20 replies to this topic

[tony]

So you actually prefer broken glass over cigarette butts?

No, just (slightly) less of a pet peeve because broken bottles are a lot less common than cigarette butts; they also don't start grass fires. On the other hand, as a bicyclist, broken bottles are much more of a hazard, so, let's call them equal!

[eVader]

No offense, but we did. We called the cops, as well as several others, the first time when it started and it turned into an ugly fight and then called the cops a second time when a group parked next to us (with one of the combatants) called in their reinforcements, from Folsom, to fight again in the Target parking lot. It is unreasonable to expect Joe public to break up a fight of this size. Those involved were determined to continue to fight.

Agree. Adult + firm, authoritative voice works for single or small group of inconsiderate kids, what you and tony describe sounds dangerous to provoke unless it was Walker, Texas Ranger Chuck Norris who was there.

[ducky]

I agree with you that this is evidence of parents not having a handle on what their kids are doing, and that this seems to happening a lot lately in Folsom. I was actually using the term "wrong side of the tracks" not to describe kids from outside Folsom, but to describe kids from the "bad" side of town, whereby "bad" refers to the fact that there is more crime around Duchow Way, which is near Baskin Robbins. However, upon reflection, I find it just as likely that the kids converged on BR from anywhere in town. So I retract my "wrong side of the tracks" comment - good call-out!

Rich T, I know your perception of Duchow is shared by many, but I'd like to let you know that there really isn't as much crime on Duchow as there was in the distant past. They have done a good job of cleaning up those apartments. All I usually witness happening with kids over there is a corner lemonade stand, games of tag and hide & seek. If problems do develop, the Folsom PD is on it right away.

It's not perfect over here. We've had some catalytic converter thefts recently, but so have newer sections of Folsom. In fact, when I read the crime log I see a disturbing number of DUI arrests down on Sutter and the Historic District, but I also recognize names of people that I know to live in what you might consider the "good" area of Folsom.

Having lived on "the wrong side of the tracks" or the "bad" side of town for 30 years, I can tell you that not making a lot of money doesn't make you a bad parent just like having a lot of money doesn't automatically make you a good parent. I can also tell you we don't have any more crime than the "good" side of town. We're just living within our means.

[Rich_T]

Thanks, Ducky, that's important to share. I did have a perception of the Duchow Way area as being more crime-prone, because of hearsay and because I recall seeing that street name in the police blotter over the years - but I haven't paid careful attention, and things may well have changed for the better, as you say. Glad to hear it.

It's funny that you mention the DUI reports in the police blotter. I was actually thinking about composing a letter to the Telegraph (but I didn't, since I just wrote a letter a couple of weeks ago, and don't want to be viewed as one of those "letter writers"), reminding people to have a friend or taxi drive them home. Every single week the paper has a list of DUIs; no one seems to have "learned". The same goes for car break-ins, when people leave purses and valuables in a parked car around town. If people just did two simple things - find another driver, and don't leave valuables in the car -, the police blotter would be virtually empty each week.

As for rich parents vs. poor parents - I don't think that was implied by my original post. It's not about the money, it's about what goes on. If nothing much bad is going on around Duchow, that's fantastic. Apparently it used to be different. I also wouldn't assume that newer areas of Folsom are necessarily populated by "affluent" people. Most are probably struggling to make ends meet, as I know I am.

[4thgenFolsomite]

I didn't think that either until I saw a guy driving a Bentley down E. Bidwell this morning. That car cost more then my house did.

he was probably just passing through to check out his REITs while on his way to golf at Serrano.