Tuesday, October 10, 2006

Fists with your fillet-o-fish?

This is an email from a good friend of mine...

Just as a warning to Seminole Heights residents…I was the victim of a group battery at the McDonald’s on MLK and Central on Sunday, October 8. After an verbal altercation with a customer, I was shoved, pulled to the ground, my hands were held, my hair was held and I was punched and kicked by a group of women in the parking lot of said McDonald’s. I ended up bruised and scratched all over my body, including my face. The police were called and arrests were made. I am in the process of pursuing charges. I would avoid this McDonald’s at all costs. The employees did NOTHING but stand around and watch it happen, even went as far as telling the police to please move because we were blocking their drive-thru!!
Its not the first time I have had problems at this store, but it will be the last. The store is NOT safe, and the employees do not care if their parking lot and store is filled with hooligans, because they all know each other. Please, if you must go there, BE VERY CAREFUL. Please do not take your children with you. Just wanted to let everyone know about this.

51 comments:

Anonymous said...

IZ cuz yus' a whitey..

Anonymous said...

I have learned in life that there is ALWAYS two sides to every story. I am not defending in any way the violence, but I would like to know more (honestly) what the situation was all about. Please give us some more details. I have never been pleased with the ghetto-projects attitude of this particular McDonalds location and I avoid it as much as possible. A very good friend of my cousin's was shot and killed there a few years back. I have noticed lately, however, that the service there has been much more frienly than before. I am curious to now what McDonald's policy is as to the involvement of their employees in disputes that occurr on their properties.

Anonymous said...

You put her race out there.

"Rican" is not a race its a reference to a group of people.

That place has always been a place of trouble.
Seems to me the only reason it is still open after all the past problems with violence there is
this : its a place where the owners make a lot of money from its local.

I certainly would get an attorney and sue.
What is wrong about this is that
employees stood by and watched this person be beaten by their "peers",speaks volumes about the place and the mentality of the area.

Anonymous said...

Is this a Caspers Corp McDonald's? They're the franchisee who owns the vast majority of the McD's in the Tampa Bay Area.

Following a similar incident in Pinellas County they came in, fired everyone, supplemented with staff from another location for the short-term, and hired a new team.

This was becasue they felt it would be the strongest action they could take to earn back the community's trust - while sending a mesage to their employees.

Hopefully they'll do the same here because this location is a disaster.

Anonymous said...

Hi, I am the victim of the attack. No, I am not whitey, and no, my race is not the issue. At issue here is the gross negligence of McDonalds's and its staff. I just obtained a copy of the police report...two women were arrested. The older woman who started the physical fight is on felony probation right now, and the younger girl who held me down is in 10th grade at Hillsborough High. Yeah, they start young.

Regardless of the situation leading up to the physical fight, they had NO right to touch me. THEY got into the pack mentality and beat me down. On the police report, it cites around 3-4 people hitting me and holding me...all while their buddies who work at McDonald's stood around and did nothing. I have all witnesses on my side, and the 5 cops that showed up on my side.

If people act like animals, they deserve what they get. I will continue to fight for justice...and yes, I have spoken to Corporate McDonald's regarding this. They are on location today investigating.

Thank you for the kind wishes...I just wanted to post this as a warning to other residents...this neighborhood is NOT that safe. Criminals run loose all over the place...with no thought of consequences. Well, they'll think now.

Anonymous said...

I have been to this McDonald's a number of times to use the cash machine. While the location is convenient for me, I do feel quite uncomfortable going in there when it is not a busy time of the day. I would not feel comfortable eating at a table inside. I think that many fast food restaurants tend to ignore what is happening on the customer's side of the counter. I had an unpleasant experience at the Taco Bell on S. Dale Mabry near Britton Plaza recently; the employees totally ignored a situation that was out of control, even after a customer requested that something be done.

Anonymous said...

