my gut is the hats are a bad thing- I concur with the community leaders. it is a conundrum though b/c people wear OC or Tremont hats and it is all about community pride and support.

The company has agreed not to sell the hats. They have already been pulled from stores.

From the 6/14/07 PD:

 

 

Drug arrests focus on 2 dangerous street gangs

Thursday, June 14, 2007

Mike Tobin

Plain Dealer Reporter

 

Federal and city officials are halfway through their Top 10 list of the most dangerous street gangs in Cleveland after police rounded up members of two more gangs Wednesday.

 

"We're focusing on the most violent, dangerous gangs and going after them," said Special Agent Christopher Sadowski of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.

 

...

 

To reach this Plain Dealer reporter: [email protected], 216-999-4128

 

http://www.cleveland.com/news/plaindealer/index.ssf?/base/cuyahoga/1181810430292680.xml&coll=2

 

The Plain Dealer

Man killed on Bridge Avenue

Posted by Brie Zeltner June 18, 2007 16:58PM

Categories: Breaking News, Crime

A man was shot dead about 4 p.m. today in an apartment house at West 44th Street and Bridge Avenue in Cleveland.

 

Witnesses said the gunman left the area as a passenger in a taxi cab. Police called the taxi back to the crime scene to examine it for evidence.

 

The suspect had not been captured.

 

Police have not identified the victim but neighbors said his name was Chris and he was about 20 years old.

 

www.cleveland.com

WTF, how do you shoot someone and get in a cab and drive off

 

He certainly didnt hail it, it must have been waiting.  therefore it was called, and it should not be hard to find the guy or a witness

The Plain Dealer

Rival gangs talk truce after a violet spring

Friday, June 22, 2007

Stan Donaldson, Plain Dealer Reporter

Reese didn’t quite know what he got himself into when he hopped into a van headed to the St. Clair Superior Development Corp. building.

 

“Is this a setup?” the skinny teen asked driver Steve “Black” Nolan. “You trying to get us locked up, man?”

 

It’s not every day that rival teen gang members voluntarily surrender their guns and take rides to secret, neutral ground to talk about a truce.

 

...

 

www.cleveland.com

Paging JDD (or anyone else who knows),

 

on Wednesday around maybe late afternoon, there was a huge billowing of smoke from in the vicinity of E.79th and maybe.......uh.....miles? woodhill? I was on the choo-choo so trying to pinpoint the exact location, blah blah blah.

 

Any details?

East 80th and Bessemer - a recycling plant fire. http://www.wkyc.com/news/news_article.aspx?storyid=69992

A Starbuck's employee was assaulted this morning in the atrium of the BP Building at 6:00 AM.  Let me say that again:  IN THE ATRIUM OF THE BUILDING!

 

Is there anyway we can start that UrbanOhio Vigilante gang?

can you give more information other than the "action news" eye catching blurb?

can you give more information other than the "action news" eye catching blurb?

 

internal memo to tennants.

 

confirmed.

 

 

^^^ That cloud of smoke from the fire was visible for me as I was driving north on E. 105th from University Circle all the way past I-90 in Bratenahl. What a large cloud it was!

Whoa.  Has that building gone down since BP vacated!  :wtf:

 

When I worked there you couldn't sneak a paper clip hidden between your cheek and gum outta that place!

 

Before 7AM are the side doors (Superior & Euclid were closed) and the only access to the building is via the garage or the revolving doors.  There was always at least ONE GUARD on the one revolving door.  and the door with the guard at the top of the atrium where the elevators to the tenant floors are.

 

Will the security guards walk you from BP to TC on request?  Does the building still offer that service?

as far as I can tell the building is completely locked up before 7am. (page for security at any door with card access)

 

Each set of entrances has the card access.

 

The attacker in this scenario came in behind the card access entry.

Oh when I was there the card access system was in affect.  until you got the mezz/tenant elevator level.  At that point you would flash you car and the infa red scanners would then let you pass.

 

If your badge wasn't programmed properly then a security guard would ask you to step to the right (into that little office on the Euclid side of the building ) to interrogate or beat you.

i "think" that desk is staffed from 6 to 6 maybe? Where you still have to flash your card, but no sign of infrared or whatever.

 

Either way the elevators don't operate without another card access point. During other times, there's usually one or two roving security guards. throughout the main floor and elevator lobby.

wow things have certainly changed.

 

In my day, there were always atleast 6 guards on the main floor of the Atrium and two on each side of the atrium from floors 2-8.

wow that certainly has changed.  There were always atleast 6 guards on the main floor of the Atrium and two on each level of the atrium from floor 2-8.

