the rix mix

If you're an Elizabeth cop on foot patrol late on a warm, humid afternoon, & there's a man lying in front of a liquor store, & this man is beet red in the face & so drunk that he can only prop himself up his elbows, & cannot get to his feet & move on, & cannot speak intelligibly, it does no good to stand over this man & berate him for his condition, as if the drunk has a shred of human dignity left to lose. He knows he is an alcoholic. He knows he is drunk. He knows he is sick. He knows he cannot stand up. He might not know exactly where he is. He might also be dehydrated & suffering from heat exhaustion.

I came within a hair of saying, "For Christ's sake, & I mean Christ literally, just call an ambulance." I trusted this officer would soon tire of badgering the man & use the little radio hooked on his uniform. I do not feel good about walking away from that little drama. But this is true, I was nearly home & really had to go to the bathroom.
(I recall now giving this alkie a buck late one night last month in front of that store on my walk back from the train station, he looked so terrible, I thought better he should have his chance at a drink & sleep than go mad. I'm not the Salvation Army.)
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Main Library "Closed due to mechanical problems."
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Signs of Bush's screwed up economy: More vacant storefronts in the Hispanic/Italian Elizabeth Ave. business district. These aren't big downtown crapola stores folding, but small family-owned retail stores & botanicas in a distinctly ethnic neighborhood. Recession bubbling up, middle class?
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Pitching for the mostly awful Tampa Bay Devil Rays tonight, gave up one run over six innings, leading the American League in strikeouts, ERA of 3.48, a 23 year old named Scott Kazmir, a top minor league prospect the Mets traded in 2004 for a couple of beat up pitchers who ain't even on the roster anymore.

Labels: baseball, Elizabeth NJ