MT Hope

The Most Amazing Woman

2010-05-26T16:41:55Z

Ayaan Hirsi Ali: one of the most amazing ~~women~~ people in the world.

As the debate on Islam rages on and propagandists on all sides try to pass off dis-information as fact (Islam is a peaceful religion -- yeah, right) or the West has declared war on Islam (oh, we got bigger fish to fry) the name Ayaan Hirsi Ali keeps popping up.

Ayaan Hirsi Ali disavowed Islam and left the religion and has been outspoken and unafraid to actively campaign against Islamic practices and specifically Islam's subjugation of women and the cruel and arcane practice of female circumcision, also known as genital cutting or mutilation. Radical Islamic Extremists have put out a Fatwa (an Islamic death sentence) on her necessitating her to live under the protection of armed bodyguards.

Deborah Solomon's interview with Hirsi Ali, for the New York Times Magazine provides a brief, albeit basic, glimpse into who this amazing woman is and what she stands for. Her answers are loaded with meaning that can only be found between the lines.

Solomon's questions are in bold text and Hirsi Ali's answers are in regular.

What Islam really needs is a reform branch -- Reform Islam, which, like the Reform Jewish movement, would reconcile an ancient faith with modern ways.

The problem is that those of us who were born into Islam and who don't want to live according to scripture -- we don't have what the Jews have, which is a rabbinical tradition that allows you to ask questions. We also don't have the church tradition that the Christians have.

You have the mosque.
The mosque is not the church.

People commit more atrocities, murder more people, shed more blood, in the name of god and religion than any other existing belief: do we really need it?

Trouble Down South (Providence)

2010-05-25T14:10:53Z

We can all be thankful for the peace and tranquility we enjoy here in Mt. Hope, on Providence's East Side, for it is not always that way in other parts of the City.

I browse ProJo for city news and one of the articles that jumped out at me was this title: Gangs Retaliate with Firebombs (click for link).

From the article:

Five firebombs have hit houses in Providence since September -- including two at the same location. All involve crude Molotov cocktails tossed near the doors or through the windows late at night, said Assistant Fire Chief Michael Dillon. All have hit houses where at least one gang member lives or spends time, said police Maj. Thomas F. Oates III.
"This is not random," Oates said. "This is not ... problems at commercial buildings with someone lighting fires just to light fires. This is about sending a threat or a message to a certain person."

The map in the paper shows where the boms exploded: St. James St., Union Av. Daniel Av. Adelaide Av. in the section of Providence south of 95 and Downtown along Elmwood Av. See map

This brings to my mind the time we had our own fire-bombing incident here on the East Side. But that wasn't gang related it was international in nature, related to the Arab / Israeli conflict -- the Gaze Strip come to the East Side.

A former Israeli soldier took a job at Brown U. and this individual, being quite arrogant and aggressive by all reports, must have crossed hairs with the wrong Arab crowd for one evening someone threw an empty Corona beer bottle filled with gasoline and stuffed with a rag through his open living room window. Fortunately no one was hurt, the message sent, the guy went back to Israel shortly thereafter.

No arrests were ever made but there was quite a hue and cry about anti-semitism and various Israeli organisations checked in, but it was really no more than a personal dispute brought on, in my opinion, by the guy''s unpleasant personality.

But it's never pleasant to know there are people running around throwing fireboms into peoples houses in Providence even though it is reported to be gang related. Lives are at stake.

I'm holding my breath waiting for the report that these guys have been apprehended by the police, and I'm grateful that it is not happening here on the East Side.

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Let's All Stay on the Job!

2010-04-22T21:54:52Z

Hello! This has been a 5 year battle, BUT we finally won. We do need to stay on top of both properties so they will keep their yards and sidewalks CLEAN! The garage belonged to the yellow house which technically has a 210/212 Camp Street address. The yellow house on Camp was the house in court over the garage.

And the walls came tumbling down.

124 Grand View has been cited numerous times but they do not seem to get it. I have a meeting tomorrow with a woman named Daisy. Daisy works in the environmental department and is coming to my house so that I may take her to see 124 grand view and the mess they have and to show her additional areas of concern. If anyone has a particular area they would like noted, that I may not be aware of, just leave a comment on here and I will take Daisy there also. I am meeting with her at 2pm on Friday April 23@ 230pm.