 

well roving during business hours, I don't know. I'd say about 4 or 5. Then anywhere from 1 to 3 at the main desk (elevator lobby)

Well most of the security was because of the art collection and that the SOHIO corporate conference center was outside of security on security level.

Assaulted? As in raped? Mugged? Any details would be appreciated.

this was just sent to us here at work:

 

Note: This occurred yesterday morning at the BP Building and the note came from their management staff, the phone number listed is for BP management.

 

At around 6:00am today a person was assaulted in the Atrium.  The attacker apparently followed the victim in after door unlocking and used a cutter in his attack.  The attacker, described as an African American male, 5’9”, heavy set, wearing khaki shirt and black pants, left through the Public Square entrance.  The victim is receiving treatment for minor injuries.

 

Harbor Group Management Company takes any security seriously and will add additional security patrols today. Additionally, an off duty police officer will patrol the Atrium temporarily, starting tomorrow morning.  The Cleveland Police Department is investigating further.

 

We remind all tenants to be aware of their surroundings and report any suspicious incidents to the Management Office at

 

 

well atleast they are communicating with the tennants.

 

Its sad that this had to happen in such a high profile building.

 

To you tenants, are the security entrance camera's still there?

 

I guess I'm expecting the building to run the same as it did when BP was owner/occupant.

MyTwoSense...sorry I didn't get back to you quicker on that, but it seems everyone else got the information.

 

As far as I know, the guy just took some money and cut the victim using a box cutter.  Nothing more than that, but still serious enough.

well hopefully, the tenants will be more cautious and this doesn't turn into "downtown isn't safe" water cooler talk.

 

I hope they catch the sack of shit!  :whip:

Holy moly! This ain't good:

 

Four people are dead after a night of gunfire in Cleveland. Three more are near death in local hospitals, police said. Nearly a dozen others are recovering from gunshot wounds.

 

Cleveland firefighter Terrance Hough Jr., 35, is in jail, accused of shooting a neighbor and two visitors dead and injuring five others in a barrage of gunfire at 4375 Sky Lane Drive a little after midnight. Hough lives at 4381 Sky Lane Drive.

 

...

(Updates 7:48 a.m. version) http://blog.cleveland.com/plaindealer/2007/07/shootings_slashing_make_for_bl.html

    * 3 a.m. in the Warehouse District outside the Sky Bar, a man was shot in the head and may die. Three other men were shot and are recovering. Two of the men live in Twinsburg, Stacho said.

 

Has anyone else noticed that the WHD has gotten a bit lax in terms of dress code, public drunkeness, & conduct?  I don't want to see it slip....

It does seem like Spy Bar has been attracting a much rougher crowd in the past couple years, a la Moda. This is not the first time there has been a shooting outside that place.

It does seem like Spy Bar has been attracting a much rougher crowd in the past couple years, a la Moda. This is not the first time there has been a shooting outside that place.

 

if you ask me SPY started down that slope about 4 years ago.

regarding the warehouse district..I am not there often, esp at night, however I remember a few years ago I heard (maybe even on this board)the club owners wanted to ban together to try and avoid the $1 shots and beers or what night that was the beginning of the end for old flats. The more current issue I heard is WHD is getting complaints about the same issue the west flats is having with Mirage and sometimes Alchemy (sp). the Sunday night  (as opposed to other nights oddly )hard core hip hop nights do not bring out the best behavior in some of the people that visit.  I am not talking about the noise and traffic, but violent crime. As where I live I know WHD is trying very hard to make it through (or prevent) the bumps in the road and not concider this a slide. As a point of discussion, the thing that concerns me is the city while I believe willing to address some of these issues, is unable to implement action against places that are literally deadly. I am sure it has to do with legal rights of the clubs.  I feel pretty sure this is not Sky's first shooting  incident (Although is there a "spy" bar...I wonder if I am getting confused)

^Absolutely.

Back in my cab driving days, Saturday nights were really scary.

Sort of frightening, really. Other cities have clubs and people don't get shot up. Frankly, Cleveland can't afford to let the WHD turn into the Wild West.

Spy has basically taken over the reins from Moda - a once-upscale club starts to fade, so they loosen the dress codes, lower the cover prices, and problems start. And I know that it might be taboo to suggest it, but the connection between the hip-hop/rap nights and the violence is hardly an isolated coincidence.

 

It's sad, back in the mid 90s when I went to places on West 6th on any kind of regular basis, Spy was by far the most upscale joint in Cleveland and you didn't get in if you were wearing jeans. The worst fight I saw was someone yelling at a bouncer for not letting him in - for wearing stereotypical "thug" clothing. Go figure.

