Downtown Greensboro Crime
Three nights a week I volunteer at the Downtown YWCA teaching the sport of fencing to all manner of willing student. Our youngest is 10, our oldest is 56, both men and women. The YWCA is nestled between a library, the cultural arts center, Center City Park, and the historical museum. By all accounts this ought to be a safe and snug harbor for folks to come out and expand their horizions in whatever way they choose. Sadly this isn't the case.
Last night at 8pm I am called out of my foil class to give aid to a woman who was attacked in the parking lot of the YWCA. As she was getting into her car a man attempted to steal her purse, and were it not for that lady's quick thinking and the awareness of the nice lady at the front desk, he would have gotten it and possibly more besides too.
Whenever this sort of thing happens, there are those who want to analyze what the woman did that made her a target. So lets cover those bases.
Where did she park? She parked in the handicapped space directly in front of the front door of the YWCA under a street light, which was working.
What did she do? She was holding her keys in her hands and as soon as he grabbed at her, she started screaming and she hit the panic button on her keys.
Where was her purse? She put it in the passenger seat of her vehicle under a coat.
What did he do when she started screaming and making a fuss? He just stood there looking at her all annoyed like.
Why did he leave? He saw the woman from the desk running out the door, me just seconds behind.
Now why was he there? I am not making any accusations, but I can't help but note that on the very same night that this happened, some group or another was feeding homeless people next to the library on YWCA Place. I'm not saying that those good, honest, but down on their luck folk are responsible, but maybe them being there is the cover that a more unseemly crowd needs so they can persue their criminal intents. Doesn't matter to me one bit one way or the other.
This is what makes me mad as hell. There are folk out there preying on me and mine and I am not going to stand for it. We were lucky last night as the eight girl scouts (ages 13 and 14) that were supposed to be here last night stood us up. Lucky also for us was the fact that because we knew we were going to have an additional eight on top of our usual 10-12 students we had plenty of coaching coverage. Had this happened on a night where we didn't have an abundance of coaches that would have meant that in order to protect the gentle souls at the Y, I would have to abandon my class. That doesn't make for a good fencing lesson, and that doesn't reflect well on me as a coach. Now imagine how I'm going to feel if I happen to find myself in charge of one of these miscreants sitting around NOT teaching a fencing class while waiting for the police to arrive.
I would hate to be that miscreant. It takes a great man to show compassion in a situation like that, and at best I'm just a good man. Well, maybe I'm ok. All I'm saying is this, if any of my people get attacked I swear by my spikey modern haircut there will be hell to pay.
Comments
Excellent write-up of a foiled downtown crime attempt. Where were the Greensboro police? Does the YWCA need a security guard at night? I hope the police were called. I usually see them all eating together at Pan's Thai restaurant on Elm St in the evening.
The Greensboro Central Library is on a mission to provide social services to the chronically homeless of downtown Greensboro - but that is not their intended mission. Food is served there once a week along with entertainment. Homeless men sit sleeping all day in the upholstered easy chairs by the windows (lice?), the ONLY truly comfy area to sit and read in for the entire library. They are allowed to loiter and panhandle there and are tolerated by the security guard unless they actually assault someone per Sandy Newman the director. The library also provides the only free downtown bathroom services for our urban homeless. When is the Greensboro City Council going to address this growning problem?
Posted by: L.L | February 20, 2007 3:39 PM
“Food is served there once a week along with entertainment."...
Over the past two months the Central Library has partnered with Food Not Bombs to provide a Winter Series for hungry (often homeless) people on Monday Nights. I wanted to better understand the information needs of these library customers and it has worked out very nicely to ask them over a shared meal (provided by Food not Bombs). I have been collecting questions, and providing information about library services. The barriers between “them” and “us” have diminished as we learn each others name and stories. Representatives from local agencies that serve people in need are invited to come discuss and promote their services. One evening we had a guest poet, who facilitated a discussion about racism and homelessness in Greensboro. I have been creating a Resource Guide in Q & A format that provides answers to the questions I've been gathering. A working draft is available in the reading area. I am encouraged by the fact that it is being looked at as evidenced by it moving around. I have asked agencies associated with the Homeless Prevention Coalition in Guilford County to send me their informational pieces to make available in a resource area. Ideas and suggestions welcome –
Posted by: Jen Worrells | February 22, 2007 11:41 AM