Other than that we can ALL keep calling the mayors office of neighborhood services at 401-421-7768 or the environmental police at 401-467-7950. The more calls we, as a neighborhood, make the better off we will be and the FASTER things will move. Thank you to everyone who has had a hand in getting this mess cleaned up. Now lets ALL stay on the property owners and the city to ensure the properties STAY CLEAN!!

A Big Round of . . .Thanks

2010-04-22T13:36:21Z

Thank you, thank you, thank you to everyone who put an effort in to take down this hazard. Its been unsanitary, unsafe, and a real mis-representation of what this neighborhood is about and can be.

I am willing to keep up the push to get the remainder of these and neighboring properties cleaned up.

Not sure who the garage actually belonged to, the house on Grand View or the house on Camp Street. Does anyone know? Was the house on Grand View (124) the property owner that was taken to court by the city? Were there other citations that took place to enforce a clean up of this property?

I'd like to know so that we don't beat a dead horse, but if not, the push needs to continue. Its a real shame. These are good people living here, but it would appear that there is a lack of respect for the neighborhood, its beauty and their neighbors who live here with them. Its too bad the city has to get involved, but its for an entire neighborhoods well being.

Thank you again to everyone who pushed for this initial clean up! Keep up the great work!

Anonymous

The City Listens

2010-04-20T14:56:15Z

Finally, they tore down the decrepit garage on the corner of Camp & Grandview, the garage that stood so long in the process of rotting and falling down before our eyes, a property and a situation that became a symbol to some of us of the City of Providence's double standard toward Mt.Hope and other East Side neighborhoods.

You can view pictures of this and the adjoining property in the March, 2010, entry, A Real Fine Mess.

It is my understanding that the City took the property owners to court to get them to comply with the zoning ordinances. It's about time: the place was long a health hazard and an eyesore.

Couple this victory with the previous one, the City mandated clean-up of the property next door on Grandview, and it is clear that if a number of Mt.Hope residents unite and work toghether, if they apply enough pressure, in the correct manner, through the proper channels then we can get this kind of action from the City.

Mind you, it was not easy, it did not happen overnight, but it did happen.

Thanks and congratulation to all of you who called the City Hall, Code Enforcement, and various City officials to get this accomplished.

Johnson & Wales Excellent Response

2010-03-15T13:22:43Z

I received an excellent response from Johnson & Wales community Relations Department about the incident at 123 Camp St. and they have already begun to address the problem.

I also learned that some of the students living there are Rhode Island College students as well as Johnson & Wales, and I will contact RIC also.

It' refreshing when an institution as large as J &W considers it important to deal swiftly and seriously with the impact their students have on a neighborhood.

John Twomey

Johnson & Wales Problems Again

2010-03-13T23:23:29Z

Last night/early this morning the fence on my property at 114 Camp Street on the corner of Camp & Jenkins was destroyed by party-goers from a party at 123 Camp Street. It was torn from the ground and kicked and broken in several places making it un-repairable--sections will need be replaced. It must have taken about 3 people to inflict this extent of damage.

Again for the 2^nd weekend in a row the Johnson & Wales students at 123 Camp had a large disruptive party. The 1^st floor resident at 114 Camp Street was awoken around 3 am and went out to observe the damage by party goers who were sitting on hoods of cars on Jenkins St. drinking and yelling without regard to the time or the neighbors.

The previous week another resident of 114 Camp had to call the police because party goers from 123 Camp St. were parked on the privagte property between 114 Camp and 122 Camp pissing, puking, and meddling with the vehicles including my red Dodge truck that is usually parked there.

The officer who took my report today (Incident Report # 10-23619)told me that the District 8 Police Lieutenant was aware of the situation at 123 Camp St. and was in contact with Johnson & Wales authorities. I have also contacted the J & W liaison person. I remember from past dealings that J & W is quite responsive to this type of neighborhood issue.