 

jamiec, nuisance clubs and violence are hardly "only in Cleveland".

Here in Chicago people are shot and killed inside of clubs, usually when they are with NFL players (Tank Johnson)

^ I agree but we get so desperate for supporting business we allow these places to hang on  in what are essentially really nice neighborhoods with a variety of residents and visitors -most of whom do not want to  put up with it(and pay higher end prices for housing rents/purchases). 

Good lord. There was a heavy police presence downtown last night, I hope at least they caught the shooter(s) at Spy.

Someone got shot at the Baby Grand ... ugh ... about half a block from my house. I know a lot of people think of the mid-east side as a bastion for crime, but this is the first shooting I can remember hearing about in Asiatown since I moved in. All in all, that is a crazy number of shootings for one night.

you know its weird I actually think Asiatown seems pretty safe...It has roughish look, but I do not ever feel unsafe there. I really had to do ad double take on that shooting total...Four people are dead after a night of gunfire in Cleveland. Three more are near death in local hospitals, police said. Nearly a dozen others are recovering from gunshot wounds.

 

 

do I see correctly -19 shootings total in one evening??? how unfortunate. I will tell a positive story in this. Perhaps a  thousand or more people descended on the superior viaduct to watch the fire works. A very diverse group from the surrounding neighborhood and a bit of a  police/ security presence. most people had picnics and despite limited trash receptacles, appeared to pick up every speck of trash (it was dark, so I may have to take another look out there in daylight)  upon leaving and there were no disruptions all.

The shooting involving the firefighter shocks the hell outta me.  I knew the guy and he always seemed pretty mellow and nice.  I never hung out with him socially, but working a few times with him these actions just seem surreal.  Our station went to that call...it was sad and I was embarrassed that a fellow firefighter would do such a thing.  The thing that got to me was...later that night we were told that if we had any emergencies on that street we had to wait for police escort due to hostile feelings and threats made to the fire department.  Seriously, I understand why someone would be beyond upset... but would retaliating against someone just because they had the same job as one idiot gonna make things better?  Never understand that mentality.

 

As for Spy bar....that bar DID used to be THE place to go, but with competition, they started to fade.  As most bars do, they turn to an laternative when business fades..which is "18 and over" night and/or hip hop night.  Yes, it IS taboo to bring up hip hop night as a problem, but it is what it is.    The demise of the flats can be partially attributed to this, the Mirage...., and now the Spy bar.  And no...this was NOT the first gun incident involving a spillover from Spy.    Plain and simple, bars need to be 21 and over!  It is painfully obvious that having underage nights has NEVER worked well.  If the kiddies want to go and act like grown ups, give them a club setting where NO alcohol is served...NO EXCEPTIONS!  As far as hip hop nights...I have been to clubs where there have been no trouble on these nights.....why?  21 and over AND strict dress codes.  We buy into this shitty thug mentality and turn our heads to the trouble it brings....I am tired of the excuses of "it's the youth culture" or it's "racist" to not allow that style of dress into a club. 

 

Excuse my language...but F#CK THAT.  I am so tired of all these little shits talking about their rights when it's MY tax money that pays for most of them.  I see black kids AND white kids (and others between)  running around all night long, I see them sitting on the stoop or on the street corners doing nothing except using up precious oxygen, NOT working, and ruining things for those who are not A-holes (meaning nightspots, parks, basketball courts, etc etc)  I like this city, I live in this city, I work in this city...but I am sorry, I see neighborhoods getting worse and worse through my job.  I saddens and sickens me.  There are some great things happening in the city, but the unfortunate thing is..it is turning into a singles city.  The schools SUCK..plain and simple.  It's not the money for the schools..it's how children are raised, and unfortunately there isn't much parenting going on here. put more money into the schools?  No.  Lets see...the school at E116th and Buckeye near where I had worked JUST had ALL the windows replaced and upgraded, I transferred to another station on the West side, went back a few months later to visit my friends...and what did I see..the school was razed!!!  WTF!?!?! 

 

What would I suggest?  Stop coddling the leaches of society!  There is NO REASON you cannot become educated with a free school system.  Parents..take charge and be a parent!  Quit having a baby (or multiples) out of a solid relationship!  Kids...quit having kids!!  That is a very adult thing to do..in this day and age we all know how babies are made...quit making them.  Bring discipline and respect back to where it was when I was was a kid (and before that)!  City of Cleveland...BAN bars from serving booze when they allow patrons under 21 in the doors.  City of Cleveland...cut the cute little programs out and hire more police...have FOOT PATROLS and/or BIKE PATROLS in high density entertainment / residential areas until the crowds are gone in the early hours.  The off duty door cops aren't enough...you need STREET PRESENCE!!  City of Cleveland....target the "trouble" clubs and require metal detectors at the door to stop guns from coming in!  If trouble can't come in the door, trouble makers go elsewhere.  Bar owners...get together and get these things straightened out BEFORE it becomes a problem..don't let this turn into what the FLATS was on the end of it's tenure.  Once trouble gets a foothold, good people stop going..like the Flats.

