tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33226151.post1275794615985946223..comments2024-01-12T11:26:35.176-05:00Comments on Working Stiffs: Small Town PoliticsWorking Stiffshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03270595837074553752noreply@blogger.comBlogger14125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33226151.post-23617630600261592442008-02-13T19:29:00.000-05:002008-02-13T19:29:00.000-05:00Maybe nobody bothered to tell the teenagers that t...Maybe nobody bothered to tell the teenagers that the sneaker thing was urban myth. From what I've been able to determine, at least two locations marked by sneakers really ARE frequented by kids buying and selling drugs. Both are spots where kids can see the cops coming a mile away and they scatter at the first sign of a police cruiser.Annettehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02755947919433555176noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33226151.post-44844683254842729332008-02-13T19:21:00.000-05:002008-02-13T19:21:00.000-05:00Sneakers: Not urban myth in an area near me. Ther...Sneakers: Not urban myth in an area near me. There's a pair over the line in a really poor section of the county--inhabited shacks with some of the walls missing poor. Big drug sales area according to the sheriff.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33226151.post-72623699910717840982008-02-13T16:39:00.000-05:002008-02-13T16:39:00.000-05:00Just another observation. The last pair of sneaker...Just another observation. The last pair of sneakers I saw hanging on a line where brand new an looked expensive I felt sorry for whoever lost them thinking once again bullies at work. Looks like the drug dealers are making alot of money.Beckyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13736609813600179473noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33226151.post-7085134492368320852008-02-13T16:31:00.000-05:002008-02-13T16:31:00.000-05:00About the sneakers is it an urban myth I think not...About the sneakers is it an urban myth I think not. Ask a teen. I always wonder about them. So I just asked my 22 year old what it meant and he said it means this is where you can buy drugs. I never knew! I also thought it was bullies at work.Beckyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13736609813600179473noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33226151.post-79703625405540900882008-02-13T09:01:00.000-05:002008-02-13T09:01:00.000-05:00I covered more than my share of borough council an...I covered more than my share of borough council and school board meetings--trust me, more boring than anything, but occasionally they provided much entertainment, and a lot of chances for head-shaking at the degree to which our local government's decisions are based on petty jealousies and idiosyncratic characters. I've seen too many mean-spirited, boorish small-time officials move on from boro council to State Rep or Senator to have much faith in their ability to govern sensibly. But, you're right, Annette, the local level of government provides a wealth of good info and ideas. As for the sneakers on the wires, I was told they memorialized fallen (that is, dead) gang members. Maybe it's my turn to complain to someone--city, electric or phone company--to cut them down.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33226151.post-88160026545887129082008-02-13T08:09:00.000-05:002008-02-13T08:09:00.000-05:00School board meetings---now that's a hornet's nest...School board meetings---now that's a hornet's nest of characters!<BR/><BR/>Tory, I'm going to try that Better Business thing on the kitchen & bath company that won't leave me alone.<BR/><BR/>NancyAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33226151.post-89451854276165715832008-02-13T08:01:00.000-05:002008-02-13T08:01:00.000-05:00"Effective complaining." I like that! Goodness kno..."Effective complaining." I like that! Goodness knows, most complaining certainly isn't very effective other than making the complainer feel better.Annettehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02755947919433555176noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33226151.post-31627279479104205702008-02-13T07:47:00.000-05:002008-02-13T07:47:00.000-05:00For YEARS I've gotten calls from the Central Blood...For YEARS I've gotten calls from the Central Blood Bank to donate, and no matter how many times I asked to be taken off their list, it never worked. The callers were always poorly trained and nasty.<BR/><BR/>When I got a call a month ago, I finally decided to make a complaint with the Better Business Bureau. Two weeks later I got an email from them that included an apology from the manager and an assurance I'd been taken off their phone list.<BR/><BR/>I wondered, "Why didn't I do this years ago?"<BR/><BR/>Score one for effective complaining!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33226151.post-54183384177638892962008-02-13T07:44:00.000-05:002008-02-13T07:44:00.000-05:00Joyce, I did recognize one gal there as a local co...Joyce, I did recognize one gal there as a local complainer no matter WHERE she goes...the supervisors meeting or the grocery store. <BR/><BR/>And rats. I thought I was on to something with this sneaker thing. <BR/><BR/>But digital mapping? Someone had too much time on their hands.Annettehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02755947919433555176noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33226151.post-80404791243980646282008-02-13T07:29:00.000-05:002008-02-13T07:29:00.000-05:00If you go to enough of these meetings, you'll see ...If you go to enough of these meetings, you'll see it's the same people complaining most of the time. Some don't have anything better to do.<BR/><BR/>And that sneaker thing? It's just an urban myth. Some group in Harrisburg even did an experiment using digital mapping to disprove the theory.Joyce Tremelhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00498392016497131719noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33226151.post-85774989744291818262008-02-13T07:27:00.000-05:002008-02-13T07:27:00.000-05:00Martha, I'm just relieved that I wasn't the only o...Martha, I'm just relieved that I wasn't the only one who didn't know what that meant!Annettehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02755947919433555176noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33226151.post-38148091684108436672008-02-13T07:24:00.000-05:002008-02-13T07:24:00.000-05:00I have wondered for years why there were sneakers ...I have wondered for years why there were sneakers hanging from the phone lines - the best explanation I could come up with was a lot of neighborhood bullies. Thanks for solving this mystery for me!Martha Reedhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05176667737130435985noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33226151.post-26825581555884272852008-02-13T07:07:00.000-05:002008-02-13T07:07:00.000-05:00Gina, I've called my national senators' offices. N...Gina, I've called my national senators' offices. Never talked directly to the guy, though. But my state rep? Yeah. Again, the closer to local, the easier it is to come face-to-face with a government official. Sure, you can let your voice be heard on a higher level, but you're less likely to be able to wave your finger in his face when your miffed about something.<BR/><BR/>I remember when we were fighting the prison, I took note of which congressmen and senators and commissionners etc bothered to come to the meetings. If they couldn't take the time to show up, I didn't vote for them again.Annettehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02755947919433555176noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33226151.post-75934579949200711522008-02-13T05:34:00.000-05:002008-02-13T05:34:00.000-05:00Actually, many levels of government are accessible...Actually, many levels of government are accessible if you really try. Calling your national or state senator or legislator's office can often get action. Here in Pittsburgh, calling the mayor's hotline sometimes works, too. <BR/><BR/>When I worked for the electric company, I found it heartening that any person, even a non-customer, can file a formal complaint against a public utility with the Public Utility Commission and get a hearing in front of an administrative law judge. OK, most cases are decided in the utility's favor, but that's not because the system is crooked -- it's because most utilities are smart enough to resolve the complaints that have merit before they get to hearings.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com