By a Concerned St Kilda resident
Is it just me or is anti-social behaviour, graffiti and 'anything goes' on the rise? Whilst we love our vibrant and eclectic community that we've made home, I can't help but think the lack of Police attendance and increase in public drinking, drug taking, drug dealing and 'anything goes because I'm untouchable' is getting worse.
The State government tells us crime stats are down, has anyone frequented Grey and Fitzroy Streets in St Kilda in the last couple of years? Clearly they're ignoring the plethora of pleas from our community who put up with graffiti/vandalism (unsightly and costly), letterbox theft (identity theft is a nightmare if you've ever been through it), verbal abuse from those drug affected (there's nothing quite like being abused for no good reason when you have a 10 year old with you who actually thinks this is normal), drinking alcohol in public (I thought there was a law against it, or do the rules vary depending who you are), smoking bongs (yep, in broad daylight) and dealing in drugs (they don't even bother hiding it anymore when you pass them in broad daylight). Last time I looked our sidewalks weren't suitable for anyone to live on and this includes anyone vulnerable, but especially those who frequent our community to score and deal drugs and wreak havoc!
On my morning walk down Fitzroy Street at about 9.30am, just after the school drop off (between Grey St and The Esplanade) last Monday morning, I came across one of the familiar and not so friendly faces who was exposing himself, urinating and like a true multi-tasker found time to ask me for money in the process, of which I replied NO and kept walking. To my surprise he followed me up Fitzroy St, abusing me verbally and using language not fit to repeat, but he's a big lad and it was nothing short of threatening. So, as I 'legged it' and I thanked my lucky stars it wasn't 8.30am, just in time for the school kids to witness this sidewalk mess and abuse!
So, what next? It was the last straw, we'd called the Police the night before in the same spot when a known offender was screaming outside the 7/11, threatening to kill someone and hurling some poor soul's belongings onto the road. Since when was buying an ice cream at the 7/11 on Fitzroy St such a mission impossible? It was enough for me, so I headed to the St Kilda Police Station to report it. Basically, the offender was still there at 3.30pm that same day, apparently, he was 'driven home' so clearly exposing your genitals isn't a crime anymore, even in broad daylight just after the school run!
You may ask 'well why did you move to St Kilda'? Well the answer is we love this place, we chose here many years ago and this is where our family has settled, but if Police and Council don't start working together on fixing this problem, I wonder why the hell I pay taxes and rates, because if I can't buy by a 10 year old an ice cream without the threats from the same people 'allowed and enabled' to make the footpath their temporary home, someone will get hurt, and then what?
Just a Dad, another concerned citizen asking the questions!
