Apparently there is a youth shelter located in my neighbourhood for “troubled teens.” I am so sick of hearing constant yelling, shouting, cursing, and fighting from this house, or whatever it is you want to call it. I can even hear it from my apt when the windows are open. There are ambulances and police cars there at least once a week. This is nothing new. How is this allowed when it causes such a disturbance to the rest of us living on this street, not to mention, a religious centre is right next door. I find it so disrespectful. I am even concerned for my safety at times when I pass by. These kids are outside throughout the day and night constantly smoking and oftentimes arguing. Clearly they are not in school. Is anyone monitoring their actions? I can’t be the only one who finds this of a nuisance. No one on this street should have to put up with this. I am sure there is illegal use of narcotics and alcohol as well. Why can’t teenagers just grow up. They are the ones causing such a dysfunctional society. Please tell me this is not where taxes are going… —A Little Concerned
This article appears in Nov 17-23, 2011.
I think you will find that rather than these kids, it is the ineffectual parenting that got them to this stage that is ‘causing such a dysfunctional society’.
There is an organization in my building that deals with troubled teens so I understand your frustrations somewhat. Walking in the hallway now, I’m pretty uncomfortable if it’s boys/men. As soon as I walk around the corner, they think I can’t hear and start saying these horrible things that could probably be classified as sexual harassment. When they walk by our office, they make sex noises then laugh, turn the music on their phones way up so we can all hear it, come into the office and bitch to us about the vending machine not working, and scream obscenities. It looks like they’re doing some mighty fine work down there. Stop having babies for fuck sakes. If you do, pay attention to them!
“How is this allowed when it causes such a disturbance to the rest of us living on this street, not to mention, a religious centre is right next door.”
Hey brainwave..Derp…hence the term “TROUBLED TEENS”. What the hell kind of behaviour were you expecting? Gardening? Basket weaving? Macrame? They have issues. That’s why they are at the shelter in the first place.
“These kids are outside throughout the day and night… Is anyone monitoring their actions?”
So, by your logic, they should be all kept under lock and key, is that it? That’s called JAIL dumbass. Contrary to your narrow point of view and the shocking stories in the news recently of the brutal murders at the hands of some teens, not every troubled teen is a criminal or is involved in criminal activity. I have a friend that works at a youth shelter and trust me, they are all closely monitored and policed with regards to behaviour, drugs and alcohol. (Which maybe partly why you see police cars there every week)
“Why can’t teenagers just grow up.”
Did you seriously just ask that question? Really?
BECAUSE THEN THEY WOULD BE ADULTS AND YOU WOULD THEN BE LIVING NEXT TO A TROUBLED ADULTS SHELTER. Unbelievable!
Another classic example of “not in MY backyard”. Bottom line is there is arguably a need for such places, so they have to be established/set up SOMEWHERE. Where would you propose they put such a place? Way back in the boonies? Far end of Burnside, perhaps? Cuz, ya know, THAT will REALLY help towards them trying to achieve an environment of stability, trust and accessability. And to parrot what Oceanchick said, 9 times out of 10 it’s the parenting, or rather, the lack thereof, that has created the dysfunction. The troubled teen is the end result. These shelters are meant as a place for these kids to get help, to deal with the shit in their lives and hopefully, prevent them from perpetrating things like the unspeakable acts of this past weekend.
This sounds an awful lot like my building…
Contact your alderman, City Hall and representatives of the “Save the Sweet Dears” organization. BTW, Halifax does still have an effective and responsive municipal government, right?
195…
sounds like you need to MOVE.
It’s honestly not as bad as OP makes it out to be.
Bravo Avasto!
Teenage Nation seems to be taking a beating here lately. We can’t be branding an entire generation on the actions of a few.
my dear concerned, that’s it, they are troubled. that why you hear this shit going on. when i used to volunteer at rivendale housa in south end dartmouth, that was the norm.
you can’t lay hands on, or even admonish now. so that is why all the flack.
that should have been rivendale house, with an e, not an a.
OB get your neighbors (property owners preferably) together. You CAN get rid of that troubled youth (losers) house. You have to prove it’s caused devaluation of the neighboring properties. Try to get pictures of them doing drugs, drinking, etc. Oh and don’t be afraid for all of you to keep calling the police all the time. Eventually something will be done. Go on Kijiji and post an as for “Free housing for Occupy Protesters” with that house’s address. Troubled youth are a waste of space and no form of rehabilitation will ever work on them. They are just welfare recipients in the making. Time for you to get that trash out of your area.
Interesting position most take here…..I for one do not think teens wake up one day and decide to do this ……My first concern is what red flags were showing and for how long and who missed it…and it is the usual suspects…parents , community complacency, child welfare, police, medical and school….all have a responsibility to make sure children who grow into youth have what they need to secure that transition is as smooth as possible…..who and what contributed to this …….are YOU responsible…….blaming these youth is the easy thing to do….
I lived across from a place like this on Inglis Street. Bunch of savages. It was common for them to fight out front more than once a day, have screaming matches at all hours of the night, and they even made MONKEY noises. Ooo oo, uff uff! Hoot! But boy was it fun getting them arrested by yelling out our window “will you gorillas shut the fuck up!” They would start screaming louder until a neighbour called the cops and teh daily paddy wagon would come by to pick up the monkeys.
I swear I remember reading a bitch about neighbors making monkey noises awhile back, was that you sodeypop?
Same tired old bullshit sentiment; these kids really deserve some help to get their lives back on track, but not in my backyard you don’t.
On the plus side, OP, when your flatscreen goes missing you won’t have too far to look.