Ohmystinkinheck

About 3 or 4 miles from where we live stews a controversy that likely could have been prevented by better zoning practices (which small towns tend to be horrible at assigning).

Not being one to traverse down the back streets in the not-so-friendly parts of our town … I had missed this street entirely. I’m not even sure how Jeff happened upon it (I think a shortcut off the feeder?), but he took me back there to see what I can only describe as a very ineffective means to express one’s complaints. And at the same time, it gave me an eerie feeling … like I just found a voodoo doll with my name on it stuck full of pins.

Let me set the scene. Going East on this particular street, there is a wrecker company on the left and a very distressed community of trailer homes and shacks on the right. Whereas the wrecker truck company is freshly painted with a paved drive and a clean area, the community on the right looks as if it is partially abandoned, falling down on itself, pretty dirt-dirty and at its front is about 15 to 20 yards of signs like these … signs expressing their anger toward the city, City Hall, “caucasn people” and of course, the wrecker truck company running their diesel trucks.

In my opinion, their anger is likely pretty valid. The wrecker truck company has a fleet of diesel trucks. Diesel exhaust fumes HAVE been proven to adversely affect health and they are a significant source of air pollution. Have you ever been behind one on the road while it belches out its waste? Uggh. This broken down community HAS an argument. But? Someone needs to show them how to represent themselves in a way that invokes concern, rather than an eery, uncomfortable, flee-for-your-life feeling. Stopping just for the few seconds it took to take a few pictures made me nervous - as if someone would jump out behind the trees and drag me into their closed community as a hostage.

The sign above says:

“Why do the Mayor and City Council sugest to put shit in a black neighborhoods? Close racism! City Hall is causing Problems in Huntsville. We have asked the City for help. No Response! On Ryans Ferry Rd. bye!” - and then a sticker, “If I wanted a bitch I’d buy a dog.”

“Can’t sleep Disel Running hood Rat’s mosquitos Disel Fuel smell’s gives Us Headack’s HEALTH HAZARD To THE Neighborhood. Everytime A Black person try to have something nice The City of Huntsville Would Try to Codim them EPA”

Above one sign is a previously white (now grey) teddy bear hanging by a rope. In fact, there are a myriad of stuffed animals in odd positions here and there. And the signs are misspelled, angry collections of random vents.

This sign seems to have faded words covered by new words - it is harder to make out.

“Diesel Fumes Is A Major Health Hazard To Kid. Adult’s that is. Caused By Pete Johnson’s Wreaking Yard. Research Reveals 1. Head Aches 2. Nausea 3. Nervous Depression 4. Confusions Restlessness 5. Eventually COMA. City Council (what/where?). No Thru Trucks”

Things like this give me mixed emotions. I wonder who is at fault. Did City Hall really fail them? Did they fail themselves? Do they feel this will gain the respect they want by not maintaining their living area and bombarding drive-byers with this collecton of spewed anger? What do they hope to do with these signs? Who do they hope to reach? What could remedy this? And perhaps - perhaps if they could be a bit more peaceful and go at it a bit differently, would anyone have listened?

8 Responses to ““It’s more 2 be told.””

1. MMM

   How very sad.

2. SJ

   I’m kind of confused. Did something happen here that makes them feel they were slighted? Did they want the city to do something?? Is it just a case of living in the wrong place but not being able to move?

3. OMSH

   The lot across the street from their homes was purchased by a wrecker company. Wrecker trucks run on diesel. They are complaining about the diesel fumes from these trucks.

   From the best that I can gather from asking around (without delving in) is that they either called after the wrecking truck company was established to lodge a complaint or requested that the wrecking truck company never be allowed to be there in the first place.

   Either way they didn’t feel listened too - and their posters and markered wood pieces seem to reflect they believe it is a racial issue.

4. Angela

   That’s quite sad. It must be strange for the children who live there. What an eerie enviroment to grow up in.

5. Jill - GlossyVeneer

   Yeah, I felt the creepy vibe just from looking at the pictures. Very sad.

6. whimsy

   is it one family’s yard or several families?

   Living in an economicall depressed area myself, I’m pretty familiar with that kind of attitude, but wow, that would creep me out.

7. OMSH

   whimsy, there are several trailers and shacks in that area, but the signs all are signed by one particular family. I can’t tell whether it is a community beef or that family’s beef.

8. coolbeans

   Someone needs to get all Erin Brockovich up in there. It appears they lack the resources to fully express themselves in a manner that could inspire change. That they feel that hanging signs is the only way to be heard.

   Since we don’t know the chicken or the egg, it’s hard to say if they dropped the ball themselves by not being involved with the rezoning process. Or if unexpected effects of that particular company’s operation is the issue.