That would have been the appropriate venue for this sort of information.
We know how bad SESH is, they know how bad it is, they just don’t want OTHERS to know how bad it is lest their houses go even farther down in value and they’ll never be able to sell out and move.
We received seshca’s most recent newsletter the first sunday of march, which would have been March 8th, and I am guessing it takes some time for it to get printed and all, so how could this incident be in the newsletter if it happened just a couple weeks ago? I’m confused. Seems to me that this should have been on tv on the news or something. Why isn’t anyone mad about that? Maybe tv stations aren’t interested in seminole heights, just pinellas park and st. pete that’s where all the action is. not everyone had a computer and email but most people have tvs.
- Susan
I blame OSHNA.
I really liked the way you have put effort to write this post, Great work, keep it up !