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Environmental court took on a drastically more literal meaning today on Good Street in Toulminville as an evidentiary hearing was held directly outside a property – 2000 Good St. – neighbors are calling a nuisance.
Judge Whiddon presides.
Judge A. Holmes Whiddon presided under a perfectly bright sun as neighbors walked the short distance from their houses to the site of the makeshift courtroom.
It was found during the hearing that Robert Steele, a resident of Houston, Tex., has been paying property taxes on the home last occupied by his deceased mother and wishes to have the home torn down. He faces three different charges related to the abandoned home as the legal owner of the property.
2000 Good St.
The judge said the cases originated in 2006 and involve failure to begin repairs to the property, failure to remove trash and rubbish from the property and failure to cut high grass and weeds on the property.
The hearing today was not to determine guilt or innocence, Whiddon remarked.
“You won’t find a sitting judge in the street holding court anywhere else in the country,” District 1 councilman Fred Richardson said.
Richardson also said if the property owner wanted the home torn down, he will try to have the house used as a training site for the Mobile Fire Department.
“I’d like to contact the fire chief – burn it down,” Richardson said. “Then let the owner remove the remaining debris. The residents want the house to do something (positive).”
Richardson added that he wasn’t sure if the property met all the requirements, such as being a reasonable distance away from other homes, for the Fire Department’s training program, but is hopeful.
Neighbors of the Good Street property would likely welcome the Fire Department or any other means of getting the house demolished as soon as possible with open arms.
One neighbor present at the hearing who asked if the house could be boarded up said the property was a haven for prostitution and drugs.
“They want an immediate fix,” Richardson said.
Yasmin Coker, Richardson’s likely opponent in the August election for District 1 grew up a block away from the site and says Richardson is taking advantage of the residents of that neighborhood and could have done something a long time ago.
“I am very disappointed in Councilman Richardson’s actions simply because there are residents that have lived in this community for over 50 years and have complained for several years about the property,” Coker said. “He has chosen not only to take advantage of the community but the news media as well by having them show up for a 30 minute taxpayer funded campaign rally disguised as genuine concern for the community.”
Coker said ridding the neighborhood of nuisances like 2000 Good St. is work that needs to be done on a more consistent basis.
“We have to work consistently in order to bring about the necessary change to ensure a wholesome community environment,” Coker said. “We can not afford to neglect the community for 6 years and then grandstand through political posturing at election time.”
Richardson stands by his work and says he will continue on.
“I think we made tremendous progress today. Richardson said. “I got one at St. Stephens Road and Mott, and Mobile and Josephine. We’re going to do the same kind of thing over there. As soon as we can get some dates.”
“This is unusual,” Richardson said. “I was most impressed with what happened today. We made progress.”
maggie says:
April 29, 2009
05:14 PM
Amen billybob. While I do not live in that district, I can and will support Yasmine (in the form of a donation) because as a citizen of Mobile I will appreciate her reasoned consideration of matters before the council that affect not only her district but the city as a whole. I am sure I will not agree with everything she votes for and certainly agree that we want to keep the flavor of Mobile and even improve upon it. The concern that Yasmine is against that is a reasonable concern but with experience and communication among the other members of the council, I believe she will listen and compromise for the greater good. Moonpies, Mardi Gras and Environmental Court on a house by house basis do not seem to be issues that will carry the day for uncle freddie.
billybob says:
April 28, 2009
01:23 PM
More babykissing & grandstanding by uncle Freddy. Like I said- file your paperwork ontime & we'll talk Frederick. Don't worry Yasmine, just keep pressing forward. This vacant housing problem didn't start yesterday. A land bank is being started to help get eliminate these eyesores. Hopefully this will speed the process & expedite the solution to the title problems on these houses.
maggie says:
April 27, 2009
02:39 PM
Peter I think I inadvertantly mentioned Rob's name above re further questions. Great article and comments (Excelpt for Barbara's er Fred's grammer and punctuation aside her's appear negative and not on point) and I do hope you follow up with Judge Whiddon to inquire as to how often this is done and if he plans on this practice on a house by house basis in the future.
I would like to know how ofter environmental court has been held prior to this circus--Barbara can you tell the readers and do you really believe it is cost effective to deal with this one house at a time? Further even Fred himself seems to contridict you by saying this is probably the only place in the country where court is held in the streets. Just curious.
simon says:
April 27, 2009
11:19 AM
After reading this commentary I am convinced that this Barbara individual is not bright at
all. Why is she putting commas where an apostrophe should be? Also, people can support
Mrs. Coker from all over the U.S. if they want by other than voting. What will you post
next Fred. Ooops, I mean Barbara. Mrs. Coker you hang in there!!! The mailman
above delivered!
barbara says:
April 27, 2009
10:28 AM
i am very sorry but i don,t think people in prichard, and daphne can vote in this election, only the people living in district 1 . oh yes i know everything , but you don,t know how campaiging goes. enviromental court has been held out in the district at difference places for the last 5years .i know where i live , i am very glad you know where i live ,since you think i don,t .
mailman says:
April 27, 2009
12:58 AM
What Fred Richardson did is an embarrassment to the entire community. He literally indicted the whole black community by parading (no pun intended) in the streets!
So what did he accomplish? They showed up. They posed for pics. They left.
Go Fred. You really know how to look like an idiot. P.S. that's really what people think of you and your disjointed banter and all. Everyone loves a clown.
susan1945 says:
April 26, 2009
08:33 PM
Let's just ignore Barbara please. She is definitely being messy for no apparent reason and continously spreading lies one after another. For example the headquarter lie and then where she lives etc. Some things are not even worth acknowledging. And then the fact that she would rudely resort to name calling. AMAZING!! I spoke with someone from Mrs. Coker's campaign earlier today. She has support from people in Prichard, Mobile, Daphne, and even across the state lines that are supporting her. Mrs. Coker has accomplished many great things in her community and is a very nice and approachable person that has absolutely nothing to be afraid of. Oh by the way Councilman Richardson has accomplished something in his neighborhood seeing that he had the streets in his neighborhood resurfaced recently and they really didn't need it. Hmm...., maybe it's because the election is coming up in August. Anywho, why is her headquarters a concern because you would suspect that Councilman Richardson's headquarters is at the Waffle House. Last but not least I have a great idea. Let's have "SIGN COURT". If anymore of her signs disappear as they have I hope it's not from Councilman Richardson's campaign. Of course this is a great opportunity to say that Urban Development department is the one that will remove them. Maybe so when Councilman Richardson ask them to cut grass (for once in a lifetime on the right way) in an attempt to have the signs removed. Mrs. Coker, if your signs come up missing because of Urban Development removing them then surely so will Ron Wallace, William Carroll, LaKeisha Dotson, Jermaine Burrell, and Councilman Richardson's FRIEND TO THE END Councilman Clinton Johnson signs. Oh, also the other signs from the Whistle Stop, Lola Bell's, phone companies, hair salons, nail salons, bbq restuarants and the list goes on and on. They may be located at the recycling center on Governement Street. Finally, about the sign that was removed on the right of way near where Councilman Richardson's neighborhood is located was found folded in half and stuffed in the trash can, I will replace that one for her. Oh by the way, her headquarters is located at ....... Never mind I forgot Barbara knows EVERYTHING so she will give everyone the location.
barbara says:
April 26, 2009
07:32 AM
ok , so you dummies don"t no where the city of prichard starts. the person putting the signs down on stanton rd.told me where her headquarters was located, maybe the person don"t know .i live in the same neighborhood as yasmin cokeran i never heard of her doinging anything to benefit the neighborhood. she only has attended one district meeting the honorable councilman richardson has nason to be scared of , maybe she have. stop alloving people to use you to get back at someone they are afraid to challange. no one of your race complained about the moonpie drop. stop beinging use you have to live in the district an may need the help of your councilman. wake up and stop wasting your time an money ,
susan1945 says:
April 25, 2009
11:46 PM
Let's just stop the nonsense now! Barbara suggesting Mrs. Coker knowing the "rules of the game". Fred is doing everything he possibly can to get thrown off of the ballot. Have someone check into Freddy's paperwork concerning the election. He is scared and everyone knows it. Maybe even order an investigation into the Moonpie gig. They can call it "Freddygate" like Watergate.
itstime says:
April 25, 2009
11:35 PM
Nice try. Mrs. Coker headquarters is not located in Prichard, Alabama. Hopefully, whoever let that information out was not paid for it. That is so FUNNY!!!!
bluedotbama says:
April 25, 2009
07:32 PM
Oh maybe its not so bad. Sorta like McDonalds' justice. Drive through court with Judge Whiddon standing in the window.
barbara says:
April 25, 2009
12:27 PM
rules of the game mrs coker needs to learn where the district is . her headquarters is located in PRICHARD,AL.the election is being held in mobile. her signs are on the right of way,which is illegal an should be remove from the streets.also,the city council does not have the right to say what houses to be torn down .i am sure you are aware of what happen to the city of prichard when they had homes destroy. i have already ask urban development to remove the signs from the streets.
maggie says:
April 25, 2009
11:57 AM
lol Susan I Love it. The Moonpie Flop. My only concern is that Fred doesn't "get it" and might really want to host his own block party and not see how silly this is. On a more serious note I am curious as to what the presiding judge thinks of these antics and if he approved this waste of taxpayer money for Fred's political gain. Rob, how's about checking on this and while you are at it ask the administrator and clerk of the court if Fred (and other cohorts on the council) if it is legal for Fred to do this dog and pony show at his pleasure and exactly how this request for court in the street was made, by whom and at in what manner? This sets a terrible precident that should be stopped immediately with an explaination by Judge Whidden, the presiding judge, the clerk and administrator of the court. How did Fred have this done? Ms. Coker should demand an investigation and file an ethics complaint against Fred. He of all people should not dictate where and how our judicial system works. Seemingly small things like this always grow into something much worse if not challenged at the outset. If Fred is allowed to continue to do this with the tacit approval and cooperation of the judges and clerk and administrator of the court she will be at a distinct disadvantage. Fred should also be made to repay the taxpayers for misapropriation of taxpayer money. Course he will counter that he used his slush fund discretionary funds for it (yet one more reason why there should be none).
susan1945 says:
April 25, 2009
08:46 AM
I have a great idea. Why don't we also block the street at this location and have Freddy do the "Moonpie Flop". I mean drop. I am with you Maggie because a picture would have been sufficient.
maggie says:
April 24, 2009
04:13 PM
Judge Whidden in his robes doesn't appear as enthusiastic in the hot sun as Councilman Moonpie. Fred seems to want to do things that noone else is the country is doing such as toss huge moonpies off tall buildings (I guess akin to the humanitarian food drops that inevitably crush the ussuspecting receipients) and now judicial hearings in the street? Gee Fred, do you think this is really cost effective--I mean wouldn't a picture do? You are probably correct that there is probably noone else in the country doing this and I am going to go out on a limb here and say that there is probably a darn good reason why. What next, divorce court held at the party's residence or estate hearings at the graveyard? Guess we could have done without the massive Government Plaza, leaks and all.