[pull quotes: "I was thrown out of Lucky."
or "The City gave me ... my very own drain."]

Shenanigans On the Boulevard

By Dennis Evanosky

MacArthur Boulevard in the Laurel is currently in the operating room. The thoroughfare's bumps and bruises, accumulated over decades of road work and neglect, have come under the knife. One of the workers I spoke with said that the surgery on the Laurel's main artery would smooth out all the wrinkles. I understand that the transplant the boulevard really needs replacing the concrete blocks with a ribbon of pavement would cost over $1 million. But by the time you read this, MacArthur Boulevard will be healthier. Let's all hope this translates into better health for the district all the way around.

One look at the "gateway" to our district at MacArthur and High Street, though, leads me to ask, "What's the use?" I know that if I were interested in leasing the former site of Laurel Liquors or the PG&E yard, I would certainly be turned off by the sign lying on its side in the parking lot of the one and the graffiti on the sign in the other.

I'm proud to announce a new addition to my family, the drain at 39th and Redding. Every time El Ni?o blessed us with a downpour last year, a lake formed at the intersection. I took the typical "Why doesn't someone do something?" attitude.

Well, the City is asking us to be that someone. By calling 615-5566, you can adopt a drain in your neighborhood. The City gave me a rake, some pretty nifty rain gear, three bright-green trash bags, and my very own drain. All this in exchange for promising to keep my new family member free of trash and leaves this rainy season.

I am happy to report that some of those dealing and ingesting drugs in the Laurel do read this column. I have always taken issue with the dealers and users hanging around the Lucky parking lot and the 20/20 Recycling Center. I recently noticed someone lounging in the back of the parking drinking something out of a can wrapped in a paper bag. I went to the imbiber and asked her to leave.

The person's belligerent behavior and the smell of alcohol left no doubt as to what that can contained. She left, but when I returned 20 minutes later, there she was at the recycling center.

I told the employee at the site that this person was not recycling and that both Lucky and 20/20 had agreed that no one was to be at the center unless they were conducting business.

The employee let loose with a stream of verbal venom, letting me know just what she thought of me and my December Metro article where I had addressed the problem of the drug dealers and prostitutes in the Laurel, calling them parking meters. The screaming continued as I left the site for home.

Later in the day, I saw the same person at the site sweeping up. What's she doing there? She's not an employee. As I approached the site, I noticed two of my favorite "parking meters" sitting behind the recycling center; one was lighting a crack pipe. As I walked toward them, they and their friends scattered, the crack smoker taking refuge with the recyclers.

Fortunately, the man with the crack walked right toward our OPD beat officer. I signaled to Officer Ho, and he stopped the dealer. After I told the dealer what I thought of him, I went into Lucky to let the assistant manager know what was going on.

I got his usual cavalier look, that "I can't be bothered with you again, Dennis" look. So I let loose some verbal venom of my own. I was thrown out of the store.

I have called Lucky's parent company, American Stores, in Salt Lake City, Utah. I asked them why I can be thrown out of their store for swearing, yet no one can eject the dope dealers from the parking lot. I reminded American Stores that swearing and yelling are impolite, but they're legal.

Why can I be thrown out of the store for cursing, while the drug dealers and their clientele can flourish in the parking lot? Stay tuned.