]]> I have been in touch with the owner of the property and he told me he will address the issue. These parties have been an ongoing problem the last 3 years especially around the end of the spring semester, and I have called the police myself at least twice a year on rowdy disruptive parties at 123 Camp St. and 125 Camp St.

I don't expect any arrests to be made on this, but what everyone in this area would like is a police presence in the area on Friday and Saturday nights, and if the officers on duty see evidence of a party going on, cars parked up and down Locust St. and Jenkins St, and Camp Street, we would like the police to take the appropriate measures to prevent future incidents.

Anyone else who has experienced with Johnson & Wales students as neighbors please contact the website.

John Twomey

Website Update

2010-03-12T15:12:35Z

I believe that the "comments" function is now working. When you comment on a post by clicking on the comment's tab at the bottom of each post your comment will be sent for moderation: only legitimate, appropriate comments will be posted to the site.

Likewise, the Blog Submit Box is now also functional, and if you want to post a "blog entry" as opposed to a "comment" the same procedure applies: your blog entry will be held for moderation and posted if deemed acceptable.

No slurs of any kind against any person will be accepted nor will profanity, name calling, or any language deemed uncivil.

A Comment as Opposed to a Blog Entry

2010-03-11T14:28:35Z

The white box at the top right of the blog is for submitting Blog Entries, the comments tab at the bottom of each post is for submitting comments about that blog entry.

Generally, Blog Entries should have something substantial to say and should be a minimum of approximately 80 words, and most topics can be adequately covered on a blog within a limit of 500 to 750 words.

Comments can be any length, but generally if a comment exceeds 100 words it might better be posted as a separate entry referring to the topic it wishes to address.

John Twomey

Dealing With Difficult Neighbors?

2010-03-11T14:28:35Z

Suggestions anyone?

I have a neighbor, who is an absentee landlord and I find it extremely difficult to deal with him and maintain my composure and professionalism. His yard is a mess, I have offered to pay for a fence, he says no. He let me plant privacy perennials (thank god as he lets the grass grow 12" plus), which is great however I maintain that section of his yard which is say 50x12. This also includes my water, my fertilizer, and my time, all for a mutually beneficial outcome.

I change his outdoor spot lights, things of that nature just to help ensure my neighbor's house is a nice home and the tenants, neighbors and neighborhood receives the benefits the extra security lighting provides. Yet with all this said he cannot even do the slightest bit professional and non-condescending.

It really is a nightmare. I have tried to reason with him and provide him with mutually beneficial solutions to the problem.

Does anyone else has problems with their neighbors? How do you deal with it?

TURN YOUR LIGHT ON!!!!!

On another note, If everyone could turn their outdoor lights on that would be GREAT!!!!!!

A well lit neighborhood is a safer on!!

Buy your automatic sensors spot lights! And PLEASE turn them on at night!! Any outdoor light you have PLEASE leave on during the night !

Thank you,

Holla at safety!!

D. Cregg

Awesome!

2010-03-11T04:28:33Z

Mount hope IS a great place to live. ALL of my neighbors are good people that want to work TOGETHER to make ALL of Mount Hope an even better neighborhood!

I know Mount Hope is a great place and is capable of being even better if we ALL work together. Don't we ALL want an area we can ALL be proud of? We ARE the East Side!

Sidewalk Trees

2010-03-10T22:22:35Z

Side walk trees are paid for by the city; however someone (an adult) must sign a commitment type of form with the city stating they pledge to care for the tree until it full takes and begins to grow (i.e. you have to water the tree in front of your home). If anyone has empty sidewalk space and they would like to have a tree or two put in you need to contact the horticulturist (even if there is any place on your street that can fit it a nice tree) thru City Hall @ 401-4217740 and ask for the horticulturists' office and ask for and speak to/leave a message for Tom.

D. Cregg

A Real Fine Mess

2010-03-01T16:30:59Z

This just in submitted by an anonymous poster presumably from the Grandview Street neighborhood.

WHAT DO THESE PICTURES SAY TO YOU?

Do they provide a general idea of what FILTH is present in our neighborhood?

Do they make you cringe?

