Monday, May 21, 2007
News Soapbox: I was stabbed in Midtown
Posted by Ken Edelstein on Mon, May 21, 2007 at 7:28 PM
Matthew Cardinale, news editor of a site called Atlanta Progressive News, wrote this piece about being stabbed last week near the corner of Boulevard and Ponce de Leon.
This is the first in a series of community columns, called "Soapbox," that we hope to run periodically on Fresh Loaf.
I am writing to share with you a tragic incident which occurred this Tuesday.I was stabbed in an attempted robbery only two blocks from my house in Midtown, Atlanta, as I was walking to the Exxon gas station on the corner of Monroe Drive and Ponce de Leon Avenue.
I’m okay now as far as we know, and recovering from the wound. I stopped bleeding Wednesday night finally, and was able to take small steps at the John Edwards dinner on Thursday.
It is important to share what happened not only as it relates to my experience and recovery, but so people understand the violent dangers which abound in Midtown.
I now believe there is an unspoken crime wave in my area of Midtown, one the powers that be in the City do not want you to know about.
Click here to read the rest of the column.
Comments (6)
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I used to live right next to that gas station, down Monroe a couple houses from Ponce. This area near where Monroe turns to Boulevard as it crosses Ponce has always been seedy, but I have noticed lately while driving through that it seems to have gotten even worse--lots of street walkers, pimps, and dealers hanging around. This of course means lots of junkies will be hanging around too. It's too bad the city has not been able to do anything about this area. This is a problem with gas stations city-wide (not just a Boulevard and Ponce), but a big part of the problem is that these little gas stations do almost nothing to curtail the crap going on and the people hanging around. In fact, they encourage it by selling lots of single-serving alcohol, little crack baggies, and of course lotto tickets. You couldn't pay me to stop for gas at these places. If I'm in that area of town I'll go to Buddy's on N. Highland since they seem to be able to keep the seedy element away. Dan
Scary. I live a little ways down the street just off Ponce, and walk/bike through that area on a regular basis during daylight hours - during which time I feel safe. I've walked past that intersection at night a few times on the way to and from bars or parties, but only once alone. I'll never do that again. The area spoken about in the article is a dividing line between the haves and the have-nots; a flashpoint for violence. It is common sense to not walk through such areas at night especially alone. Unfortunately sometimes we let out guard down (like I did, like the author did). This article serves as a reminder to stay vigilant. The author suggests that "there is an unspoken crime wave in my area of Midtown, one the powers that be in the City do not want you to know about." First, I am interested in understand the author's reason for this statement; none is provided in the article. Second, considering the information and technology available, such as the APD's online crime mapping tool, what can we do to keep Midtown residents aware of trends in violence?
Unspoken crime wave on Ponce or Boulevard? Surely you are kidding. The only thing they don't have is a HiDef JumboTron saying "Dealers, hookers, pimps and thieves! Come here to be a victim!" Do we really need the "powers that be" to tell us that is a dangerous area? BTW, I lived at Peachtree and 7th for three years with no problems, but my home was burglarized the first night I moved near Piedmont and Ponce. Top it off? After the cops left, the thieves came back and broke the window out of my car. I live in a nice townhome surrounded by million dollars homes in the day and hookers at night.
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