Miscreant. . .Street Urchin. . .

Wasn't the new "Crime Plan" that Mayor Don announced with such fanfare and media coverage last week supposed to stop this kind of thing?

Haven't taxpayers endured enough decades of a Mayor who won't protect the city's residents by providing the most basic, crime prevention program...a FULLY STAFFED POLICE DEPARTMENT?

It's time for Change!

Vote "YES" on the "RECALL" next Tuesday!

Black hooded sweatshirt, white t shirt and dark jeans. There is a needle in a haystack. Good luck. It isn't safe any more to go out at night...tis a real shame.

Guess she got mugged while out looking for a grocery store.

Two broken promises in one.

Vote YES on the recall.

The black hoodie is back in action!

Who'd have thought that people would jump on this story to push their agenda?

You recall people are funny.

Someone got mugged in Highland Square, recall the Mayor!!

Who the heck is walking around Highland Square at 1:30 in the morning. I'm 6'3" and 200 lbs and I wouldn't.

it happened on the corner of w. market and portage.
that's just plain ballsy...and scary.

...and a block away from my house.

Thay say how bad it is out her wearing black hoodies.Because people are using the hood so they wont be dentified.
Then do something about it .Go to Washington and protest .
Stop selling anything that has a hood on it.

Good thing his aim is as bad as his judgement. Anyone routinely walking there that time of night is a good candidate for concealed carry.

@M...

Want to bet that the victim would have appreciated a fully staffed Akron Police Department last night?

@Jason...

Isn't that a sad commentary on one of five cities of over 100,000 that League of Mayors thought should receive an 'Outstanding Performance' award at their 'City Livability' meeting.

@ Jason: Just givin' you guys the needle.

Actually, I wouldn't expect any grocer in his right mind to stay open at that hour in Highland Square - or most anyplace else in Akron, given the presence of feral hoodrats.


That said, VOTE YES!

Stop producing hoodies?

Better idea: Stop producing - and reproducing- hoodrats.

i highly doubt a new mayor would have prevented this crime from happening. and unless we have such a huge influx of money that we are afforded a hiring increase on the police force that enables constant foot patrols, again, i doubt the crime would not have occurred. stop the blame game recallists, and start taking responsibility for your own cruddy neighborhoods.

yeah if there was more police they would have known she was going to get mugged ahead of time and would have been there waiting for the guy to show up.

21 more police wont mean no more crime.

@OTV -- So a fully staffed police department would have ensured that a patrol would have been at that location at that time? And a plan announced A WEEK AGO is going to "instantly" solve these types of problems? Sheesh.

Leave the Mayor alone. This story was probably made up because the so called victim probably smoked up all her money and was out looking for more crack. The black hoodie has now become a household name.

Common sense.. there are many places it's not safe for a woman or anyone for that matter to walk alone, especially that time of night. People do stupid things and then act surprised when there's a crime!

@GAK...

The "City Hall Hero" pronounced nearly 2-1/2 years ago that the Akron Police Department would be brought to its full, authorized strength.

President Obama says "words matter", but not when the words come from Don Plusquellic. The APD has fewer officers today than it did when he made the promise.

Hopefully a majority of voters will remember all of the empty promises this Mayor has made when it comes to public safety and will decide that the time for change has come on Tuesday, June 23.

@ Jason

Tell Mr. Mayor to hire more police officers. We needed them 2 years ago. If we had more police then maybe there would be time, to stop males wearing black hoodies. The police go from call to call. You really can't be proactive, and stop people like this. Because your reacting to things that have already happened.

The City may offer a grocer a City Tax incentive, but will there be a Hood Tax incentive?

All American Ghetto,

So you want to supplement the police force? Are part-time officers OK?

I feel for the lady getting mugged. However, being out at 1:30 in the morning by yourself, is asking for something to happen. Always travel with at least another person, if not more.

If the recallists think this is bad, maybe they should look at Canton, crime is running rampant down there.

Highland Square gets dark before the sun sets.It's not much better at 1:30 pm

Oh boy dark hoodie, white t-shirt, dark jeans thats a great discription, I bet he had two arms and two legs too! Good Luck finding him

Theres the black hoodie :) lol

@OTV -- I was only referring to your words from a previous post ("Wasn't the new "Crime Plan" that Mayor Don announced with such fanfare and media coverage last week supposed to stop this kind of thing?")...

if a similar-type promise was made 2 1/2 years ago it would be interesting to see the reasons why it hasn't been implemented...and please, no references to Change Akron Now or some other overly circuitous and website...

Overtaxed Voter is proposing "pre-crime". I think you have watched too much Minority Report.

@jschnell...I love it. I too was wondering where the mayor is hiding his triplets that can forsee the future.

