urbanSTL

Expat wrote:There was a serial arsonist in the DC area. He started around 40 fires. Usually in occupied buildings. When he was caught, he said that demons made him do it. He was a middled aged man that worked at a fast food restaurant and rented from his sister. His neighbors said he was a nice quiet man and were surprised. The police were baffled for a long time. I believe the FBI got involved.



These fires are making us all angry and we need to vent. And it is interesting to compare notes and try to make some sense of it. But, really, we cannot speculate on a particular person or group of people until there is some kind of evidence. We certainly cannot make accusations or exploit this opportunity to discredit people or organizations that we do not like. From what I can see, we have no evidence at all. I hope the police have a lot more evidence than we have.

Reminds me of the Mad Crapper who was taking dumps in various open cars at new dealerships in West County a few years ago. Ended up the guy was a normal middle class business man.

That's actually funny.



The fires, unfortunately, are not.

Well said, Expat. I couldn't even think of a response when this topic was oppened. These acts are outrageous. Whoever would do such a thing is an awfully low person for not even taking into consideration the risk of harm to individuals. Whether it's a societal issue, union issue or an arsonist, the perpetrator(s) should be punished to the limits allowed by law...if they're even able to gleen enough evidence to determine who's responisble. (I suppose many of us in our minds would like to douse the creep(s) with gasoline and toss them a lit match....!)

Marmar wrote:Well said, Expat. I couldn't even think of a response when this topic was opened.

I've had about 36 hours to process the latest incident, and I'm still (mostly) speechless.

These acts are outrageous. Whoever would do such a thing is an awfully low person for not even taking into consideration the risk of harm to individuals. Whether it's a societal issue, union issue or an arsonist, the perpetrator(s) should be punished to the limits allowed by law...if they're even able to gleen enough evidence to determine who's responisble. (I suppose many of us in our minds would like to douse the creep(s) with gasoline and toss them a lit match....!)

I know I'm not saying anything new, but I just hope whoever is responsible for these fires will be caught and prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. You'd think the police would have some solid leads by now...hopefully we'll hear some news on that front soon. And, hopefully other developers will do more to secure their construction sites. Most of all, I hope developers won't shy away from building in the City of Saint Louis because of this.

EVERY new development should have cameras all over it in the city. I am shocked that the police/fire department didn't install any after THREE other fires within the last year.

Whomever it is should be burned at the stake with public viewing.

recorded 8,799 incidents of union violence since 1975, only 1,963 arrests and 258 convictions have been found.

HAHA. it's so funny how almost everyone assumes it's the unions. Gotta love them, even if they're totally innocent, people assume it's them! Shows us what WE ALL think of Unions... what a JOKE they still exist!

JCity wrote:


HAHA. it's so funny how almost everyone assumes it's the unions. Gotta love them, even if they're totally innocent, people assume it's them! Shows us what WE ALL think of Unions... what a JOKE they still exist!

^That just proves how dangerous the mob mentality can be. It only takes a minute for everyone to make an assumption with no real evidence. Especially when anti-union people quickly exploit the opportunity to get their message out. While we are throwing out implications and accusations, why not consider that anti-union people are burning down buildings in an attempt to discredit unions?



By the way, Bastiat's article says that in the last 30 plus years there have been around 8,000 incidents of "union violence". We all know numbers can be played with to advance any cause. Now consider how many union members there are in the United States over a 30 year period. Subtract the 8,000 incidents, and you will find that millions and millions of union members are not criminals and are good citizens. When you try to discredit millions of hard working, honest Americans, you don't advance your cause. You do your cause a diservice and discredit yourself.



Funny thing is, I am not a union person and don't come from a union family. In the appropriate venue, I would be willing to listen to a discussion on the validity of unions today. I am not willing to sit back and watch the mob mentality go wild on innocent people. When they find these goons, the nutjobs may turn out to be union members, but even then, it doesn't mean that 'the unions' are behind this. I don't mind people discussing the rumors, how can we avoid it? But, I am wary of the mob mentality and annoyed when someone exploits the situation by posting slanted articles.

Arsons are set by arsonists.



If any category of people should be the target of a witch-hunt, why not arsonists instead of anarchists and trade unionists?



Seems sensible.

I used to be a member of the pyromaniac anarchist witch-hunting union so I'm really getting a kick out of these comments.

TG always gives me a chuckle.

TGE-ATW wrote:I used to be a member of the pyromaniac anarchist witch-hunting union so I'm really getting a kick out of these comments.

Did you leave after the schism between the Pyromaniac Anarchist Witch-hunting Union and the Anarchist Pyromaniac Witch-hunting Union? I believe these fires are an attempt by the PAWU terrorists to discredit the APWU and derail their peace talks with the Alliance of Anarchist Pyromaniac Witches, which, incidentally, have recently resurrected Jimmy Hoffa to be their president.

TGE-ATW wrote:I used to be a member of the pyromaniac anarchist witch-hunting union so I'm really getting a kick out of these comments.

Dey still have dere meetings down on Hampton over dere?

I am astounded that after the Compton Gate arson and others last year there was not even a construction fence around the site. How much does it cost to put up a chain link fence? The insurance companies need to clamp down and refuse coverage to construction projects that do not take even minimal security measures. There will always be dirtbags around but the developers don't have to make it easy for them.

A fence is now going up on the site. Better late than never, I guess.

Summertime does tend to bring out the charcoal thieves.

I didn't even think about that. I need to stop by so I can fire up the Weber Kettle.

Pretty much nothing.



In other news, the Arby's next to it has now been torn down.

The sign is still there. The one thing that was interesting about that Arby's is that it never had a drive thru.

I loved that sign. Though the structure won't really be missed.



Much like the Erlichs 'In by 9, out by 3...4 hour shirt' sign. I miss the sign, but won't miss the building.

That sign was really cool. It was very Vegas-like. I wonder where it is now.



I'd rather see the demise of the Rally's at the prominent corner of Lindell and Vandeventer than the Arby's, personally.

^ and the new Jack 'n the Box!!

I wish Arby's would take that sign and install it at one of their other existing city locations, like South Grand or Chippewa Street.