The Angry Citizen ©

Below is the response I sent back to the previous letter response.  It to fell on deaf ears.

My goal is to stimulate a discussion on Jerry Modena’s poor performance. I don’t want to see the media ignore his opponents until just before the election thereby denying them the ability to effectively challenge him.

I believe that Jerry Modena has been a very poor sheriff and has basically written off Lake Wildwood and other areas of Bibb county as far as routine patrols are concerned. Captain Davis told me specifically that he does not see Lake Wildwood as a priority and feels that there is no need to patrol on any regular basis since it has a security patrol. I often go 6-7 months without seeing a BSO car within Lake Wildwood.

I am caught between LWW security on one side and BSO on the other with neither willing to address the core issues. Both tell me to call the other. I have several Boom Cars that drive by my house at all hours. I had one recently that woke me up from about a quarter of mile from my house. I could track him as he came off of Greentree Pkwy through two turns down to my street. He rattled the windows as he went by at 0337. You published a letter about this several years ago that resulted in a visit by Lieutenant Scarbary who promised results but delivered nothing.

I have provided BSO with tag numbers and descriptions of vehicles as well as the drivers. I have given them the addresses where the car is normally parked. I have even offered to go to court. However, I was told by a deputy I know that Jerry Modena has made it known that he does not want his deputies tied up in court with penny ante stuff.

I also routinely see serious problems with stop sign running, speeding, reckless driving and other very dumb behavior. For example I recently saw a young lady driving around our neighborhood on a riding lawn mower with eight children standing or hanging on. The youngest was about two. I also saw an adult drive down my street with three children standing on his bumper holding the roof rack. His speed was in excess of forty miles an hour in a 25 mph zone. Another adult was driving a white van down the road as escort for her toddler on an electric toy car. What will happen when someone tries to pass her and fails to see the child? As a nurse I shudder when I think of seeing these kids in the ER. Yet, there is little point in calling BSO as the only response is a laconic “thank you sir we’ll check the area”. This is code in law enforcement meaning we may drive by sometime in the next 24-48 hours. Even with a prompt response the chance of catching anyone is slim if not nil. These are the type of problems that can only be solved by an engaged and proactive law enforcement agency. In most cases a visible presence is sufficient to deter much of this type of problem..

I think that these quality of life crimes are real and pressing problems that neither the Macon PD nor BSO take seriously. I want to change that by highlighting the issue. The way to have a responsive law enforcement agency is to let their leaders know that their actions and decisions have consequences.

The letter below was sent on May 15th 2008 but not published.  It did get a response via email to contact the Board of Elections.  I doubt the Board of elections is allowed to sponsor “democratic dialogue”.

Editors,

On May 1st I wrote you a letter asking for more information on the opposition to Jerry Modena. You did not publish it. Here is a short request. Please publish the names and contact information for his opponents. There are many of us who want to see him replaced but with the media chilling free speech and true democratic dialogue it is quite difficult.

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I wrote the following letter to the Macon Telegraph on May first. Like most of my letters it was not published. I believe that there is a dire need to address quality of life issues in Bibb county and BOOM Cars are very high on that list. It is time to lower the BOOM in Bibb county and that can start by lowering the boom on Jerry Modena our highly ineffective sheriff who has consistently refused to enforce Georgia state law.  He has two announced candidates running against him.  However, the Macon Telegraph seems to be reluctant to allow any disscussion of them or their qualifications. 

Editors,

I note, with great anticipation, that Jerry Modena is up for re-election and actually has two opponents. This is a great day for Bibb county. Perhaps we citizens can become united enough to send Jerry packing. For more than five years I have been providing the Bibb county sheriffs office with tag numbers, descriptions, and addresses of the rampant Boomcars that plague Lake Wildwood at all hours. I have spoken with several Lieutenants and Captain Davis as well as many deputies. I have volunteered to go to court as a witness or complainant. To my knowledge not once has BSO written a single ticket for loud car stereos in Lake Wildwood; when I asked they could not cite a single one. The same individuals still boom through my neighborhood with impunity because Jerry Modena does not want his officers tied up in court. I want a sheriff who really believes the motto on the door of the patrol cars. I want a sheriff who believes that the quality of life of citizens is more important than the revenue from writing speeding tickets for out of town drivers on the interstate. I look forward to your detailed coverage of the candidates.

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The Angry Citizen

I think any blogger worth his salt should make a show of support for the Nation of Burma. Now called Myanmar the nation has been ruled by a military junta since 1989. In 1990 the government held open elections and the people voted overwhelmingly for the National League for Democracy or NLD. The NLD won 392 of 489 seats. Following the election the government threw out the results and violently crushed the demonstrations that followed.

Aung San Suu Kyi the leader of the NLD has been under house arrest since forming the NLD. She won the Nobel Prize for peace in 1991 for her non-violent refusal to acquiesce to exile.

Today, Myanmar is again on the front pages of history as its people take to the streets seeking the same freedom I enjoy. I can do nothing less than show my support. I have added the flag of the NLD to the Angry Citizen site in a show of support.

I also call on all athletes who will be competing in any event within China or against or Chinese teams to consider adding the fighting peacock from that flag to their clothing as a show of support for the Burmese people.

The Angry Citizen