Well, as Ben Franklin once said, "Three can keep a secret if two of them are dead!"
Here's a story from yesterday's NorthJersey.com of the removal of the defunct New York & Greenwood Lake Railroad's rolling stock from the Dundee Spur in Passaic NJ. It was supposed to be done on the "QT" but the railfans showed up anyway!
Video, photos, and text. Have fun!
http://www.northjersey.com/story/news/passaic-city/2020/10/03/former-ny-greenwood-lake-trains-moving-passaic-garfield-nj/5881483002/
Anyone else trying to figure out just how the drug, prostitution, and homelessness issues will disappear when that annoying old railroad is removed from that piece of real estate?
garyla Anyone else trying to figure out just how the drug, prostitution, and homelessness issues will disappear when that annoying old railroad is removed from that piece of real estate?
I guess in New Jersey, any kind of 'improvement' is welcome.
So the railroad ROW is going to be replaced with a new 'Municipal Park' ?
It'll will drive out the 'miscreants, listed ( druggies, hookers, and 'homeless') types...So the story does not list any future, ammenities for their new park; like benches, swings (?) or maybe, water fountains(?); might even include some 'facilities'- portapotties(?) or other 'necessaries'(?)..
The politicians have to keep the voters happy !
I guess they're assuming if you remove the "habitat" the "predators" and assorted undesireables will go away. They may be assuming too much.
Certainly the equipment was a tempting target for vandals and scavengers, so anyway you look at it removing it was the best thing to do. The alternative was scrapping it in place, and we don't want that.
Sounds like they are simply removing a largely defunct stretch of track and assorted rolling stock, same as some old derelict factory.
That is the plan, remove the rail equipment and rails and landscape the area into a riverside park. And we should be honest with ourselves, no-one likes the sight of rusting, vandalized, railroad equipment. Any way you look at it it's an eyesore.
And once the park's established the only eyesores will be the occasional body floating down the Passaic River.
Ask anyone from North Jersey. Or Paulie Walnuts if you run into him.
Stationary locomotives and railcars are appealing residences for the homeless. And easy targets for taggers, as we all know.
I don't blame them, a locomotive cab or engine room provides a dry and secure spot for a nice long nap.
Greetings from Alberta
-an Articulate Malcontent
charlie hebdoSounds like they are simply removing a largely defunct stretch of track and assorted rolling stock, same as some old derelict factory.
I believe this was the last vestige of the Erie's Greenwood Lake branch, which was lost in a tax sale to a real-estate developer who moved the equipment around a couple of times. I did not believe this would have the happy ending it did; the cars were credibly made ready for transport across two active commuter districts and at least one Class I railroad without particular difficulty.
Now if only Amtrak would support Toys for Tots properly!
OvermodNow if only Amtrak would support Toys for Tots properly!
"A consummation devoutly to be wished."
In 2018 when Amtrak decided to do the Ebenezer Scrooge thing (And even he saw the light!) the local 'roads like the Susquehanna, the Morristown & Erie and NS stepped into the breach quite admirably. Same in 2019.
But not this year, the damn COVID's loused up the Toys for Tots train too. It won't be running.
Maybe next year.
So, the local government thinks moving the locomotive and cars, pulling up the tracks, and putting in some pretty landscaping will cause the predators and undesirables to move somewhere else? What do they do at meetings, sit around the campfire eating moonbeams and singing Coom-By-Ya, while watching the unicorns dance? Getting rid of the locomotive and cars will help, I'll grant that, but the only way you clean out an area like that is with a serious commitment of time and people by law enforcement to make the area inhospitable, by making arrests and driving out the lowlifes. Not going to happen, unless local government applies some disincentives to the bad activities.
Is it the "homeless and taggers" or "predators and undesirables" in the area where the right of way was?
All four. Particularly after dark.
If the move wasn't done in daylight the railfans wouldn't have been there. The Morristown & Essex crew wouldn't have gone there either.
SALfanSo, the local government thinks moving the locomotive and cars, pulling up the tracks, and putting in some pretty landscaping will cause the predators and undesirables to move somewhere else?
The cars when moved out of the transfer station constituted a double line, with what is supposed to be fairly substantial 'green space' on either side, but providing all sorts of rusty cover. Meanwhile, the 'property owner' has been unable to close his deal with the city (which will net him something like $1.1M), which will allow the property to be developed as a park, until the cars are wholly gone. Once that whole area is landscaped together, probably with largely open sightlines, I suspect it will become much easier to police.
Although it's hell to finally see the Greenwood Lake branch slip away...
I can think of several unsafe urban areas which were cleaned up literally and redeveloped, turning from eyesores into prosperous, beautiful attractions. Several Riverwalks come to mind, the best in San Antonio. And it wasn't accomplished by some militarized strike force.
charlie hebdo I can think of several unsafe urban areas which were cleaned up literally and redeveloped, turning from eyesores into prosperous, beautiful attractions. Several Riverwalks come to mind, the best in San Antonio. And it wasn't accomplished by some militarized strike force.
rdamonInstead it was accomplished by generous tax break incentives and real estate developers!