Garage on Camp & Grandview

Do they make you think "What the heck are people thinking and do they have ANY CONSIDERATION FOR THEIR NEIGHBORS!"??

It has looked like this for YEARS.

The city has known about it for YEARS...........

Yet another example of how Mount Hope gets a pass on following the City's laws, housing codes and other ordinances.

Grandview & Camp Streets

The City of Providence has been called for years, buy numerous people, to try and get this mess cleaned up!

It is disgusting, unsanitary, and unnecessary! What has to be done to get this mess cleaned up, and get our neighborhood cleaned up and make it the great neighborhood I KNOW IT CAN BE!!

How many calls, emails, complaints need to be made in order for this mess to get cleaned up? City Hall HELP, we have only been asking and waiting for 4-5 years now!!!!!!!!!

Calls and complaints to City hall, the Mayor's Office of Neighborhood services, Code enforcement and Environmental services, and 4-5 years later we are still looking at this mess!

Let's ALL HELP EACH OTHER!!!!! Please call city hall at 401-421-7740 and ask to speak to Elise in the Mayor's office of neighborhood services. The phone number above will also allow you to call and submit a complaint to code enforcement and the environmental department. The more calls we make the better chance we have of getting this mess cleaned up.

Clearly at this point the property owners are NOT going to take responsibility and clean their mess; it's time to take it to the next level! MAKE THE CALL READERS! WE PAY THE SAME TAXES AS EVERYONE ELSE ON THE EAST SIDE AND YOU CAN DAM WELL BET THAT THERE WOULD NEVER BE A MESS NEXT TO THE MAYORS HOME, SO WHY SHOULD WE HAVE TO ACCEPT IT???

CALL CITY HALL. WE NEED YOUR HELP! 401-421-7740.

Grandview & Camp Streets

Grandview & Camp

Website Up & Running Again

2010-02-18T13:46:31Z

Back in January, the servers of the hosting company for the Mt. Hope Community Website were hacked, wreaking havoc with sites far and wide. Since this site was overdue for a stint in rehab, I took the opportunity to weed out the bugs that had come to take up residence on the grounds. We're not out of the of the woods yet, but we're getting our feet back on the ground, and soon we will be hitting on all cylinders. How's that for mixing up a few metaphors? (;>)

Some features are still not working, the comments, for instance, but they will be working soon. And soon, if possible, we will have a widget on the blog page for people who want to submit blog entries, but this one will require registration verification so that the crazies who caused me to disable this feature in the first place won't be able to post hateful, harrassing, racist, homophobic or other types of drivel or spam.

A big shout out to Sorn, IT Pro Extraordinaire, for saving the site and getting it running again. Sorn is great to work with, and I recommend him to anyone who needs an IT Pro for work on websites, advice, or troubleshooting, and I will be glad to provide a personal referral.

Keep checking the site for new content, regular content will be coming soon.

What's Going On?

2010-01-25T18:40:14Z

Shootings? Cars Burning?

Do your wonder why the news either does not report what's going on in Mt.Hope or buries it at the bottom of another story. I sure do.

Why do incidents go uninvestigated? Who do you ask?

One place to start the Providence Police Department:

You could call our District 8 Commander, and ask about the incident: the number is on the City/Police website: Phone: 243-6980 Fax: 243-6983 or you could contact him by email dschiavuilli@providenceri.com

The Providence Police Department is known to be unusually receptive and helpful to Providence residents, but do not be surprised if any police representative begins to site chapter and verse about how the crime stats are down across the board in Providence and especially in Mt. Hope. Then ask if a Police Incident Report was generated for the car burning on Tecumseh. Chances are you will be told to contact the Fire Department Arson Investigation Unit. How can crime stats not be down if incidents go unreported or mis-classified?

Just remember that that chapter and verse about crime stats comes down from above, much as the proverbial shite rolls down hill, and the proverbial fish rots from the head down.

The Providence Police Department is obsessed with manipulating the crime stats in order to convince the populace that everything is A-OK and that the Chief deserves another overpaid contract before he moves on to another lucrative position based on his resume padding in Providence. No insult intended.

And what about the Chief's personal enabler on this matter, our overly ambitious Mayor?