Author Topic: I will never understand things like this (Read 2509 times)

Mike Griffin · « **on:** May 13, 2013, 05:54:34 PM »

My friend and fellow club member Allan Perret stopped by today to visit with me for a while and then went by to check on our flying field in City Park in New Orleans since we have had so much rain. When he got there he discovered that vandals had taken a sledgehammer and broken up the round concrete pilot's pad in our 70' circle. Then they hauled in trash and a railroad tie and set fire to all of it on top of the busted up concrete pad.

This flying field has been there since the 60's and with the exception of the damage hurricane Katrina did and FEMA by running over the circle with all of their equipment, nothing like this has ever happened before that we know of. The gate was locked across the road that leads to the field so these pr**ks used a wheelbarrow to walk their stuff back to our field.

I cannot even begin to wrap my mind around mindless vandalism like this. I mean it takes some work to break up a 6" thick concrete pad 8 ft in diameter with a sledgehammer.. WHY?

Mike

Randy Ryan · « **Reply #1 on:** May 13, 2013, 06:14:05 PM »

I'm with you Mike, it is unfathomable. But it goes along with every other senseless thing our society has spawned. Kids aren't taught respect, but they sure demand it. They're not taught of the value of life so they kill puppies and light kittens on fire and worse. There is so little common sense and decency left and little hope of recovery in my lifetime that while I'm in no real hurry to leave, I'm glad I'm in my autumn and not my spring. God help us.

Serge_Krauss · « **Reply #2 on:** May 13, 2013, 06:23:38 PM »

I feel the same way, Randy....

RC Storick · « **Reply #3 on:** May 13, 2013, 06:42:07 PM »

Quote from: Mike Griffin on May 13, 2013, 05:54:34 PM

I cannot even begin to wrap my mind around mindless vandalism like this. I mean it takes some work to break up a 6" thick concrete pad 8 ft in diameter with a sledgehammer.. WHY?
Mike

Check to see if that site is for sale. Maybe someone got paid to help you change you mind in rebuilding?

Tim Wescott · « **Reply #4 on:** May 13, 2013, 06:51:43 PM »

There's lots of nice kids out there. It's just that you don't have to make much effort to do something bad enough to stand out, but you really have to pour on the coal to do something nice enough for it to be noticed.

Dan Berry · « **Reply #5 on:** May 13, 2013, 08:15:00 PM »

I pitted with my Dad on the firld in the 60s.
It sounds a LOT like some kids who were told to take their motorcycles off the field decided to get back at the authorities.

Reptoid · « **Reply #6 on:** May 13, 2013, 09:07:17 PM »

   This is most likely not young kids doing random vandalism. Way too much work to be unplanned and random.
   There is a very unfortunate trend in our society of late that seems to validate or at least tolerate destructive behavior by groups of people, directed at facilities, people and/or activities they don't like.....
   Like "I don't like your noisy airplanes in MY park"
I would give examples and names of some of the groups, but that might be viewed as political

I have actually enjoyed some time flying there with George and Mitch Cleveland back in the day when I was spending alot of time working in Forest, Mississippi and drove down to N.O. for the week-end. Good Times

Mike Griffin · « **Reply #7 on:** May 13, 2013, 09:28:17 PM »

Robert this is City Property and it is not for sale. Our club maintains and makes improvements to the field as needed. After hurricane Katrina what the flood did not devastate , FEMA did and they never made good on their promise to us to restore the field to its original state. They just blew us off and did the same thing to the club in Baton Rouge. The members of our club put hours and hours of clean up work after the hurricane to get it back in shape and we hauled in loads and loads of River Sand to build it back up. On Sundays when we fly, people walking their dogs will stop and watch us fly and sometimes walk over and talk to us asking questions. Anyone can come and fly anytime they want when the gate is open since it is City Property but only club members show up. The City gave us a key so we could lock the gate at the head of the road but that does not stop anyone who wants to walk back at anytime, they simply walk around it.