Wakeupandsmellthefrenchfries, I don't believe her "race" was put in it till the MENSA member Anon called her "whitey"

Anonymous said...

I think the papers and the tv reporters should know about this incident. Not everyone in the neighborhood reads this blog and it is most important that as many people as possible know about this event so that justice can be served and not have it swept under the table and so that McD's will be held responsible.

Anonymous said...

This is the victim again...PLEASE, I am asking anyone who has any incidents to report regarding that McDonald's, to please contact me at onelovepr1@yahoo.com. The lady who posted about her friend being shot and killed there...I would LOVE to know more.

I am compiling reports of incidents at that location for my lawyer, and want to have as many as possible. Thanks. Please help. I am just trying to get some justice.

Anonymous said...

I'm just trying to get me some ju$tice.

Anonymous said...

What is up with this McDonald's? I agree it often has that feeling of being somewhat unsafe. Its funny, the only time I've ever called a complaint in on a fast food restaurant, probably any restaurant for that matter was this very McDonald's. Like most people, I have a crazy busy schedule that involves a lot of travel--who's got time to complain about a $5 value meal. Anyway, the service was so bad...so bad....so bad..I had to say something...went to the drive thru, placed my order...paid my money and then they made everyone park and wait....it must have been 30 minutes or so....had I not already paid I would have left....and I would have gone in to bitch had it not been for the fact that every minute I kept figuring my order would be out..the amount of parked cars waiting on food was more than in the drive thru..it was a mess...and outside loitering in the parking lot was the future leaders of America--not--pretty shady parking lot....I think they gave me $15 or so in McDonald's coupons...woooopppppeeee.....good luck with your case...hope you get justice.

Anonymous said...

I remember reading, when I researched moving to SH, about a fatal shooting at the Cheveron, now Shell, at the corner of MLK and Talafiero. This is a block from the McDonalds.

Is this the same shooting or were there two in that general vicinity, one at Chevron and another at McDonalds?

TC

David Scott Banghart said...

Ask the Tampa Police Department to run a list of "Calls For Service" at and around that address. 501 E. Hillsborough Avenue.

Anonymous said...

I have gone in any out of that McDonalds for years. All times of the day whether for a fast fooding lunch or the ATM. Yes the service is at times deplorable. Is it a war zone...no. Is there more to the story? YES The giveaway to that: "Regardless of the situation leading up to the physical fight, they had NO right to touch me."
Sounds like there was some mutual provocation going on.
I'm curious about what was meant by "they" in the comment "Yeah, they start young."

This "whitey" has never seen a problem or felt unsafe there. Didn't go looking for trouble.
Don't assume you are unsafe just because people don't look like you.

Anonymous said...

I go to this McDonalds quite a bit and I find that if I mind my own business, I do not get victimized. You didn't state that you were robbed. This tells me the motive was not to robb you. Rather, I suspect that you opened your mouth in an area where you shouldn't have. Really, people don't usually just get victimized blindly. If the motive was not financial, I would venture to guess that you in some way said or did something that was offensive. Did you deserve the beat down? No! But you should be smart enough to know when to mind your own business. Am I wrong or what? I suspect that you thought you'd be safe if you ran your mouth in front of the thug employees. Given where you were, perhaps that was not the smartest course of action.

I once was robbed walking in an area I shouldn't have been. I handed over my wallet voluntarily. I have never been victimized without any reason. If it is not financial, then you are leaving something out of the story. Right?

Anonymous said...

The "Rican" comment by Ms. Punim reminded me of what the Governator of California said recently about those "Ricans"; something about their being hot-blooded or something.

Anonymous said...

What part did you play in this altercation? If you had problems there before, why put yourself in the same situation? And to add to that, knowing you weren't in a safe place, especially in the parking lot, got into a verbal altercation. What did you expect the employees to do?

Mal Carne said...

