When I moved into my house 22 years ago, this cul de sac was full of families. Kids ruled the road on bikes, skates, and occasionally, sleds. As the kids aged, the families started to move. The first family to move sold their house to a bit of a slum landlord guy who converted the garage to a bedroom suite and rented the house for big bucks.
At first that made no difference in the neighborhood, the house was rented to a 60 something woman who walked daily and kept pretty much to herself. Then her grandsons moved in with her.
There was an instant change in the street activity and it’s a good thing all the kids were grown up now. The womans grandsons sold drugs out of the house. There were cars in and out all day and night, driving very fast.
That’s the part that bothered me, the fast cars. How did I know they were selling drugs? Well, I grew up in the 60’s. I can spot a drug deal from 100 yards (and name that tune in 2 notes.)
One summer night I was at another neighbor's and as I started back across the street, I saw that a car was racing up. A grandson, who had been in front of his house leaning on a tree, stepped out with his hand up to slow the car, and turned to me saying “Two more and then I’m done for the night”.
Pretty bold and self-assured for a guy engaged in illegal activity. That part pissed me off a little. I thought of doing something about it until, a couple of nights later, about 3am, I got up to get a drink of water and looked out the window and saw a quick drug deal taking place.
This drug deal was remarkable in that the window the grandson was passing product through was the window of a marked police vehicle. The guy who passed something out the window to the grandson was wearing a Metro police uniform. Any thought I had of reporting illegal activity to the police went out the window.
Terrence Walker
Something similar happened in Terrence Walkers neighborhood. The biggest difference between Terrence’s neighborhood and mine is, well, Terrence. His neighbors were bothered by the same thing I was, speeding cars, and so they went to Terrence to see what he could do about it.
Terrence isn’t an elected official, (yet) he’s just someone who can get things done. Sure enough, he got something done. One of the things I was inspired by is something I may be able to do as well. He had a speed sign put in his neighborhood. A sign letting drivers know about an “additional” $200 fine. That would make me slow down.
That kind of action is just a part of who Terrence is. He helps people. He inspires people. There have been more than 20 diaries written about him here at DK in 2023 alone, because he inspires folks.
He’s running to represent district 81in the Virginia Assembly and when he wins, his district will win and all of Virginia will win as well. Daily Kos users in all states will win because Terrence Walker action’s inspire folks everywhere.