All the darn greedy landlords that have rented there poorly maintained "investment properties" (scum bagss) to the hood rats have ruined this area. I say we need to really begin to control where we allow section 8 housing to be. It needs to be segregated to one or two specific areas not spread all over willy nilly. And you scum bag property owners renting to this trash should be ashamed. Again the downfall of America. greed, greed, greed

@Jason

I have no problem with them hiring part-time officers. However it would have to be done right. If the department was bought up to full strength.

If that were to happen and they wanted to hire part-time officers go for it. You and I both know that if they just hired part-time officers they would never hire full timers again.

Which would result in to a whole bunch of problems, with the pension system and etc...
If done right I think part-timers is a good idea.

Ms. Blackfantastic,

Go ahead blame the victim, call her names. Show us your true nature. Not all people who are out at night are up to no good. Apparently your first instinct is to assume that someone out past your bedtime is a drug addict.

Okay..if they werent wearing hoodies it would be back to the ski caps.

Recall people, even tho I'm with you it's rather funny blaming Don for this.

I'm 6'4" 220lbs and black i dont even walk to Highland square at night even tho I would like to see some of the bands that play at the various bars in the area.

The corner of market and portage path at 1:30am? The story seems alil fishy to me now. The bars dont close til 230am. So i could see someone goign there for a quickie. If they were walking or lived really close.

Only thing i can say is be careful out there watch your back and not every black man you see is out to rob ya. I might help ya out i dont wear hoodies.

Things are tough all over. It is not a case where more cops would help, though. There is a huge police presence in many of our suburbs, yet the young are still committing crimes in every city around us. These problems will end when our entire economy improves to pre-1968 levels. When we get rid of our rental communty and replace it with homeowners, we will see pride put an end to these crimes. Parents don't control their young, when they don't have any pride in their own existance.
More cops will only make these hoodrats get smarter.

Story should be easy to confirm. Did they find a shell casing and where did the one round he fired go? If the gun shot can not be proved then I think the whole story maybe bogus.

Not that it couldn't happen mind you.

But 1:30am at the corner of Market and Portage is not only pretty well lit. But you would be surprised how much "normal" activity is still present there at that time. Between traffic at the light and on Market and people patronizing the bars a block away it is not the best location for an ambush.

Now 2 blocks farther North on Portage sure. But right there at the intersection?

I think I need some confirmation

2 things...don't be out that late by yourself?!? DUH

And also I am voting yes on the recall but not because this girl was stupid enough to walk around by herself...no cop can prevent stupidity by citizens..

also the only time we get more cops is when a Mayor wants to get re-elected, it's a proven fact so the Mayor can run around and brag about putting more cops on the streets...

========================
@GAK who posted:

if a similar-type promise was made 2 1/2 years ago it would be interesting to see the reasons why it hasn't been implemented...and please, no references to Change Akron Now or some other overly circuitous and website...
========================

How about the "overly circuitous" City of Akron website and the transcript of Don Plusquellic's February 8, 2007 'State of the City' address?

keeping our neighborhoods safe requires our constant attention. Two weeks ago, I announced a seven-point plan to attack criminal behavior in our city.

First, I authorized the Akron Police Department to be brought to its full budgeted strength of 487 officers as soon as practicable.

Plusquellic identified the problem.
Plusquellic created a plan.
Plusquellic issued the marching orders.

Plusquellic then FAILED to follow-up, follow-through, fund, or execute the program.

Then, 2-1/2 years later he decides (and less than 2 weeks from the end of 'the fight of his political life') Plusquellic decides that it is time to announce another plan.

It's just more of the same, unless voters decide it is time for CHANGE.

Vote YES on the RECALL on June 23.

If you are out by yourself at night, and you don't know at least some martial arts, and/or have a weapon, you are a fuggin' idiot.

People all of you that comment on this story need to get some common sense going. You can get mugged at any time and in any city. The victim was in the wrong place at the wrong time and I hope that she is doing well.

You recall folk are something else...keep drinking the Mendenhall cool aid. You could triple the police force and there still will be crime. Unless you want to have your taxes go through the roof and live in a state of martial law, there will never be enough police.

As for the woman who was mugged, I think she leared her lesson-never walk home alone or start packing. The police cannot be everywhere-regardless of what the rabid Recall folk say.

Its up to the neighborhoods to police themselves.. Start a neighborhood watch. Call the police and report suspicious behavior, bass / loud music.

It would have been sweet justice to see this thug steal the purse, fire a shot then look up and see a glint from the moonlight on the top of a building as the sniper shot splits his dome...errr... I mean black hoodie...

Anyhow, that is the rant portion.
The point is, help you neighbor clean their property, lend a hand, do something positive for someone else everyday versus stealing, poisoning neighborhoods with disrespect and no moral values. Yecchhhh!

I digress... thanks for listening.

mayor dons akron-get used to it

All I have to say is Concealed Carry could have made for one less "black hoodie" in this scenario... really is silly to expect 21 more cops to mitigate every single mugging in this city. Be proactive about protecting yourself, and carry!

