In a somewhat imperfect analogy, you leave milk out for the stray cat on the back porch, expect to see that cat every night. Like clockwork.

quote:

Originally posted by bitterboy:
Ok, so what do you do with the person who is picking through the trash outside of Thipi Thai while customers are seated in the window eating their $20 plate? What do you do with the person who is hacking up phlegm balls and discarding cig butts under their table, while customers are seated trying to enjoy their morning breakfast? What do you do with a person who is filthy dirty and just downright smells offensive? These, as far as I know are not violations of our village ordinances, but does harm its economic development in a big way. I agree in that we shouldn't discriminate against a person based on their looks or social status. However, as unfortunate as it is, out of towners who come here to shop are not going to be as forgiving. I am not trying to be an *** here, but how do we handle this?

There is nothing either the village can do and/or the police if one is minding their own business and not violating the law. Being visually offensive is no crime and I understand this. However, I disagree with Fish when he wrote:

quote:

I really think it would accomplish little and not effect any permanent change. The "crimes" are not serious and even if we arrest them and even if the prosecutor decides to prosecute, what punishment is a judge going to hand down that would be any more severe than what they deal with on a daily basis? They are NOT going to be locked up.

I really think that if the village started enforcing its own ordinances the people who do violate them will eventually move on to the next place, a place where it is easier to maintain this sort of lifestyle (drinking, panhandling, swearing, etc). I say ticket them, just like anyone else. Wake them up when they are passed out in PPP and move them along. IMO, they are not going to want to be in a place that is uncomfortable. Word will get out and they will stop. Getting rid of the violators will relieve the problem. Right now, it's pretty much anything goes in GE and they know it.

I'm all for taking the day off...bringing my drink of choice in a brown paper bag of course to PPP, while lounging, then taking a very much needed nap without being bothered...Who's in????? Shirts are optional (for the male participants only)... We don't want to break any local laws.

One more thing, I think it's important to call the police when you see this stuff go on. A record needs to be built or the village and/or police will discount the problem as immaterial, if at all.

quote:

Originally posted by Clamato:

All that being said...I do agree with your theory that the CBD has been and will most likely continue to be irrelevant. And here is a shocker. I am not certain that I blame any one individual for its demise. Rather, you may be right that a locale completely off the beaten path and away from any major artery, a history of poor decision making on the part of past and even present administrations, and myriad competition...competition that continues to grow in every direction...seems to have sunk our little downtown area with the possible exception of service industries. We also live in a town where the majority of its inhabitants find it a major inconvenience to not have the ability to park directly in front of their destination. Restaurants can be our friends and there is no shame to have a million of them. I agree that Glen Ellyn could become a dining mecca in western suburbs...and that wouldn't necessarily be a bad thing. In hindsight, I rarely buy anything in town that cannot be consumed via the mouth...unless it is at the bike shop. Any improvement probably wouldn't have me changing my shopping pattern.

the history of GE's CBD suggests:
1) it was originally at five corners to service the wagon traffic that existed there.

2) it was wrested from five corners by an innovative thinker, dr. newton, who knew the train was coming through and and its owners had already deemed they were not going to divert south to five corners. worried his town was going to end up a memory, the enterprizing doc newton, diverted water from his property near what is now hillside and main all the way to approximately what is now main and crecesnt, in addition to his hard labor off diverting water, he built a water tank. the trains stopped and the GE CBD was officially born.

3) mid -20th century, rte 38 was established on the south end of town and businesses sprang up there. as time wore on, the trains became less important and autos beccame consumers' preferred mode of transportation. today we have consumers who DEMAND immediate satisfaction and gratification when it comes to their products and services. they also drive elaborate vehicles to assist them in their consuming endeavors. most neighboring communities (read: GE CBD competition) recognized that trend decades ago, then planned and built destinations that served this new auto-centric consumer. other than for a few thousand GE residents/consumers, GE's CBD is too far and too difficult to navigate for today's consumer.

i wish that, in addition to surveying the local residents/consumers, GE's EDC should be fervently researching neighboring citizens/consumers to find out that it is that they are missing from their current shopping/consuming experiences OUTSIDE of GE. this is where the sweet spots/white space opportunity for GE's CBD innovation resides. by only surveying the locals, the EDC we will not garner the data they need to truly differentiate themselves from vicious neighboring competition who are light years ahead. nor will it be nearly enough data to appease/attract serious brands to the CBD.

i know, i know. the thread's topic is homeless. sue me, i started it.

It's all hand-in-hand. And if there were a person to listen to with regard to branding of GE and GE history...I'd say it was you. Regardless of your shitty eyesight.