Back in '98 or so, I was waiting in line at the drive through at that McDonald's and had a young entrepeneur try to sell me weed from inside the restaurant while he was waiting in line on the other side of the counter. (Oddly, I usually try not to buy my drugs unsolicited from bad areas).
I made a dismissive gesture (possibly rude) and about 2 minutes later had 3 brain donors surrounding my truck wanting an explanation for my lack of interest in their wares, as well as my reaction.
The stars aligned properly and the advantage of numbers was not on their side that night. Employees just stood and watched the whole thing. I don't know if police were ever called, as I took off as fast as I could.
This probably wasn't the first time that something like that happened, and obviously wasn't the last. I've not been back there since.

Anonymous said...

This mc"d"s always is bad. Their service sucks. They never have a white person working there and if you are white, they treat you like crap. It is owned by Caspers Co. Which owns almost all Mc Ds in Tampa, and they SUCK. THey have horrible management, they operate below proper staff. Try going there at lunch. It has lines a mile long with two registers open.

Anonymous said...

I have only eaten there once.
I went inside to pick up my food b/c the drive thru was incrediably slower and filled up with young peoples waiting . I gathered from local highschool event,and they were rather aggressive.
I never went back,the young girls in the whole group were more frightning then the males!

Anonymous said...

On my way to a meeting yesterday, I was running late and wanted to grab a bit to eat so that I could concentrate in the meeting. So I went to the McD's in question here. I ordered a quick combo. It was the WORST meal I have ever had from any fast-food restaurant. Imagine: Cold, dry fries, sandwich with cold chicken, hard, stale bread, soggy tomatoe, dark green wilted lettuce and the mayo was so old that it had already started to turn translucent (sp). I am calling them today to advise them.

Anonymous said...

The food may suck but the crack is good!

Anonymous said...

i am a white female in my mid-twenties. i find not only food and the service to be pretty decent (you know for what you're paying and all) but the crack is fuckin-A out of this world. i am kidding of course.

but seriously are you people really complaining about the service at mcdonalds?!? these so called thugs are working eight hours a day flipping burgers for less than half of what could be considered a living wage.

i'd be pissed off too at the up tight wanna be yuppies trying to gentrify my neighborhood. and yea, if one of them came into my 'hood as you all so affectionately refer to it and tried to talk some shit to me over a fucking big mac, i'd probably wanna slap them in the face, too

i suggest if you can't live in this area with these "thugs" and find a way to get along with them you move your uppity asses to south tampa where there aren't any colored folks.

oh wait!
you live in the ghetto part of seminole heights because thats all you can afford.

so don't any of you seminole heights bloggers forget where you CHOSE to live.

and just as an after thought try watching the movie supersize me and see what you're actually eating. and while you're at it check out morgan spurlocks episode of thirty days where he tries to live on minium wage for a month; then come back and complain about the service. you could also try to pretend you have any idea of what its like to live in poverty.

Anonymous said...

and ps assholes if you can actually find the time to call mcdonalds corporate headquaters about a cold big mac and fries you probably have way too much of it on your hands.
may want to consider volunteering to help bring up the spirit and moral of the people in YOUR community.
call the boys and girls club you complacent shitbags. spend a couple of hours a week at the salvation army become a mentor and help "these people" before they are forced to succumb to a life of thuggary.

Anonymous said...

"thuggary" best.word.ever.

Anonymous said...

How the fuckdo you know what this girl knnows? Who are you to assume her daddy paid for everything? Also she's a pot smoker huh? Wow its funny seeing someone tell someone else not to embarres themselves about not having a fucking clue who alos appears to not have one. Also nice laungague really. Your ability to show anger at an anonymous person on the internet that you resort to name calling and the f word worries me, Perhaps once "sweatpea" puts down the bong you should think about picking it up yoourself you condesending twat.

Anonymous said...

The reason my spelling sucks is cause I AM HIGH.

Anonymous said...