I lived in the Highland Square area as a young girl. I could walk to Mary Coyle's for ice cream, walk to Dodie's to pick up take-out for our dinner, go to the library, and go to a movie at the Highland Theater, and never have to worry. I walked to and from Portage Path Elementary School without a care. It saddens me so much when I return to Akron for visits and see how the area has declined. Akron really is a great city, people. I miss living there a lot.

In Warner Mendenhall's world, everyone is all nicey-nicey to each other and nothing bad ever happens at all.

In other words, you Recall folk are pollyannas.

If only she had a neighborhood grocery store.........

Why don't the police make it legal to shoot on sight anyone with a hoodie on. I'll bet it wouldn't take long to not see any hoody wearing thugs. Plus all the rednecks could drive around in their pick-up trucks on hunting expeditions popping all the hoody men or women! What fun!!

@FRANKO - YOU SKIPPED THE PART WHERE THEY ARE MOUNTED ON THE WALL!

GROCERY STORE OR "CANDY MAN". THAT GALLON OF MILK (OR WHATEVER) CAN DEFINATLY WAIT TIL MORNING

TRUTH PATROL KNOW IT ALL TELL IT ALL THE ALL SEEING
HOODIES YOU SEEM TO KNOW MORE THAT POLICE MAYBE WE NEED TO CHECK YOU OUT SEEN YOU LAST WEEK WITH A TAN AND A BLACK HOODIE MAYBE WHERE LOOKING IN THE WRONG DIRECTION THE TRUTH BE TOLD LOOK FOR THE MAN/WOMAN TRUTH PATROL IS A BIRD NO IT A FLY ON THE WALL

@ all white women..."the suspect is a black male, 25 to 30 years old, about 5-feet-10-inches tall and weighing about 170 pounds. He had long sideburns and wore a black hooded sweatshirt, white T-shirt and dark colored jeans."

This description is tired just like this women who was out on W Mkt walking home(ha ha) but in the meantime gets rob and for what?...her crack pipe!

A few of u say she was near Portage Path but the headline says she was in Highland Square, well well, I guess she doesn't even know where she was at, who called the police?

@Grad Student....I don't know what school u graduated from but most people walking the streets of Akron at that time of nite are drug addicts! WAKE UP!

More cops on the street would curtail this from happening. If someone stopped this mope for jaywalking, acting suspicious or anything criminal- it would have sent him away from the area. Police presence is a deterrent and if they aren't there, I guess someone was. This is why there's no grocery store that wants in the area there. If there's enough cops to eliminate the opportinity, then the opportunity crime never gets committed.

Yeah, the mayor needs a full staff of officers- not part-timers, but full time cops who work steady beats and know the skells working the area. The mayor can't stop the crime, but he can deter it with uniform presence- which we all benefit from. What's wrong with a safe, secure and vibrant neighborhood? (Plow the streets, too!!!)

Sorry the suspect description is "tired"...we are tired of the described suspects! When I go to Platinum Dragon, I'm carrying a Glock. The neighborhood should be safe, but since it is not, you practice self-preservation.

Had Plusquellic had the Akron Police force up to full strength, this may not have happened.

Time to get rid of Plusquellic. For the FACTS, go to:

www.recallmayordon.com

www.changeakronnow.com

www.akronwatch.org


Vote FOR the RECALL

Did he mean mug her after he mugged her. The mean mug goes away in the court room.

OK let's break this down...

A young girl walking in a bad neighborhood at 1:30am. Why??

Answer: Turning tricks

Police do not have to protect you just protect the city as a whole. More cops doesnt mean this woman would have not been mugged. The cops have to be there and want to stop the crime. All I can do in my area is get cops to take reports after being robbed.

Shell casings? Not all people shoot automatic pistols, could this have been a revolver?

you people are rediculous... "if there were more police this wouldnt have happened" what kind of lala land are you guys living in?

our country is in a recession, drug and alcohol use is up, there for theres going to be more crime.

more cops wont stop whats happening to all of america. its not just akron like all of you think. crawl out from under your shells.

i feel more safe in akron than i would in cleveland, columbus, or youngstown.

Ditto what Jason said. You gotta be nuts to be walking the streets by yourself at 1:30AM

people walking at that time of night are drug addicts??????
I walked many nights home from H.s. so as to not fight parking,avoid a dui there are many reasons why someone walks to and from h.s.
if the mayor would have cracked down on the hooded beast this wouldnt have happened, but his policy of sticking his head in the sand about neighborhood crime created this problem,the solution is recall the mayor and have open season on hoodie thugs!!

Even with the APD completly manned the morale is terrible. You got Sommerville, Shealey , the lets support crime folks undermining a safe Akron

I can only assume from readin' the comments, that the pro city hall hero folks think no amount of increased police on the force would have detered this crime. And they may be correct.

So based on their assumptions, we don't need any police, because a police presence doesn't deter crime.

How thoughtful of them.

