News & Views of Phillips Since 1976
Friday December 26th 2025
To Barricade or Not to Barricade, That is the Question!
A street blocked? Why would anyone want that? 16th Ave. Block Club complaints and kids asking for safety years ago resulted in a Barricade blocking vehicular traffic on E. 25th St, between Bloomington Ave. and 16th Ave. S. just South of the S.A. Gas Station and Convenience store. Now its appearance and need are being discussed.
by Brad Pass
A BARRICADE MEETING:
On Tuesday evening, July 18th, 2017 the neighborhood gathered at Open Arms to discuss the Barricades which have blocked vehicular traffic on E 25th St. between Bloomington Ave. and 16th Ave. S. for many years. The issue, as pointed out by Third Precinct Lt. Catherine Johnson, is that in the last two years crime statistics in the area have risen precipitously. Everyone at the meeting agreed that the police statistics more of less accurately reflect what is happening on the ground. There was disagreement as to the cause of, and the solution to, the problem.
The CAUSE?
Some thought that the Barricades had become institutionalized and were seen as a place free of traffic and interference that could be used by prostitutes, users, dealers, and the homeless to conduct their business.
Some wondered if the elimination or lack of enforcement of “Livability Crimes” such as the “No Loitering” law and others is related to the increase of crime and asked to see the relationship of the increase of police crime statistics to the date of elimination.… Read the rest “To Barricade or Not to Barricade, That is the Question!”
Consumed by News?
By Harvey Winje
Are we too consumed by NEWS?
Publisher Peter W. Marty challenges himself and readers with this question when also quoting “Alain de Botton, a British-based philosopher and author of The News: A User”'s Manual, who believes that in contemporary culture news has largely replaced religion as ”˜our central source of guidance and our touchstone of authority.”' The news””not scripture, tradition, or inspired ritual””informs how we handle suffering and make moral choices. A desire to know what”'s going on all hours of the day and night actually makes us more shallow than we may want to admit.” [See, complete article by Peter Marty in Christian Century, November 23, 2016 and hopefully reprinted in the September Alley Newspaper]
Related Images:
Keep citizen journalism alive!