 

Sorry..this is my rant...you may or may not agree with the things I have said.  I KNOW there are many different people on here that have different views.  We all come from different trains of thought and backgrounds.  Some straight, some gay, childless, maybe some with kids?  not sure.  But there are different concerns with who you may be and what stage in life you may be in.  It all boils down to one thing..there IS a problem in this city right now and it is becoming more critical than many may think (violence), and SOMETHING needs to be done!

^Passionate and well said.

Looks like the AP has grabbed the story.

 

From CNN:

 

3 shot to death in dispute over fireworks, police say

Story Highlights

 

NEW: Dozen guns found in arrested man's home, police say

 

NEW: Neighbors had called police in past about house where shooting occurred

[/u]

Firefighter arrested in connection with fatal shootings near his home in Cleveland

 

CLEVELAND, Ohio (AP) -- A neighbor apparently angry about fireworks at a noisy Fourth of July party shot three people to death early Thursday and wounded two others, police said.

 

Terrance Hough Jr., a 35-year-old off-duty firefighter, was arrested in connection with the shootings, police spokesman Lt. Thomas Stacho said.

 

No charges had been filed Thursday morning because police were still gathering evidence and interviewing witnesses, Stacho said. There was no phone listing for Hough's address.

 

Police had received a number of complaints in recent years about loud parties, fireworks and drag racing connected to the house where the victims were shot, Stacho said. Some complaint calls came from Hough's address, but no one called police about the party Thursday night. <A HREF="http://www.cnn.com/2007/US/07/05/fireworks.ap/index.html#cnnSTCVideo">Watch friends create memorial for shooting victims »</A>

 

...

 

Copyright 2007 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

 

 

^I don't know why that is all underlined.

 

******************************************

 

I think I figured out why all this went down yesterday. According to the Mount Vernon News, it is against the law for anyone to be arrested on the Fourth of July.

 

Ohio Revised Code 2331.12 Days on which arrests may not be made.

 

No person shall be arrested during a sitting of the senate or house of representatives, within the hall where such session is being held, or in any court of justice during the sitting of such court, or on Sunday or on the fourth day of July.

 

Effective Date: 10-01-1953

 

Mount Vernon News:

Obscure holiday law still in effect in Ohio

By [email protected] Anton Hepler, News Staff Reporter

Tuesday, July 03, 2007

 

MOUNT VERNON — An obscure Ohio law, enacted in 1953, states that no person shall be arrested on the Fourth of July. The law also states that no one shall be arrested on a Sunday, or on their way to or from their designated place of worship. Although the Ohio Senate introduced a bill to repeal this law in 1998, it failed to pass and the law remains in effect to this day.

 

...

 

 

For IMMEDIATE RELEASE

July 5, 2007

 

Contact: Tom Yablonsky

Executive Director

216/409-7320

 

The Historic Warehouse District Development Corporation deeply regrets the incident which occurred in the early morning hours today in which four people were shot outside the Spy Bar. This type of behavior, while extremely rare, is absolutely not acceptable to the stakeholders of the Historic Warehouse District.

 

Last August, the Historic Warehouse District Development Corporation, on behalf of its stakeholders, supported the request of the Cleveland Police Department to object to the renewal of the liquor licence for this establishment. Councilman Cimperman officially objected to the Ohio Division of Liquor Control at that time. A hearing on this matter was scheduled for last Friday, June 29, but was continued (postponed) at the request of legal counsel for Spy.

 

In addition, last October, the Historic Warehouse District, with financial support from the Cleveland Foundation, the Gund Foundation and the Downtown Cleveland Alliance, initiated a pro-active, grass-roots program which has been implemented in numerous cities nationwide.

 

The Responsible Hospitality Institute focuses on mixed use urban environments such as the Historic Warehouse District which are on the cutting edge of the new cafe society. The program guides participants through a process which leads to better planning, managing and policing of their neighborhood by developing a consensus of community standards by its stakeholders. 80 individuals, including representatives from night clubs, restaurants, retail, building owners and managers, residents, safety forces and other City departments have been involved in this effort. This year long program is well underway and we fully expect to implement several key ideas, which have been identified by the participants, later this year. (See rhiweb.org/cleveland for more information.)