@gildee: Portage Path and W. Market IS Highland Square! The area is mainly inhabited by students, hippies and gay people - pretty harmless. The thugs need to stay on the other side of Rhodes Ave. That's where all the crime comes from.

This woman has every right to walk home at 1:30 a.m.

We need more "empathy" for "people of color"

So the victim was walking home from highland square at 1:30 in the morning. chances are, she was at one of the bars, i.e. rays, the square OR the matinee, all of which are open til 2:30. the only question i have, is why would you rob someone on thier way home from the bar!??!?!?!? gthey probably already spent all of thier money! and yes akron is getting dangerous and we all need to take precautions.

I live in highland square, and even though this happened here, I still wouldnt live anywhere else in Akron.

@ Bevian

Yeah, what you said. Gildee obviously doesn't know her Akron geography. Portage and 18 is Highland Square. Also Gildee, way to paint in your racism with your response, very revealing.

I'm surprised that "black hoodie" isnt censored on here

I wouldn't put a new store in this area.

@OTV -- Thanks, asked and answered (although I didn't need the added recall plug at the end)...

@Beta -- "So based on their assumptions, we don't need any police, because a police presence doesn't deter crime."

If you would have stopped at your first sentence and responded like OTV did with source-based information rather than this drivel, your statement would have been more effective.

@gak - ((chucklin')) I'm sorry. How was I to know that the prior comments, of which I based my own on, didn't meet y'alls qualifications as a source.

Try to be more specific, in the future, on what sources y'all find acceptable.

@Grad Student....I don't know what school u graduated from but most people walking the streets of Akron at that time of nite are drug addicts! WAKE UP!"

"victim probably smoked up all her money and was out looking for more crack. The black hoodie has now become a household name."

I will have to admit these two things went through my mind first hand. The freaks come out at night.

Bevian-

You hit it right on the head. Its a great neighborhood if a certain element would just stay in there freaking area ( the ghetto by Rhodes and Exchange and Work ). I am sick of seeing them over here. Not shopping, not supporting the community , not doing a dang thing but strolling around shuckin and jivin and trying to intimidate people. And once in awhile when the opportunity arises the scumbag cowards rob someone.

And Gildee this area has several small nice neighborhood pubs that people legal congregate at and socialize without causing problems ( strange concept for you I know ). So being out at 1:30am is not strange especially if your a 2nd shift worker or work in the service industry ( i know JOBS another strange concept ).

What I wanna know is why are all those black folks hanging around the citgo at Oakdale and over by Rhodes. They are there if I go by at 9pm, 11pm, and heck when I go to work at 5am they are still there. ....WHAT ARE THOSE FINE CITIZENS DOING?

I bought a house in the square 6 years ago and in that short time it has went from sitting out on your porch and saying hi to people going by walking dogs in the evening and plenty of people being out and about all the way to 10pm in the summer. To now by 5:30 you barely see anyone out on a nice walk anymore. And the direct and absolute cause is YBM's. How much longer are we going to sit by scared to say anything negative for fear of being ostracized and let the quality of OUR lives go down because of these worthless punks. It is getting ridiculous and it is only going in one direction. And I'm not saying its getting better. My lawyer older brother moved into a gated community. I used to make fun of him about it. I don't anymore. I am starting to understand.

I suggest to everyone that we start doing something. I for one plan on it. YBM's loitering around your neighborhood mean mugging everyone and generally being a pain. Call the cops and say they threatened you. Say you didn't see it but they postured like they had a weapon. APD will show in a hurry and odds are atleast one of them will have a weapon, weed, or a warrant. Do it enough times and they will start to figure out that everytime they "kick it" in this area the cops are gonna show and harrass them. They will eventually stop coming around. That is my plan for the square this summer.

Someone's making a fortune selling black hoodies. Maybe he ought to open a team shop like the Indians do at Chapel Hill. There are certainly enough potential customers.

I'm sure he is a good boy who just made a mistake!

When seconds count, the police will be there in minutes! People wake up! Get your Concealed Handgun License and carry at all times! Thugs like this are out there and you must protect yourself. The Police can't do it for you.
It's a matter of personal responsibility.

Evil exists whether you recognize it or not!

@Reality & jschnell: Yes, you know what I'm talking about. Highland Square is a unique neighborhood and I love to take evening walks when weather permits. I want to feel safe, but I know I'm taking chances after dark. My son had a gun shoved in his face coming out of his house on Beck a couple years ago. The f**ker got $10 from him; thank God he didn't pull the trigger.

I've lived on the west side for 30 years, face it people, Highland Square is done. It's a has been, a grocery store will not save it, additional police will not save it. The ghetto has been sprawling into the wallhaven and square area for years now. The sprawl is due to the addition of Section 8 housing at near Thurmont and wallhaven area. Look at what that did for the Valley! It's a shame to see it go, but people in the area just don't have the financial means to really fix up those old, inefficient homes. If they do, they will never see the return when they sell.