We are just a bunch of guys in our sixties and seventies trying to enjoy ourselves usually on a Sunday afternoon and we sit around and BS as much as we fly. I was talking to Linda my wife just last night after the shooting here at the Mothers Day parade that injured 19 people. The kid that did it was 19 and he just opened fire randomly at the crowd and among the wounded were two 10 year old children. Randy and Serge are correct, there is no regard for others property or human life anymore with this bunch....

I have no idea who damaged our field and we will probably never find out but to me it is just another sign of the moral fabric of our culture being ripped to shreds. I too am glad I have many more years behind me than I have in front of me.

Mike

Steve Helmick · « **Reply #8 on:** May 13, 2013, 10:23:01 PM »

Maybe you should invest in a surveillance video camera? At least a fake one? Just an idea.

The Army Corps of Engineers took over our grass field (River View Park) to make a "Salmon resting station" (a cove in the river) and supposedly, it is to become a park again, with a boat launch of some sort. The city doesn't have any funding to complete the job, but meanwhile, erosion and idiots with 4x4's have torn up the grass that was planted. Not only that, but fact is that the Salmon don't need a "resting station" there, because it's barely upriver from saltwater...yup, a waste of taxpayer money.

Steve

Douglas Ames · « **Reply #9 on:** May 13, 2013, 10:23:57 PM »

Mike-
The pad was most likely broken up by the heat of the fire.
Concrete absorbs moisture and the heat and resulting steam cracked the slab. Doesn't make sense they would put any physical effort into busting up the concrete. Creosote soaked ties would burn pretty well also.
Lazy, stupid teenagers or maybe transients?

IIRC - our circle centers at Tulsa Glue Dobbers are septic tank lids (precast concrete).

Dick Pacini · « **Reply #10 on:** May 14, 2013, 04:44:47 AM »

Mike, did you file a police report or contact the city division responsible for the park?

Mike Griffin · « **Reply #11 on:** May 14, 2013, 08:37:55 AM »

Hi Dick

The president of the club filed a report with the city. I have not seen the damage personally and will be going in the hospital tomorrow for my back surgery. Our president is making a trip today to see the damage for himself and talk to park officials.

Mike

Mark Scarborough · « **Reply #12 on:** May 14, 2013, 10:09:42 AM »

Quote from: Douglas Ames on May 13, 2013, 10:23:57 PM

Mike-
The pad was most likely broken up by the heat of the fire.
Concrete absorbs moisture and the heat and resulting steam cracked the slab. Doesn't make sense they would put any physical effort into busting up the concrete. Creosote soaked ties would burn pretty well also.
Lazy, stupid teenagers or maybe transients?

IIRC - our circle centers at Tulsa Glue Dobbers are septic tank lids (precast concrete).

this is more what it sounds like to me as well,, perhaps it was a "senior" barbeque,, it is about graduation time, and heck, how responsible,, lighting their bonfire on the concrete so they dont torch the whold area,,

( hey its just an idea,, it sounds plausable to me,, and the fire would definitely shatter the concrete) sorry to those who fly there, thats a real let down either way

MarcusCordeiro · « **Reply #13 on:** May 14, 2013, 03:44:34 PM »

No one can explain craziness...
What a bunch of losers... people like that make me sick

Marcus

Tim Wescott · « **Reply #14 on:** May 14, 2013, 03:55:19 PM »

Quote from: Mark Scarborough on May 14, 2013, 10:09:42 AM

this is more what it sounds like to me as well,, perhaps it was a "senior" barbeque,, it is about graduation time, and heck, how responsible,, lighting their bonfire on the concrete so they dont torch the whold area,,

( hey its just an idea,, it sounds plausable to me,, and the fire would definitely shatter the concrete) sorry to those who fly there, thats a real let down either way

S'true -- given a big enough fire. I remember being pretty damn dumb in a "just plain" sort of way when I was that age. A bunch of 18 year old kids are perfectly capable of sitting there wondering "what's that huge popping noise" without ever realizing that the concrete's shattering.

Regardless of what happened -- I hope you guys get your circle put back together, and that nothing more untoward happens.

