Derby Cruising Ban Criticized as Racist...Chief Defends Decision

If you really want to see and hear something amazing spend New Years Eve in the city. I have never seen or heard anything like it. The closest thing I could compare it to is something you might hear in the Middle East. I wish the media would send a camera crew somewhere near 34th and Kentucky next year and do a live report. The general public would be amazed at the tracer fire and light show!

Try not typing with the caps lock on fool.

Next year the police need to do whatever is necessary in keeping crime off the streets. if it is shutting down broadway then shut it down. I am tired of people in this world not taking responsibility for their actions and calling it racial profiling. If your race (whatever color they may be) wants to act a fool and commit crimes during derby or heck even Christmas then that race needs to be kept in check during that time period. When we as a group of human beings finally decide to stand up and say no more to the criminals then maybe we can go back to having fun, but when we as a group whine and cry about racism and do nothing to better our community and allow the inmates to run the asylum we get nothing accomplished and must be held accountable for their actions. Before you yell racism stop and take a look at the numbers and facts. Unfortunately things will only get worse because people on a whole won't take responsibility for themselves much less their own community. Sad that even in this post people will be getting mad at me for a statement instead of looking at what is really happening and trying to make a change. This is exactly why this world is in the state it is in. White, Black, Red ,Yellow....Heck the only color who doesn't have problems here is the little green men and that is only because they don't want to deal with this worlds b.s.

Why doe's everything have to be a racist act. It is not. Are you people a where that Chief White is a black man, and that almost half of the police force is black. So stop using its a racist act or that it has something to do with it. What is the big deal about closing the street to cruising for a few days. Now if people came down to just have fun and cruise, then it would be ok. But that is not what happens. People get hurt, people get robbed, people get rapped and people get killed. And this stuff didn't just happen once. It happens everytime they are allowed to cruise. So I say what is the big deal. So what you dont make 4,000 dollars a day, but that girl didn't get rapped and one of your family members didn't get killed.

I must comment of this! I was not shocked nor surprised to hear this on the TV news yesterday and today, as well as in the Courier Journal today.

I feel the business and private sector in the West End should really know and review all facts and data ; not just what is being said by certain individuals, who often times just like to be in the "lime-light".

Of course business revenues might be down because of the blocking of Broadway but if all of these people are "cruising", no one is inside these businesses supporting them financially. And if a person really wanted foods,clothing etc. bad enough, they will walk to that business. What price is put on a persons life through acts of violence,etc. as well as the what price is put on the law enforcement officers in that situation.

I am not sure and really do not remember events or occasions that there has been "cruising" in St. Matthews or Bardstown Road for that matter. Do they call Mall congestion, particularly at the Holidays or a local parade during the year "cruising", I think not.

I think the congestion ,whether traffic or on foot on Bardstown Road , is often a problem due to the mere fact of several bars/ and larger night-life clubs and stores in near proximty to each other especially in the Highlands section of Bardstown Road and lack of parking to accomodate its many patrons is "cruising", I think not.

In my many years of traveling from the East End, down Bardstown Road to Broadway to work as a nurse, I too have been caught in the traffic congestion but believe me we were not "cruising"!

I find it hard to believe that the persons behind this cruising issue in the West End can truthfully defend their stand when one compares what we all have seen whether on TV or newspapers, or personally been in.

I have talked with several people and have heard several comments just in this past week and moreso since this lawsuit has been filed that will be heard Monday, may be "we" in the East End and Bardstown Road and for that matter other parts of town, feel racial profiling!

I hope, stand by ,and defend Chief White's position and support not only him but all Officers of LMPD. I have deep respect for law enforcement and commend them for what often times are difficult and dangerous situations. When I listen the Live Feeder Scan for LMPD, I more than ever appreciate what is faced in our community each and every day.

Thank you.

If you lock up someone for murder their race has nothing to do with it. Whether they are black, white or purple it is immaterial. They killed someone. If crime happens in the white community it is still a crime and is dealt with. If it happens in the black community then it is racist to deal with it? Get a grip Louie! I noticed you asked certain business owners but did you ask all of them? There are a lot of businesses on Broadway I noticed that didn't sign your silly little petition.

Mega Kudos to Chief White for having the gonads to stand up for what is right. I don't agree with him on a lot of things, but this nightmare is a drain on taxpayer dollars. What do you think it costs to have 400 Officers on hand to deal with this lawlessness? I am guessing with pay, overtime, fuel etc... it will be close to a million dollars. For a few thousand rowdies (mostly from out of town) to come in and wreak havoc? What about the economic costs to the LEGITIMATE businesses that have to shut down because of this? Why aren't we hearing about what cruising has done to them?

The Police department has a duty to protect and serve the community, not babysit a wild party.

Another thing that gripes me is that the rest of the community has little or no Law Enforcement Officers to handle issues throughout the rest of Metro Louisville because 400 of us will be down on Broadway again for an illegal street party.

Being black has nothing to do with this. Acting like a bunch of fools has everything to do with it. Louis Coleman is Louisville's Crown Prince of Fools!

I definitely do not agree with the chief on many issues, but kudos for making the right call on this one and backing it up.

Good decision!

How about this option--Broadway stays open, all the way in both directions. Traffic lights and street lights are turned off. Stop signs will be removed. No police, fire, or EMS will respond to any calls. Before this occurs, police should hand out passes to all taxpayers in that area who are not on welfare of any type. Those passes will allow them to exit the area and not return until a week later. All the rest of us will get to stay. We can do anything we want for 5 days, anything at all; matter of fact you can make us stay--we won't want to leave. I'm sure we can take care of themselves, it's what we've been trying to tell you. We can all eat at Lee's Chicken, stay at Louis Coleman's mistress's house, and just have a grand ole time. What's the worst that could happen--someone gets killed. Guess what, I just saw on the news recently that we've got one of the best funeral directors in the city right there on Broadway.

WEST END--ROCK ON!!! NO MORE PRESSURE FROM THE MAN!!!

Once again the ACLU, The Alliance against Racist and Political Oppression and the Justice resource center have banded together to fight their skewed perception of discrimination. What they fail to say, but it is the underlying factor in everything is it isn't about race, it is all about money. If you'll notice, most of the businesses are liquor stores and nightclubs. What valuable assets to the community they are. Evey nightclub on that list has had dozens of shootings and evn a few murders committed at their premises.

One of the previous posts metioned when the Central Avenue Party was shut down. Sure there was drinking and lewd behavior, but at least there weren't shootings, cuttings, rapes and murdrs every year. It too was all about money, but about uncle Jerry cutting a deal with Churchill Downs. Nobody raised cain over it being shut down did they. No single business complained because they weren't selling enough fried chicken that weekend. That is nothing but pure greed. If there was any legitimate business on that list then I challenge them to say that they did business on that weekend. It is obvious that Coleman got signatures that were not valid.

The truth of the matter is that in other sities across the nation whenever an event like this turned lawles it was shut down.

I personally got tired of responding to runs on large disorderly crowds on Ms. Blands premises every year because whe did nothing to control the crowds on her lot.

I have been forced to work this lawless event every year and every year it has gotten worse, until Chief robert white said "ENOUGH!" There is not one human life worth the inconvenience to a business making money off a drunk and unruly crowd. The women who were raped have to live with that the rest of their lives. The families of the murder victims do also.

If they think for one minute that Uncle Jerry wants to spend the resources and monies tied up with this event that doesn't bring a dime into the City then they are sorely mistaken. If Coleman and company want to do something possitive for the community then they should stop pretending that this event is a serious problem and pull their collective heads out of their rectums and address the true issues. It isn't racism. It isn't trying to opress the balck community. It is trying to make the community safe for everyone.

I get sick and tired of listening to them complain that there is nothng for the black youths to do on Derby Weekend. How about a back yard barbeque with the family like the people in my neighborhood do? How about plunking down a few bucks and actually go to the Deby? There has been nothing FREE for any other part of the community so why should they be any different?

Lest we forget that Coleman, the self proclaimed expert on everything, says the City should adopt his plan and keep the curb lanes cleared for emergency vehicles. Yeah that works real well until it becomes a walking path or parking lot. Face it people, this lawless event has run its course and it is time to grow up and act like adults instead of whinning like little children.

Once again I will be down on Broadway while my family worries about me because they know that it is a free for all and anything can happen.

As someone who lives in the former suburban areas I would be glad if you didn't come out to the malls and spend(?) your money(?). Please boycott all the malls outside of I-264. Please, please do it.

3 People have been shot in the area of the cruising this week, one in broad daylight while pumping gas. That's only 1 reason why cruising shouldn't take place. In past years it has been cruising has been a very ugly representation of Louisville with the fights, murders and lewd behavior. Those kind of actions should not be allowed ANYWHERE !!

"Bardstown Road gets so congested that even walking, you have a problem crossing the street and there is never a lockdown. This is a racist act."

Chief Robert White had this to say: "We don't have the shootings, rapes, robberies, purse snatching, indecent exposure, lewdness that occurs with cruising. That doesn't occur on Bardstown Road or any other place."

For me, that says it all right there. Also, what happened to the businesses and residents complaining about parking, loud noise and increased crime during Derby Cruising?

Certain segments of the west end community cannot get together without violence occuring. Does the public know that we have to keep hundreds of officers after the parade is over to stop the violence from 9th street west from occuring. The media keeps talking to the yap that owns the car wash at 17th and Broadway and how much money he is losing, maybe they need to show the nmumerous drug deals that go on there and the loud racist music that blairs from his homemade stereo system, (This stuff would make Don Imus blush!) If they can come together without violence and obey the rules that the rest of society does then let the cruise began if they can't then ******** it up and move on.

FIRST ,

LET'S REMEMBER CENTRAL AVE. WAS SHUT DOWN BECAUSE THE PEOPLE IN THAT NEIGHBORHOOD AGREED TO STOP THE PARTY.

LET'S REMBER THAT BARDSTOWN ROAD DOES THEIR THING BECAUSE

THE PEOPLE IN THAT NEIGHBORHOOD AGREED TO PARTY ON.

NOW LETS KNOW THE WEST END DOES NOT AGREE WITH CRUSING TOGETHER SOME DO ,SOME DON'T ,SOME DON'T CARE, GUESS WHAT THAT'S NOT AN AGREEMENT. FIRST, LET'S KNOW THAT JUST BECAUSE THE CHIEF IS BLACK, HE IS NOT ON OUR SIDE. AS FAR AS ANYTHING ELSE LEWDNESS, PUBLIC INTOXICATION, AND OTHER GENERAL PETTY CRIMES. BOTH CHURCHHILL AND BARDSTOWN AND 4TH ST. LIVE ARE ALL SELLING ALCOHOL DURING THIS WEEKEND OF DERBY AND JUST LIKE ANY OTHER DAY THERE WILL BE PUBLIC INTOXICATION REGARDLESS OF THE SEVERITY IT STILL GOES ON.

YOU CLAIM YOU WANT TO SAVE LIVES ON DERBY WHAT ABOUT THE REST OF THE YEAR AND THE REST OF THE MURDERS YOU HAVEN'T SOLVED OR CAUSED YOU GOING TO BLOCK BROADWAY ALL YEAR NOW YOU DUMB ********. LET'S TALK ABOUT LEWDNESS HOW ABOUT THE THE ENDLESS DRUNK WOMEN IN THE INFIELD WITH THEIR BREAST FLOPPING AROUND, I HAVE YET TO SEE ANY OF THEM IN CUFFS.

YES, WOMEN SHOW THEIRSELF DURING CRUISING AND SOME GET RAPED BUT, IF SHE HAD ALL HER CLOTHES ON IT WOULDN'T HAVE BEEN SO EASY. AS FAR AS THE REST OF THE CRIMES,WELL AT THE LAST VENDORS (05) MARKET IF THE POLICE WERE PATROLING, DIRECTING TRAFFIC YOU KNOW THEIR JOB, INSTEAD OF HUDDLED UP TOGETHER

SMOKING CIGS, AND LOOKING AT THESE 12 NAKED YOUNG LADIES THEN MAYBE IT WOULD HAVE BEEN BETTER. BUT YOUR NOT STOPPING THAT ANY OTHER TIME OF THE YEAR ANYWAY.

IT'S SAD THAT LOUISVILLE WANT TO BE WIERD, INTERNATIONAL, AND A NATIONAL RANKING AS A BIG CITY, BUT YOUR SCARRED AND CAN'T HANDLE IT . BY THE WAY CHIEF WHITE IS NOT A RACIST HE'S JUST THE RIGHT ******** FOR THE JOB!!!! THANKS YOURS TRULY A REAL BLACK MAN.

From the desk of WDOP, internet reverend coleman announced his interest in running for the mayor of the newly formed city of Rivermont with Running mate 2X (what is this the size of? His desire to be on TV?) and city administrator candidate...that wrinkled up old lady that always has nothing to say. Mam? Mam? Wake up Mam! "Yea, whatever he said, what a trifling travesty!" Revenues will be collected by charging an occupational tax on all illegal activities and time share space on street corners. Time slots will be decided by a game of dice in the closest vacant house. Public services will be performed by inmates of the newly formed west end jails stationed in the lobby of the many unwanted liquor stores scattered throughout. The media system will be modeled after Metro Louisville media outlets and will not, without exception, reflect the actual views of the hard working citizens that don't support the new mayor. Any toothless drunk can apply for the position of subject expert. The police service will be performed by...never mind, the police are an expensive necessary evil that can be done without. "Who wants the police anyway? Working with your neighbor to solve problems should take care of anything and will be encouraged." Said D D, a streetwalker with over two decades of experience. " Also, snitching will not be tolerated." For more imformation on not snitching and encouraging crime in your neighboehood, please watch the latest edition of MTV and choose your favorite rap video. Fire services will be performed by...well, that is also a nagging issue that will be ignored. Elections will be held Tuesday morning between 1 AM and 3 AM when all the citizens with jobs will be sleeping. Currently there are no other candidates running and the winning candidacy will be decided by the first 50 thugs that provide a nic, a rusty gun found in a basement and a manufactured $20. Fake ID is required to vote so those interested in voting need not break into someone's home to steal an ID. Voting promptly ends at 3 AM before a careless west end job holders wake up for work and mistakenly leave their child in an unlocked running vehicle because they forgot something in the house. Results of the election will be announced at 2:30 PM when the voters begin getting out of bed. Please call or visit your local liquor establishment for indepth coverage and debate on the results.

IF HTEY KNEW HOW TO ACT. MAYBE YOU ALL WOULD CHANGE YALL MIND. ITS TO MANY KIDS MEANING ADULT PLAYING WITH PEOPLE LIVES AND NEED TO GROW UP SORRY ABOUT THE CRUSING HAVE FUN DOING SOMETHING ELSE WITH SOME COMMON SENSE

Your grandmother, mother, sister and what ever female cousins you may or may not have, must be extremely proud of you, and the way in which you hold women in high esteme. I'm sorry, let me use some terms you may be more familiar with, yo' momma, yo' grannie, yo' auntie, yo' cuzins, and yo' baby's momma must all be very proud of you, you tracking me a little better now. Just cause they choose to show it does not mean they deserve to be raped by some degenerate who can't have a normal relationhship. And they did close down central avenue, the only thing on central now is vehicle and pedestrian traffic going to the Derby, ********. You sound like someone who gets their ******** from the highlands. Yours truly, B.P.

You should be ashamed of yourself for having such a lack of respect for our most honorable police force. These are the men and women who put their lives on the line day and night to protect you and your stupid opinions. You should show a little respect, they are just doing their job. Complain to your African-American police chief and liberal mayor who continue to let the police force be stretched thin and undermanned. This is why they can't allow cruising. There simply isn't the manpower because of the amount of police needed at the track and surrounding areas and on their regular shifts. If something were to happen like murders and rapes, etc. everyone would be screaming to high hell about where were the cops anyway. They can't win. The ban is to protect everyone. Show some respect.

So where is the story and comments for the news below?

Louisville Metro Police Officer was indicted today for allegedly unlawfully arresting a women at her business and then lying in court about being assaulted by her.

Officer Claudette McCracken, who has not been arrested, is scheduled to be arraigned in Jefferson Circuit Court Monday on charges of perjury, tampering,

unlawful imprisonment and official misconduct.

On May 16, McCracken arrested Carolyn Hoback at a Laundromat where the woman worked in the 5700 block of Preston Highway.

McCracken, 47, claimed Hoback became ?irritated? when the officer asked to speak with Hoback?s manager, according to a police report.

McCracken reported that Hoback pushed her in the chest once in the business and then again outside when the officer asked for identification.

McCracken charged Hoback, 59, with assaulting a police officer, disorderly conduct and menacing. The officer has been with the department since 1987.

All of the charges against Hoback have been dismissed.

Tom Clay, an attorney for Hoback, said McCracken had backed her cruiser up to the front door of the laundry and then became angry after Hoback asked her to move it so customers could get through.

?The officer rolled her window up and gunned her engine and almost ran over her (Hoback?s) foot,? Clay said in an interview.

The confrontation was captured on a store surveillance camera, Clay said.

About 20 minutes later, Clay said, McCracken came into the Laundromat and asked to file a complaint against Hoback.

When Hoback went to hand her a complaint form, the officer claimed Hoback brushed against her.

When the officer started to leave, Hoback went to write down her license plate number and accidentally brushed against McCracken, Clay said.

McCracken then arrested Hoback.

In June, the officer testified in court that Hoback assaulted her.

In June, the assault charge against Hoback was dismissed by a district court judge for lack of evidence. On Monday, the other charges against Hoback were dismissed.

The charges against McCracken stem from a public integrity unit investigation, said Alicia Smiley, police spokeswoman.

McCracken has been placed on paid administrative leave and had her police powers suspended, Smiley said.

Here is the ANSWER! Develop a "green zone" similar to the HBO series "The Wire". We could come up with a green zone somewhere in the West End were you could go and buy / sell dope, shoot eachother, or commit any crime and it does not get reported. Say for example, 22nd Street west to the river and how about five block north and south of Broadway. Also, it would help comstat! Fine tax paying citizens could cruise with their large shiny wheels, drink orange pop, have Lee's Chicken wings, listen to loud hip hop noise, wear baggy clothes, and stay up until the sun comes up then they could go to baby's mama(s) houses and sleep all day. Then get up smoke a blunt, play play station 3 and do it all over. OH, I forgot sell dope and talk on their pre paid phones in their spare time. This would eliminate 400 + cops on Broadway and they could start their own West End Police Department with Chief Louis Coleman and Lt. Colonel Chris 2X.

I am so glad that Cruising has been canceled for the second year in a row. This should have been a no brainer for the judge, HMM public safety or the sale of fried chicken and a car wash. Man that is a tough one, but I think I am going to have to go with public safety. Now I guess we will have to see if all these law breakers will take their cruising to Lake Forrest. That is the rumor so I am told. I hope not I would really like to go home after the Derby and relax and get some well deserved rest.

The Cruising part isn't the problem, and I don't think it has anything to do with race. But by pulling the race card your opening a huge can of worms. We live in a different day an age where anyone can be free to go anywhere they like as long as they Respect those around them. I've been called allot of names in my lifetime but one thing that I did was let it roll off my back. It causes a huge traffic problem during the games that are played here in Kentucky. My suggestion would be to get a mobile chow bus and go where the crowd is! You will get more business that way and more publicity!

Respectfully

Mr. S. Cassedy

All is what this is going to turn into is gang fights and murders if you allow cruising to keep on happening

The fact of the matter is, racism is big business and will always exist so long as our society exists. Like most everything in our country, the topic of racism has been overshadowed by capitalism and the desire to make a buck. What African American would want racism to cease? Certainly not the ones who are gainfully employed by the Justice Resource Center, NAACP, ACLU, Black Lawyers Union, Black Doctors Union, Black Players Union, and the list goes on and on and on... There are black colleges, and black awards, black fraternities, black churches, and anything else that blacks that segregate from society. If everyone truly wants black and white to go away, then stop capitalizing on the fact that black folks and white folks have differences. Stop producing African American clothing lines and music that focuses on black culture AND EXPLOITS BLACK WOMEN. The generations that are predominantly racist are dying off and our children are growing up less sensative to race, that is until an exclusive black organization makes it a point to make being black an issue. Stop with the double standards as well, that only breed contempt amongst blacks and whites. Whate would happen if someone had the houves to start the NAAWP or the white lawyers Association in our country. I guess it would only keep idiots like coleman and Dos Equis employed. Their appearances and meddling into every "injustice" that relates to blacks is the equivelant of attorneys ambulance chasing. They have to drum up business somehow and their false interest in such matters only justifies their existance. The real crime in them playing the whole race card thing is, the perception might be that they are trying to correct an injustice for a poor black family, when in reality, they are actually using that family to promote themselves in order to keep padding the personal funds. Stop racism? The black organizations want racism to cease as much as the tobacco and liquor companies want the government to control their business "in the interest of public safety." When I was in the Marine Corps, my drill instructors told us that black and white no longer existed, everyone was green. In the Marines the concept of equality worked because we were all Marines and no entity stood to profit from the differences in pigment. As long as we live in a capialistic society, racism will exist. So what is the real solution to our huge racism problem in America? Let's not think about it. Next card please...

PS Do you think we could solve our poverty problems in America if all the multi-millionaires shared just a little more. And why do we send so much aid to third world countries when we have starving children in our inner-cities?

Supported by our local convicted felons. Coleman...2x....

What's that tell ya.