No one in their right mind should be walking around either of those areas at night.

Can someone show me the part where it said this woman was out at 1:30am to go to the grocery store? This article doesn't say where this woman was coming from. Could it be that she was just getting home from work? Three of my neighbors work 2nd shift and this is about the time they get home from work. Some of us writing these comments need to check out own character. You may not have been the one holding that guy but some of the attitudes and the show of no empathy for this lady is just as criminal (morally).

Corrections in spelling - "to check our own character" and "holding that gun" - I was typing fast because I can't believe after what we as AMERICANS have been going through (9/11 and the recession) that we still look at a "victim" and pass judgement without even knowing them. Instead of typing out all this "displaced anger" you have, why don't one of you run for City Council person of that Ward and help get it cleaned up. You come up with a plan instead of sitting back waiting on someone else to do it. If we want a better place to live in, we must take action, each of us. Not just the Mayor. But ALL OF US!!!

I think that girl had the right to walk home, but not in America...maybe in Europe or Asia but she must know we're the most violent, barbaric, country in the world (particularly for not being war-torn)

I live in HS, and sadly my husband fits the description of the assailant, so I worry for his safety... I am seriously wearing a black hoodie right now to protect my hair from this weather...sistas (chocolate and vanilla) know what I am saying...

TO (shockingly)RACIST AKRON--
PLEASE DON'T SHOOT ME...Blame Walgreens because the hoodie was cheap when I wanted it. I'm just a girl trying to protect her perm!

We will all know if the Akron citizens are tired of the same thing in a few weeks.

@ Wildflower
I know actually where you are coming from (the hair thing). My brothers, uncles, male cousins and nephews fit that description. Ecspecially my nephews. From the comments on this article, they should be arrested and each of them are graduating from U of Akron with a degrees one for Law the other for Engineering.

It's a wonderful day in the neighborhood!!

Let us keep our wonderful hard-working Mayor. Especially since the Don has decreed "there is a special place in hell" for people who don't vote the way the Don wants them to. We can't blame all the high crime and violence in Akron on the Don. When he's not jetting around the world and the nation(on the taxpayer)he sometimes comes downtown to give the appearance of working for "the citizens of Akron". He also got rid of his house in Bath (along with his poor 1st wife) and now lives in the crime infested city of Akron. So I'm sure he's aware of the crime problems. So all you sheep, let's vote AGAINST THE RECALL. And the Don
will be looking down from his special place in heaven, when that time comes, on you people who vote FOR THE RECALL.

@M

Highland Square (as a former resident) could be saved if the garbage there was routed out! I wouldn't say it is a dangerous are like 77 @ Copley, but it is a close second.

Maybe we do need a new mayor.

@stleo: "These problems will end when our entire economy improves to pre-1968 levels. When we get rid of our rental communty and replace it with homeowners, we will see pride put an end to these crimes."

Well it's kind of late in the game to make a comparison to over 40 years ago. Back then Highland Square was a thriving locale.

You can only get homeowners if there's a market for buyers to purchase. In part, it was the removal of redlining by the banks that forced them to provide mortgages to unqualified home buyers. Not all people are eligible, nor deserving, to own a home.

@April...it doesnt matter that your family members are graduating from college, sadly a majority on this forum would much rather use a noose on all black men, than recognize the ones in Mortar board cap and gown...

Yep a new mayor will solve all the crime problems. Another 20 officers in APD and there will never be another crime committed in Akron again.

The recall loons are out in force again. Can't wait for the election to come and go. It will be interesting to see what they do after the recall fails. Maybe they'll contribute to a real solution, but I doubt it.

i honestly do not think recalling the mayor will reduce crime. yes, more officers on the street will help somewhat, but people are still going to commit crimes-it is just a fact. we can hire a million new officers and it would probably only reduce the crime rate by maybe 10%....criminals think they can cheat the system, so there will still be shootings, robberies, etc,;the only possible thing is they will be able to respond quicker and with more officers on scene. the fact of it is, it would be worse on our city to recall the mayor right now. just my opinion. i do not agree with his actions, but the consequences could be greater if we were to recall him. and plus, this really isnt the story to be promoting a recall. my prayers are with the victim.

Jeez- stop banging that drum. No one said all black men. Get over your self. Anyone can see which ones are trouble and which ones aren't. And if you are educated and not trouble then I suggest you do not bow to peer pressure and act like it. It is cool though in the hip hop culture to look and act "street". Well you wanna look and act "street" I am gonna assume you are. So wear pants that fit. Leave the plain white over sized T's to the thugs and dress and act like a none thug. Proper use of the English language will help as well. You do this and I will smile and hold the door for you. Otherwise stay the he!! out of my neighborhood.

Pretty simple

And no baggy clothes and rims and grills and gutter english are not part of your "culture and history" and I do not need to accept and respect that. Its not freaking jazz. Its a bunch of ignorant garbage.