Mike Griffin · « **Reply #15 on:** May 14, 2013, 07:46:06 PM »

The president of the club inspected the damage to the pilots pad today and he confirms what a lot of you suspected that the fire did cause the concrete to shatter but feels like it can be repaired. I think some of the members are planning to go out next week and get the concrete repaired and the rest of the mess cleared up. At least it was repairable and we will be back flying in no time...

Thanks for all of your support and input. Although senseless and stupid by the perps, it could have been a lot worse. Talk to you all when I get home and can sit in the chair again....

Mike

Paul Smith · « **Reply #16 on:** May 14, 2013, 08:05:03 PM »

Maybe renegade soccer moms. They destroyed your center. The next move is to put up goals and schedule games.

Bob Hudak · « **Reply #17 on:** May 14, 2013, 08:14:13 PM »

Mike.
I feel your angst. At our old field in Cleveland kids vandalized a porta john we rented for the season. Our club was charged $600 for the destroyed unit and we didn't even get to keep it. That put a huge dent in our treasury.

Avaiojet · « **Reply #18 on:** May 14, 2013, 08:16:12 PM »

Maybe they thought that circle was made by aliens.

The fire may have been a signal?

Mike Keville · « **Reply #19 on:** May 14, 2013, 09:38:01 PM »

Quote from: Avaiojet on May 14, 2013, 08:16:12 PM

Maybe they thought that circle was made by aliens.

The fire may have been a signal?

Yeah, sure . . .

Chris Wilson · « **Reply #20 on:** May 15, 2013, 12:08:01 AM »

Quote from: Mike Griffin on May 13, 2013, 05:54:34 PM

I cannot even begin to wrap my mind around mindless vandalism like this. I mean it takes some work to break up a 6" thick concrete pad 8 ft in diameter with a sledgehammer.. WHY?

Mike

Mike, for the amount of effort involved it sounds like it must have been personal.

john e. holliday · « **Reply #21 on:** May 15, 2013, 05:50:26 AM »

Down in your part of this great country, sure it is not some VooDoo cult doing their thing. Would you believe there was a cult of some kind here in KC area that was sacrificing animals in various parts of the city. That was a couple of decades ago.

Dave_Trible · « **Reply #22 on:** May 15, 2013, 07:16:35 AM »

Quote from: Paul Smith on May 14, 2013, 08:05:03 PM

Maybe renegade soccer moms. They destroyed your center. The next move is to put up goals and schedule games.

Indeed. The scourge of our times. If only the kids were really half as interested in the soccer as the soccer moms and dads then it would make more sense. Maybe they'll grow to be soccer stars-in Europe or the Middle East. Pretty much a waste here. (Personal opinion not reflected upon this station or its affiliates)

Dave

Seems harsh maybe. But I have to cower to these people on a regular basis where I fly. This caused the closing of the old Swope Park fly site years ago and I'm sure many other fly sites across the country. (Soccer moms vote). My own kids did indeed play one season each I think. They weren't interested, their friends were in it so they too had to be until bruises and boredom changed minds.

andrew stokey · « **Reply #23 on:** May 15, 2013, 10:50:49 AM »

Get the d---mn game camera and see if they can be identified. Also put up signs of notification. Glad I'm in Tx now. Very nice people here and much more patriotic than N.O. if you can believe that. That city is NOTHING like when I grew up there.
Andy

andrew stokey · « **Reply #24 on:** May 16, 2013, 08:08:56 AM »

Just thought I'd add this little tid bit of info after the rant yesterday. I remembered years ago at that field, we were having trouble with vandals cutting doughnuts on our beautiful grass. Well, long story short, one day at 2AM the vandal was on the field and someone got the license plate. Luck would have it, my brother was a N.O. policeman. He tracked down the perp and found he was an intern at a LAWYER'S off. About 25 yrs old. Since he was dumb enough to go on the golf course and do the same thing, his pocket book was about $500 lighter.
Justice was served and it was quiet for about a year after that.