I'll bet you have some people on Rt. 38 scrambling to figure out what you're talking about.

quote:

Originally posted by Clamato:


I'll bet you have some people on Rt. 38 scrambling to figure out what you're talking about.

i thought you were anti-emoticon.

btw, i will go toe-to-toe on an eye-chart exam w/you any day, my friend.

quote:

Originally posted by Clamato:
And if there were a person to listen to with regard to branding of GE and GE history...I'd say it was you.

btw, i'm not talking about re-branding GE; i'm talking about reinventing the CBD. big difference. rebanding GE is no where near enough to win against the competition, let alone attract repeat consumers.

AFTER we reinvent, we can rebrand. rebrand now and you'll only piss off prospective consumers who come to "discover" GE's CBD only find what it really is.

quote:

Originally posted by Fish:


I really think it would accomplish little and not effect any permanent change. The "crimes" are not serious and even if we arrest them and even if the prosecutor decides to prosecute, what punishment is a judge going to hand down that would be any more severe than what they deal with on a daily basis? They are NOT going to be locked up.

I think the "punishment" is the inconvenience of getting rousted out of your nap in the PPP and told to move on. To take away the 40 oz. and dump it out on the curb, forcing them to scrape another few bucks together, and then dumping that one out the next time they go to take a sip. Basically, have the GE Police be a pain in the *** for any vagrant who wants to loiter, panhandle, or publicly consume alcohol. The hope being that they'll stop their behavior and/or move on to other towns that don't enforce their own laws.

quote:

Originally posted by middlein87:
I think the "punishment" is the inconvenience of getting rousted out of your nap in the PPP and told to move on. To take away the 40 oz. and dump it out on the curb, forcing them to scrape another few bucks together, and then dumping that one out the next time they go to take a sip. Basically, have the GE Police be a pain in the *** for any vagrant who wants to loiter, panhandle, or publicly consume alcohol. The hope being that they'll stop their behavior and/or move on to other towns that don't enforce their own laws.

Excellent idea! I like the way you problem solve!

Now all we need is a police car and a couple of uniforms. Mine will need to be big.

quote:

The hope being that they'll stop their behavior and/or move on to other towns that don't enforce their own laws.

Hmmmm....I wonder if they have come here for this very reason.....

quote:

Originally posted by scotty:

quote:

Originally posted by middlein87:
I think the "punishment" is the inconvenience of getting rousted out of your nap in the PPP and told to move on. To take away the 40 oz. and dump it out on the curb, forcing them to scrape another few bucks together, and then dumping that one out the next time they go to take a sip. Basically, have the GE Police be a pain in the *** for any vagrant who wants to loiter, panhandle, or publicly consume alcohol. The hope being that they'll stop their behavior and/or move on to other towns that don't enforce their own laws.

Excellent idea! I like the way you problem solve!

That's what I stated above, see 8 posts prior. I'll admit is wasn't written as pretty as Middle's, but contained the same idea. See Clam, I get no respect.

quote:

Originally posted by bitterboy:

quote:

Originally posted by scotty:

quote:

Originally posted by middlein87:
I think the "punishment" is the inconvenience of getting rousted out of your nap in the PPP and told to move on. To take away the 40 oz. and dump it out on the curb, forcing them to scrape another few bucks together, and then dumping that one out the next time they go to take a sip. Basically, have the GE Police be a pain in the *** for any vagrant who wants to loiter, panhandle, or publicly consume alcohol. The hope being that they'll stop their behavior and/or move on to other towns that don't enforce their own laws.

Excellent idea! I like the way you problem solve!

That's what I stated above, see 8 posts prior. I'll admit is wasn't written as pretty as Middle's, but contained the same idea. See Clam, I get no respect.

You'll just need to get over this stuff, Bitter Boy. BTW, I hope you can attend my community meeting at the Tap House Grill on the 26th. We'll be discussing various issues that affect our village. Just a little something I came up with. Hope you can make it.

quote:

Originally posted by Clamato:
Now all we need is a police car and a couple of uniforms. Mine will need to be big.

See Officer Mahoney, he'll get you hooked up.

quote:

BTW, I hope you can attend my community meeting at the Tap House Grill on the 26th. We'll be discussing various issues that affect our village. Just a little something I came up with. Hope you can make it.

Bitter and I have a quorum meeting on the 28th at the Tap House Grill.

Mine will be a couple of days earlier. And the suggestions that come out of it will be cutting edge.

quote:

Originally posted by Clamato:
Now all we need is a police car and a couple of uniforms. Mine will need to be big.

Think something like this.....

quote:

Originally posted by Clamato:
Mine will be a couple of days earlier. And the suggestions that come out of it will be cutting edge.

What time and how will people know you?

Will you be wearing something from the Judge Smails collection?

Yoss....I see you're trying to steal my thunder on the nwburbs site. Aren't you something.