@scottyboy: Gee, no duh! The point was that we need jobs in this city to create a thriving economy. A strong economy would end our need to rent. People are more inclined to raise their children with a sense of pride when they(the parents) are proud of their own lives. Better parenting ends crime! Pay attention, stupid...

@scottyboy: The last time we had a solid economy in Akron was 1968. Our city will always compare badly to that time, until there are more jobs. If we are talking about how far Akron has fallen, we are refering to that period as the starting point from which we've fallen. Does that make my comments easier for you to understand?

{{{The recall loons are out in force again. Can't wait for the election to come and go. It will be interesting to see what they do after the recall fails. Maybe they'll contribute to a real solution, but I doubt it.}}}

Sort of sounds like the city hall hero speakin', doesn't it. I suppose this small minded thinkin' and derogatory remarks towards Akron's citizens comes naturally to his supporters. But what the heck, it works for the city hall hero.

What will the the recall folks do after the recall election?? I would imagine they continue on as they always have. Workin', payin' taxes and workin' to improve their community as they feel they should. Don't the pro city hall hero folks do the same thing?? Sure they do.

Solutions. Continuin' on as we are now, is one, recallin' the city hall hero is another. New solutions are proposed all the time. Some good, some bad.

I certainly hope that these pro city hall hero folks aren't of the mind that only the city hall hero and his supporters should be the ones to propose and implement solutions.

As we've seen recently, when a vote on some of those solutions is allowed, or forced, the citizens of Akron have disagreed on some of them.

blame the victim! blame the victim!

seriously people - are you even hearing yourselves? first this young woman was a victim of crime and now she is a victim of your harassment. most of you sicken me.

First of all, let me debunk the ignorant readers who claim this story is made up. It is not. I know the victim personally and spoke to her immediately following the incident. Secondly, those of you who claim that she, by virtue of being out late at night, must have been up to no good are also truly ignorant. Not everybody follows the conventional 9-5 schedule. Believe it or not, some people are busy with school and work late into the evening and need to unwind a little later. Sorry you fall asleep during Dancing With The Stars. Not all of us do.
I personally work at one of the bars in the Square and don't leave work until 3am or so most nights. Does that mean that I am "asking to get robbed," as some of you are implying? Blaming the victim for ANY crime is ridiculous. I will concede that it may not be the safest idea to walk around in Akron by yourself late at night, it in no way makes anything right.
You are all trying to attach your own political spin on what is, in essence, a stupid street crime committed by trash. It's not the mayor's fault. It is not the victim's fault. I hope the next girl he robs is armed.

Beta,

FOR THE LAST TIME, NOT EVERYBODY WHO IS AGAINST THE RECALL IS A PRO CITY HALL, OR PRO MAYOR DON. MANY OF US JUST SEE THE RECALL AS A PETTY CHILDISH ACT BY A VERY SMALL NUMBER OF PEOPLE. THEY AREN'T HAPPY WITH THE MAYOR, HAVE PERSONAL ISSUES WITH HIM, THINK HE IS RUDE AND HAS DONE ALL MANY MISDEEDS. BUT NONE OF THAT WARRANTS A RECALL, PARTICULARLY SINCE ALMOST ALL CLAIMS OF WRONGDOING OCCURRED BEFORE THE LAST ELECTION.

Yes, I was in all caps because I am screaming this at the top of my longs.

Are all recall supporters pro-Mendenhall-tax-cheat?

I've looked for a black hoodie and can't find one. Where the heck are these things being purchased?

@ steve - wrong doin' is wrong doin', regardless of when it was done.

As for those who say they are not a pro city hall hero person, but find the recall a petty childish act, I haven't seen a one of them produce anythin' of substance that refutes any of the allegeations. Neither has the city hall hero for that matter.

As for recall supporters bein' pro-Mendenhall tax cheats, I'd ask when he cheated??

As I have read, he is behind on his taxes and has arranged to pay them. Isn't a cheat one who doesn't intend to pay?? Or is their a new definition for one??

And isn't it a petty childish act to even mention that?? They aren't happy with Mendenhall. Have personal issues with him. Think he is rude and has done many misdeeds. But none of them warrent callin' him a tax cheat, particularly since it was reported that the IRS knew about the back taxes and worked with him on a plan to have them paid.

Is hypocrisy in y'alls dictionary steve??

Beta-They are all lyin' cheatin'scoundrels, so i'm sure iff'n he coulda' gotten' away with it then i'm dern' tootin' he woulda' tried. ((chucklin'))and yet he was dog'gon caught and forced to pay up like the rest of us.

I don't blame the victim, but do encourage women of all ages, creeds colors etc. to not walk alone in any location after sundown. Same goes for gents. I stroll HiSq regularly and do not see this alleged infestation of YBMs. Unless you consider the area around BaHo to be HiSq. But even that is pretty much the same neighborhood it was 20 years ago. The square is still full of great neighborhoods and great people. Just be safe after dark, even if you're strolling First & Main in Hudson!

Shocking! Walking around HS around 1:30AM alone. What were you thinkging!?

I am annoyed that apparently nothing I have written today has actually posted.

Basically, there are quite a few reasons why a law abiding citizen would be out in the late evening or early morning. Truth is that they cynicism on this board is making people ONLY see the worst in the area and assume that everyone but themselves is up to no good. Stop making assumptions that all people out past your bedtime are up to no good. Some went to the movies, out for a drink, to a friends to hang out and on and on.. And now more than ever people aren't driving by choice or circumstance and the busses don't run that late.

Where is LESTER when we need him?

Dammit People Arm Yourselves!

I would not walk in Highland square area at 1:30 in the afternoon.

I can't believe that I read all of these comments.

And even worse, I believe we are doomed as a society, upon reading them.

I've walked around H Square about a million times at 230/3Am and never had a problem...mostly because the thugs only start fights they think they can win. They are cowards. Highland Square could be turned around, the residents still care about their neighborhood. Heck I almost bought a house there 6 years ago. "Reality" is right, the thugs need to be run out...the problem with that is so many politically correct types live there they are afraid of being called a racist for reporting suspicious people....

@Bevian...my bad, I had the wrong intersection but not the wrong tr--p! that intersection is fully lit and the perp came from behind a wall....huh! what wall, where at, whose wall?

@Reality....What makes u think Rhodes Ave is movin up? If it is not for white men looking for a good, black thang, Rhodes Ave would be safer!

@Reality...."( i know JOBS another strange concept )"....no need to be rude to me cause I paid my dues and all blacks know Highland Sq went to the dogs when Barbuto opened shop after havin' his share of black women when he was a proscuter..ha ha.

@Reality....."All the darn greedy landlords that have rented there poorly maintained "investment properties" (scum bagss) to the hood rats have ruined this area"...... I so agree with u but must add these same scumbag landords are also lookin to crookin with these renters!

"Call the cops and say they threatened you. Say you didn't see it but they postured like they"...better try another way cause the police are comin to ur door first for a better explanation and just because ur white , doesn't mean the police can ask ANYONE to leave ur hood, APD tried this yrs ago, didn't work then and won't work now! U should know this, donut!

And stop tring to tell us how we should act; slavery is dead and so is the rule we will act like the white man wants, we are people who have a culture that the slave owners tried to drown out but we are back and in force, so I guess that is a strange concept for u, donut!

Don't let my avatar get u twisted, I am a strong, black, educated woman who can and will stand up for my people.


@Grad Student...."Some went to the movies, out for a drink, to a friends to hang out and on and on.....and the busses don't run that late" again, why was she walking, donut? she clearly was not with or visiting friends or she would have said that....WAKE UP BOY!
busses...correction...buses....what school did u graduate from?

What the heck would anyone walk the streets of Akron at 1:30 am, that is asking to be robbed or killed etc, all the good people should leave and just let them have it, Akron is an un-liveable crime and drug infested cess pool, vote yes on the recall, change is your best hope of taking back control from the jungle rats.

HIGHLAND SQUARE IS LIKE A SMALL LITTLE COMMUNITY WHEN THEY JUST HANG OUT ON THE WEEKENDS. THE LADY WAS PROBABLY LEAVING ONE OF THOSE BARS WHICH WAS PROBABLY RIGHT BY HER HOUSE, ITS A SHAME SHE WAS A VICTIM HOWEVER THE STUPID IDIOT WHO MUGGED HER WAS JUST WAITING TO CATCH SOMEONE SLIPPING AND SHE WAS CAUGHT BECAUSE. THE STUPID LOOSER WAS JUST WAITNG BEHIND A WALL FOR ANYONE. LONG SIDEBURNS WHO WEARS SIDEBURNS THESE DAYS SO MAYBE HE'LL BE CAUGHT SOONER THAN HE THINKS. DUMB JERK

Hey Hotmom, Don't be kicking on sideburns!

@ Jason "Who the heck is walking around Highland Square at 1:30 in the morning. I'm 6'3" and 200 lbs and I wouldn't"

Ha, try everyone at the bars right down the street...who are there every night...well past 1:30.

You must not go out much.

you people make me sick.

i don't know who is worse...you judgmental close-minded suburbanites or city punks mugging pedestrians on their merry way.

Kate-

I know which is worse....

liberal, PC, ghetto apologists that bury their head in the sand and refuse to face facts about a certain segment of our society.

It never ceases to amaze me how some of you "enlightened" people can one second be quoting Ayn Rand and talking about personal responsibility and having purpose and cause in ones life. And the very next second you vehemently defend and make excuses for the most irresponsible and purposely ignorant among us. Blows my freakin mind.

black male... SURPRISE SURPRISE!

black male - suprise!

who would have thought

@ Reality? Really???

What about Kate's statement at all indicates that she's a liberal, PC, apologist for the "city thugs" she derides in her quote? You read it completely out of context.

Seems to me like somebody's really gunning to ignite a conversation around that same, played out argument of "conservative vs liberal"..."apologist vs patriot" to puff up their chest and "show who's right." Get over it and stop reading too far into things.

@ Krystal

A racist that lives in whitebread suburban Ohio? SURPRISE SURPRISE!

Let me help you out Kate, judgemental close minded suburbanites don't shoot people and change crime victim's lives forever , so yeah they're worse. Next time you talk to somebody who's been robbed or raped, ask them which is worse.

maybe there is a reason she live there! who wants to be around that..

Highland Square huh...? I think the guy stole her purse because it matched a pair of shoes ho owns.

Highland Square huh...? Maybe he stole her purse because it matched a pair of shoes that he owns.

Trephanationman- now that was some funny sh&%t right there.

We only wish that was the case.

drive-by makeovers and people sneaking into my yard at night to prune my rose bushes would not bother me at all

Round up the usual suspects............

THIS GUY WILL GET HIS, LITTLE WOOSY HAD TO ROB SOMEONE OF THEIR PURSE, WOW AND HAD TO USE A GUN......CRIMINALS ARE DESPERATE NOW DAYS....ARM YOURSELVES AKRON AND IF YOU DONT BELIEVE IN ARMING YOURSELVES THEN HIDE IN YOUR HOUSE AT NIGHT

I love Highland Square.
I've lived here for 5 years, I walk almost everywhere, and have never had serious trouble.
Of course things are going to happen sometimes to some poor soul, that'll happen in any dense urban neighborhood.
I'm sorry for the victim, I hope some day this dude gets caught.

PEOPLE YOU ARE PATHETIC, All this whining, If more people was armed and if the lady was a law abiding citezen which i doubt she was she should arm herself, You cant trust no one in a city like that just look at the population, crack heads druggies no of them want to work and then complain there isnt any jobs, all they want to do is sit on welfare and collect free stuff all the time saying feel sorry for me cause i am black

lol, when the police to something about these criminal you all cry about. Then when something happens, you cry about.

Oh, where is the money coming from for more police officers? I say tax the drug dealers!

Vote no on recall!

@ Charles Barkley: Do you believe this hoodlum was a Knucklehead?

hmm.....

Trephanationman----LMMFAO! Nice. Needed a good laugh on here today ;-)

why does this girl that was walking home have to had been up to no good? Couldnt she of been walking home from just getting off of work?? Who did call the police?Someone saw it but yet didnt bother to help her out.now thats whats sick.

Glidee... Correction, I'm not a boy, I'm a woman. I got my undergrad degree out of state and am working on my MBA at Kent.

as for the typo, I apologize, my fingers apparently were not in line with my thought proccess.

Incase you are unaware, there is public transportation in the city of Akron, but it does not run 24/7. I know many people who live in the HSq area who don't own cars and they still like to go visiting people and places after dark.

Can you explain to me WHY she would have told the police or press where she was coming from? Do you know for sure it isn't part of the police report?

You continue to jump to conclusions which illustrate the worst in humanity. Try not assume facts not in the story, or even better, try not to assume that all people who are out at night are up to no good.


to everyone else... I'm a tad puzzled, the woman who was mugged is 24 years old and many on here refer to her as a girl, is there a new cutoff age for adulthood that I am unaware of?

@Grad student...I don't know many women turning tricks takin' the bus these days...it is just not profitable!

She was referred to as a girl cause no real woman white or black is walking any street at 1:30am, donut. Do u walk around Kent or campus that late?

U should have gotten ur undergrad in common sense cause u missed out on alot of it.

@ Gildee...Point is no one should have to be afraid to walk around their neighborhood at anytime of day or night. And there was a time when it was like that. Now do to a certain social group, not race mind you, but a certain pseudo-culture, good people have to believe like you that its our own fault and that we are looking for trouble just because we are out taking a walk at a certain time of night.

well not me toots. I will instead press my local government and the government at large to take steps to combat this public scourge. Their rights be dam(n)ed. I say lets crack some skulls. Boot some of these "good boys" under the boot.

And you ghetto apologists can suck the pipe too.

Glidee: I live in Akron, not in Kent so there are few times when I am walking around Kent's campus late at night. But yes, I have walked to across campus late at night during my undergrad career and from the KSU library to a friend's place after midnight before, when the car was in the shop, or I was too exhausted to drive back to Akron.

My common sense is to be aware of my surroundings at night, not walking with headphones on, a bluetooth with someone yaking in my ear, texting while walking, things like that. My common sense is to have a little pepper spray attached to my house keys. My common sense is to realize that I don't live in the land of OZ but that is not a reason to live my life in fear.

Gildee: I know the girl. You don't. So you probably shouldn't make assumptions.

We all know what happens when people assume....