One place 'socialism' works is the use of well-targeted neighborhood grants. The problem is when typical 'socialistic' American government (by which, of course I mean something very different from some blanket judgment of 'socialism' as a principle) turns the grant allocation into a Chinese puzzle rigged to benefit its favorite insiders, rife with clever little conditions that can ruin much of the desirable effects.
charlie hebdoAnd it wasn't accomplished by some militarized strike force.
And what's that got to do with what we're talking about?
Flintlock76 charlie hebdo And it wasn't accomplished by some militarized strike force. And what's that got to do with what we're talking about?
charlie hebdo And it wasn't accomplished by some militarized strike force.
Flintlock76And what's that got to do with what we're talking about?
In his own blunt way, SAL Fan's absolutely right.
Removing the cover, for lack of a better term, certainly helps, but the bad guys won't go away completely, they'll just find new places and new ways to do business.
It's a never-ending fight.
On a local note. There's a park in the city of Richmond called Monroe Park, it's right next door to Virginia Commonwealth University. Muggings of students weren't uncommon, usually in the wee hours of the morning. (What the kids were doing out at 2:00 to 3:00 AM is anyone's guess.)
Anyway, four years ago the park was fenced off for a major renovation. When the fences finally came down all the ground-level shrubbery was gone and there were clear sight lines through the park. No cover or hiding places were left. New lighting was installed as well. Muggings in the park ended.
But they did go on to a diminished degree in other areas. Still, nothing good ever happens at 2:00 AM anyway.
Flintlock76 In his own blunt way, SAL Fan's absolutely right. Removing the cover, for lack of a better term, certainly helps, but the bad guys won't go away completely, they'll just find new places and new ways to do business. It's a never-ending fight. On a local note. There's a park in the city of Richmond called Monroe Park, it's right next door to Virginia Commonwealth University. Muggings of students weren't uncommon, usually in the wee hours of the morning. (What the kids were doing out at 2:00 to 3:00 AM is anyone's guess.) Anyway, four years ago the park was fenced off for a major renovation. When the fences finally came down all the ground-level shrubbery was gone and there were clear sight lines through the park. No cover or hiding places were left. New lighting was installed as well. Muggings in the park ended. But they did go on to a diminished degree in other areas. Still, nothing good ever happens at 2:00 AM anyway.
My point is clearing derelict areas by a police sweep is just PR. The bad people, along with mostly harmless homeless return. What's your notion, lick them up? Unless they are caught in a criminal act, prosecuted and imprisoned (unlikely) the sweep accomplishes zero. Even with convictions, unless long sentences they will be back soon. Root causes need to be resolved. Police sweeps are just PR.
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No argument with you there.
By the way, I posted this topic because I thought it was interesting and people might have some fun with it. I had no idea it would turn as dark as it has. If I did, I wouldn't have bothered.
Flintlock76 I posted this topic because I thought it was interesting and people might have some fun with it.
Some people consider bar fights fun.
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"A stranger's just a friend you ain't met yet." --- Dave Gardner
Paul of Covington Flintlock76 I posted this topic because I thought it was interesting and people might have some fun with it. Some people consider bar fights fun.
Yeah, I can dig it. There's too many grumpy old men here that just can't help sucking all the life out of whatever room they walk into. I'm 67 myself, but I've always believed even though you can't help growing older you don't have to grow old. It's a lot more fun being upbeat and having fun.
If we don't get more young, enthusiastic people like young Mr. Harrison on here ( Have you seen his videos? That young man's got a future!) this Forum's doomed.
I agree that it wouldn't hurt for many of us to lighten up.
If you watch the STB filings and decisions, it's hardly news. AB-1273
(If you look a little harder, you can go back to 1996-97 ..... Passaic, like most towns is dumber than a post and they were dealing with the knuckleheaded real estate boobs at ConRail which just clustered-up the process)
Flintlock76 Paul of Covington Flintlock76 I posted this topic because I thought it was interesting and people might have some fun with it. Some people consider bar fights fun. Yeah, I can dig it. There's too many grumpy old men here that just can't help sucking all the life out of whatever room they walk into. I'm 67 myself, but I've always believed even though you can't help growing older you don't have to grow old. It's a lot more fun being upbeat and having fun. If we don't get more young, enthusiastic people like young Mr. Harrison on here ( Have you seen his videos? That young man's got a future!) this Forum's doomed.
And who is this Mr. Harrison to whom you refer?
charlie hebdoAnd who is this Mr. Harrison to whom you refer?
Go to "Trackside Guides," his most recent home video posting is of the D&H Champlain Division. There's a couple of others there as well.
He's also posted videos under "General Discussion." Quite an up-and-coming railfan videographer, if I say so myself!
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