 

In addition to its many award winning restaurants, the Historic Warehouse District is home to a dozen exciting night clubs which attract thousands of patrons each week. The Historic Warehouse District Development Corporation remains committed to creating and sustaining an exemplary residential, commercial and retail neighborhood in the heart of the City through active and committed partnership with district business, civic and government leaders.

Do what pittsburgh does- 1 shooting is usually enough to declare a bar a nuisance bar and the nuisance bar tasks force closes it period:

http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/s_464716.html

 

Touch nightclub, to my knowledge, is no more after the referenced club shooting last year.

 

In my opinion, everyone should be frisked at the door of every club. This is how they do it in Montreal and Toronto for everyone's safety.  It makes even more sense to do it in Cleveland given the state of this city.

 

Most importantly, the police presence in this city is very poor. You absolutely need cops and bike and foot, especially in high density areas at night. My hunch is that Cleveland simply doesn't have the resources (money, man-power, know-how, or intellegence) to implement any sort of effective anti-crime approach, as has been done in Pittsburgh with great success. The truth is the federal goverment needs to be held responsible to some degree and shouldn't be letting poor cities like Baltimore, Philly, or Cleveland fend for themselves. Instead, our President seems to be more concerned with sending resources overseas when they are desperately needed at home.

Some more suggestions,

 

1. No more 18 and over nights. This is a no brainer and should have been implemented a long time ago. I don't know why anyone in city government thinks this is OK.

 

2. I notice that the hearing for SpyBar was postpond at request of legal council. This tactic simply buys time for the nuisance establishment to run longer, and is a popular tactic by liquor stores in the wAshington DC area. Judges need to recognize when there is a problem at hand and deny any request to postpone the hearing. I'm sure there was no good reason for postponing the hearing in the first place.

 

3. I simply have not been hearing the mayor address the crime issue in this city at all. Whenever there is a problem in Pittsburgh, the mayor always addresses it and attention is focused on problem areas. someone needs to kick him in the ass and tell him to wake up. At least if you can't do anything about it because you don't have the resources, at least make it look like you care for crying out loud!

 

Some more suggestions,

 

2. I notice that the hearing for SpyBar was postpond at request of legal council. This tactic simply buys time for the nuisance establishment to run longer, and is a popular tactic by liquor stores in the wAshington DC area. Judges need to recognize when there is a problem at hand and deny any request to postpone the hearing. I'm sure there was no good reason for postponing the hearing in the first place.

 

 

 

A hearing on this matter was scheduled for last Friday, June 29, but was continued (postponed) at the request of legal counsel for Spy.

Wow...I live about .25 mile north (as the crow flies) from Skylane in Old Brooklyn.  I cycle through there frequently, and the neighborhood is quiet and well-kept.  It's almost rural in character.  Now it's a murder scene.

 

Do we not have consideration for one another anymore? 

http://www.cleveland.com/news/plaindealer/index.ssf?/base/cuyahoga/1183711339192830.xml&coll=2

 

Neighbors point to patrons; owner says race is issue

Friday, July 06, 2007

Susan Vinella, Stan Donaldson and Henry J. Gomez

Plain Dealer Reporters

 

A shooting spree in one of Cleveland's most popular entertainment districts doesn't mean it's headed the way of the Flats.

 

Business owners and residents in the Warehouse District say the neighborhood remains vibrant and safe, despite the shooting of four people Thursday morning. But they are worried about growing numbers of underage drinkers and rough crowds.

 

...

 

[email protected], 216-999-5010

 

 

Shut it down.

Where is Frank Jackson for any of this?  Maybe he has weighed in but I have not heard it.  Correct me if I am wrong, but he was no where to be found when that guy shot the 15-year old in self defense, and now the deadliest night in Cleveland in his administration, and not a word?  I have to ask, what the hell is he doing?  I am not saying he has the answer to these problems, but he needs to be out there talking to people and weighing in on these tragedies.

Whenever there is a problem like this, the easiest thing for the accused to do is throw out the "oh, everyone is racist, they don't like the black crowd."

Well, if they're the ones shooting 5 people at 3:00am, people don't like that crowd if they're black, white, red, yellow, whatever.  If race is the issue, fine, deal with it.  Like it or not, a certain kind of hip-hop attracts a certain part of the black population.  Thugs. 

There are of course deeper issues on a city-wide level to deal with this behavior, but at a place like this it's as easy as not having under-age hip-hop night in a packed downtown neighborhood.