AJC: Controversial shelter makes a final stand
May 2010 Safety Meeting Report
At the May safety meeting we featured Officer Al Gruen, who talked to us about personal safety. We also had the victim of a street robbery tell his dramatic story in which the perpetrator jumped down from a wall along the sidewalk at 7th and Juniper. The MPSA Patrol, APD, and other public officials were in attendance and gave their respective updates.
We asked Officer Gruen to talk about Personal Safety because of the frequency of muggings on the streets of Midtown and in the Georgia Tech, VaHi, and Ansley areas. We have a great many pedestrians at all hours walking among these areas – waiters and bar staff, students, and those heading home after the last bus. Unfortunately, violent incident reports occur more often than you might think. We also have a significant number of joggers and MARTA patrons out on the streets in the pre-sunrise hours at risk. We anticipate more street incidents as the weather warms.
Officer Gruen works in Zone 5 and came to APD about four years ago after having worked 23 years in aviation. He spent over 18 years with Delta Airlines after four years in the Navy as an Aviation Maintenance Technician working on an aircraft carrier.
Since coming to APD, he has proactively served the Midtown community and surrounding area. He has personally apprehended a number of drug dealers and car break-in perpetrators who remain locked up as we speak. His proactivity also contributes greatly in areas involving quality of life issues (vagrancy and nuisance activity).
As a matter of habit, he will scan the projected routes for pedestrians walking through the neighborhood. While patrolling, he often encounters citizens obviously unaware of dangerous situations that they are about to stumble into. He emphasizes that the key to crime prevention lies in awareness – including paying attention to one’s surroundings, avoid texting while walking, staying with friends, parking in well-lit areas, and keeping your car clean (We cannot emphasize Major Williams’ Clean Car Campaign enough!).
In addition to his regular APD position, Gruen also works a number of off-duty jobs including MPSA, Blake’s and Bedford Pine. We are very fortunate to have a proactive and dedicated officer like him working in our immediate community and to have him share his knowledge of Personal Safety with us.
Top Ten Car Break-In Perps
Several weeks ago local media reported that Major Williams launched his seven most wanted for car break-ins. The Major sent us the list, which has since expanded to ten. The full story at CBS 46 and the full list are linked below.
- CBS 46: Atlanta’s Most Wanted For Auto Break-Ins
- APD (hosted by MPSA): Zone 5 top entering auto perpetrator status
SPI Club Update (Brodie vs. City of Atlanta) 5/07/2010
We received the following from the attorneys for Steve Brodie:
I am sure you are already aware of this, but on Friday, we filed an appeal to the BZA of the issuance of the letter of compliance by the Bureau of Buildings. Pursuant to our agreement made in court, the matter of the issuance of alcoholic beverage licenses to SPI Club, Inc., is now stayed until the appeal is ruled upon.
The hearing is scheduled for July 1 at noon. The schedule is subject to change by the BZA. It is critical that there is a solid showing of citizens at this hearing. As you’re keenly aware at the last BZA appeal hearing regarding this matter brought by another party, the issues affecting the neighborhood were summarily dismissed by the BZA. This was fairly easy for them to do since there was minimal presence.
Background info: Ichter Thomas LLC, are the attorneys representing a group of concerned citizens and businesses in the Peachtree corridor who have filed legal action to assure the City complies and adheres to zoning code for SPI-16. This action does not name SPI or any individual associated with the Clubs as a Defendent. This action is specifically directed at requiring the City to comply with existing SPI-16 Zoning Code and Liquor License Ordinances as they have been applied to preceding applicants. NOTE: SPI means SPI Club, formerly Club Vision and SPI-16 refers to a zoning overlay affecting that part of Midtown. We can only assume the club was named the same as the zoning to create confusion.
Peachtree Pine Foreclsure Final
major turn of events has taken place at Peachtree Pine. Atlanta Business Chronicle released an article covering the auction sale of the Peachtree Pine facility on its website. The Business Chronicle article pointed out that Ichthus acquired the facility as the sole bidder, and as the lender foreclosing on the property, for $900k.
Meanwhile Anita Beaty, the executive director of the shelter, told Creative Loafing that anyone coming to enforce foreclosure measures will be met with resistance. More in the ABC and Creative Loafing articles linked below.
MPSA understands that Ichthus is working with the Regional Commission on Homelessness, the United Way, and its partner agencies to ensure that current clients of the shelter receive the kind of intensive case work assistance, and make the transition to permanent supportive housing, that they have long deserved. This process will take a few months.
The community should be attentive to any increase in street people activity – urban camping, loitering, and drug activity included – and report them to police and neighborhood groups so they can be addressed as early as possible.
It is not quite time for dancing in the streets, for the greater community now begins a long process of cleaning up after Peachtree Pine. This will not happen overnight, but will require a persistent and assertive approach, with an eye toward compassionate response to the needs of the truly homeless. We expect many more details to emerge, so watch local media reports and Eye on Midtown…
- Atlanta Business Chronicle: Ichthus gets Peachtree-Pine shelter
- Creative Loafing: Peachtree-Pine homeless shelter bought by developer
Sponsors
Many thanks for our community sponsors! While the majority of our funding comes from residents and small businesses, a significant portion of our neighborhood patrol funds comes from the following sponsors:
