Skater boiz or zombie tourists?
Some people are complaining about the Skater Boiz in the post below. I can't believe these people, they are calling them hoodlums. Very rude and wrong. These are kids being kids. They are enjoying themselves, they are being boys.I am sure if you would stop and talk wtih them you would see they are intelligent great kids. Most kids are. How can people lump every kid with a skateboard together as being hoodlums? I don't think Tony Hawk would agree with you. I know I don't.
Would you rather have the skater boiz enjoying the Grove or the zombie-like tourists dropped off by tour buses who walk around clueless with a Starbucks drink in their hands?
It seems that the cruise lines drop these tourists off when they don't know what to do with them while their ships are in port trying to pass inspections. There is no guide for them and they all seem to walk in the wrong direction, not knowing where to go.
I don't think they spend any money and the skaters probably don't either, but the skaters are locals, this is their village too, and they add character and life to the area. The zombie tourists don't add anything to the area, not even money.
I like all the bikers you see around here in packs on weekends. They do stop and eat and drink and add to the Grove economy, they add a lot of character and life, too.
posted by Tom Falco at 10:59 AM
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17 Comments:
NO DUDE I DONT APPRECIATE HAVING THOSE KIDS SKATING IN FRONT OF COCONUT GROVE BANK, OR THE ENTRANCE TO GROVE TOWERS OR THE ENTRANCE TO GROVE HILL OR AS MATTER OF FACT ANYWHERE ELSE BUT IN THERE OWN HOUSE, U RUN OVER ONE OF HOSE HOOLIGANS AND U GO TO JAIL DUDE, DO NOT BE A HYPOCRITE. BE A MAN
Do not be a hypocrite be a man? What does that mean you child hater?
skaters damage property by running their skates over concrete railings and walls. they damage landscaping. and they create a public nuisance, in noise and a hazard to pedestrians.
there is a reason why they are banned on lincoln road and a lot of other places. they are a royal pain in the ass!!!
if scraping concrete is the worst activity that these boys (and girls!) are doing, then i'm happy. it may be loud, but it's still good clean fun. at least they are spending time outdoors and aren't being zombies in front of the tv/video games!
ban the skaters and the grove is that much closer to becoming coral gables. skate or die. and for the dreaming poster, define pain in the ass, other than you seeing them has any of them actually inconvenienced your way of life to the point where you would label them as a pain in the ass? like they're tax collectors or commishioners telling you what kind of business you can have and how long you can keep it open? that kind of a royal pain in the ass?
Rather see a skater coming up the street than Snotty Sarnoff any day of the week.
Those bikers are what do get on my last nerve. They are always on the street & cause traffic. I worry more about hitting one of them then a skater kid. At least they stick to sidewalks & railings. They don't run in the middle of traffic and then have the nerve to give you the finger! I bet 10 times more bikers get run over then skater kids...
I have lived here 35 years, was here way before CocoWalk and I find all of your insulting comments to be totally stupid. Get a life and stop bothering the kids you old cranks, you sound like a freaking bunch of grandpas and grandmas with no life left in you.
These kids don't bother you, I am sure none of you have ever gotten within 10 feet of them.
And I'll bet none of you have ever had to screech to a halt while driving because of them. Get over it. They are young, full of life and they are adding lots of engergy to the Grove. I saw tons of them today.
Dont the skater boiz have a park of their own to use and damage? They are rather annoying... but more nuisance than anything, and I do wonder if they are going to get flattened by a pancake one of these days, especially when they come flying off the steps in front of the US Coast Guard facility on Bayshore several times I swore they were going to end up in the street...
I have to agree with Grape here, who cares what they are doing? Why doesn't everyone mind their own business. They are "athletes" and more coordinated than any of you. They are all over the world, very good at what they do and they are not in any danger.
They are a nuisance to business owners and propery owners, but personally, I don't think any of you has ever been affected by any of them except in your daydreams as you drive by them and wonder about them. Stop judging them unless you have had an encounter with them. Then you can talk.
And it's nice to hear they are spending money in the area, they are citizens just like everyone else.
Next no more baseball in the parks because someone might hit the ball and hit a passing car. When did the Grove become a group of old unhappy farts? Leave the kids alone.
I called Commissioner Sarnoff's office this afternoon and was told that they were looking in an ordinance that would these put these young skaters out of busness. I just want peace and quite. Speaking of basketball, he was able to get rid of that also from the park at Shipping and Virginia. He's the man!
Is that last comment sarcastic or honestly mean?
Thank you, grapevine! You're obviously a nuanced and thoughtful person.
Just two things -- some of you should simply live and sleep in your vehicles, as the dashboard view seems to comprise your entire outlook on life. I'm glad you're trapped there away from humanity for much of the day, stewing in your own noxious juices.
Second, I'm 48 and don't get skateboarding at all. But I certainly understand and laud the spirit of these kids (girls, too) who humanize the hard concrete of the city with their maneuvers. Think for a minute how desolate and how little much of the Grove has to offer to them. Put yourself in their shoes: Walk around for a week with $3 in your pocket, watching $70,000 cars drive with abandon, and tell me if you don't feel alienated here. Shame on you.
I was walking behind a few of them today, they were walking and carrying their boards and this is their conversation. I listened on purpose because I read this post earlier today: "Do you want to go to Johnny Rockets and get something to eat?" "Oh look, there is Starbucks, want to go there?" "When is Chili's opening?"
They were sweet kids hanging out and being kids, spending money in the Grove too.
Gimme a break already. These are kids having fun. I used to skate as a kid and, even though I sucked at it, it was a lot of fun. Dont you have anything better to do than bitch about kids on skateboards? I can think of at least 10 things in the Grove that are far more deserving of "clean up" than kids on skateboards. Get over it and get over yourselves.
BTW - there is no ban on Lincoln Road. I see people of all ages riding skateboards thru the crowds all the time.
i think they are great. Skateboarding is a great way to keep kids out of trouble. It is why many cities including Miami have allowed skate parks. its allows them to challenge themselves and be daring will still being relatively safe rather then sitting at home going "what do you want to do, i don't know what do you want to do, i know lets sniff glue". Moreover, in this day and age with SO many kids already obese its a great form of exercise. its good for their minds and their health and if you were even half a human being you would accept some of the small annoyances in favor of the great benefits to the kids and therefore to our community as a whole.
In fact maybe coconut grove should get together and come up with a community fundraiser to maybe get some more boards and helmets and gear for some of the kids in west grove who likely cannot afford the stuff.
My only personal complaint is when i see them without helmets on. I want to smack them. A head injury could leave them sipping ensure out of a straw the rest of their life.
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