Jaded, your rule.
I couldn't have said it better myself, including the F word. Hopefully, the 20-year old white girl has had herself sterilized, because, like a bumper sticker I saw years ago says, "stupid people shouldn't breed."

Anonymous said...

Hey, you little 20 y/o dumbass - get off the blog and don't come back unil you're at least 30. You still got shit in your diapers and you think know so much about poverty and helping the poor. Yeah, right.

What do you think, the poor are poor because of the white yuppie scum that moved into this neighborhood? Lots of these so-called "poor" are in the state their in because they're too lazy to get off their asses and improve their situations. Years ago, when I was your age, I had to work at shitty places like MacDonalds for shit wages to pay my way thru college. I didn't qualify for all the grants and scholarships that those poor slobs you so fervently defend could get, if only they felt so inclined to get a college degree and make something of themselves and quit being a drain on society.

And here's the best part of it ---- while working at shitty, demeaning, low wage places like McD's, I'd get to wait on these "poor" people and they treated me like I was a piece of shit because I worked at McDonalds. I even worked as a cashier at KnK. What a dirtbag job that was, and you wanna know why? Cause I had to wait on those nasty welfare cases that came in with their freaking food stamps all the while wearing more gold than what was stored in Fort Knox. They treated me like I was a worthless piece of shit because I wore a brown, yellow and orange (flammable) polyester uniform, and rang up groceries for a living.

Well, those days are over for me. I have a college degree, my student loans are paid off after 10 long damned years, and I have a decent job and contribute my fair share of taxes so those same dirtbags can keep on buying their gold and driving their gas-guzzling SUV's with the rent-a-wheel spinny things on them, and still complaining they are entitled, because "the man" is keeping them down.

Hopefully, if you are smart, (as well as a smart-ass) you are a college student. Here's the tip of the day --- take some sociology classes. YOU go volunteer some of your time to these agencies you've mentioned. And while you will find that there are some people who genuinely need assistance, you might be surprised to find that lots of them are looking for a free ride. You might learn something valuable, because as far as I can see, you don't know squat.

Anonymous said...

you people are disgusting racist classist bastards
and just so you know:

you are NOT seminole heights.

i'm willing to bet most of you bloggers havent lived here for more than 10 or 15 years.
those scary poor brown people that work at mc donalds they ARE seminole heights.

and since your plan to ethnicly cleanse the neighborhood by driving up the property values has failed so miserably theyre not going anywhere.

so get used to it; if dont like it there are plenty of more vanilla neighborhoods that would happily welcome your brand of neo-naziism

give westchase a chance or maybe hyde park. sounds like most of you would fit in better in places like this.

the save a lot and the car dealerships on florida and the ethnic food markets and the mcdonalds with black people and ybor pizza and subs are not going anywhere.

and furthermore these are things that make this neighborhood so great. not you SUV driving soccer moms and dads with the perfectly manicured lawns and fear in your hearts.

oh ya and make sure you dont forget to lock your doors tonight the poor violent uneducated negros are everywhere.

and for your information if youd ever taken any sociology courses youd know poverty is NOT a choice its a social problem.

meaning, you stupid jackholes, that poverty and how it affects society is everyones problem, including yours.

ps i am your neighbor.

Anonymous said...

Why don't YOU go live in Robles Park? Since you seem to have such an afinity for the poor brown poverty stricken people that live there, you should take your little wingnut self there. I wouldn't want to live around a bunch of racists, classists, neo-nazi bastards.And when they are raping and killing your stupid little ass for not being black enough, you'll know what we mean. Ta.

Anonymous said...

Lets all agree your all assholes who have nothing better to do than argue on the internet and move on from there. Jesus wept.

Anonymous said...

When an area is gentrified, the people that lose out are the renters. The homeowners, poor or not, benefit from the increase in value. They can cash out and move up in life--maybe use the money to fund college for their kids or a better retirement.

What I don't see discussed much is the opposite. Do we even have a word for it? What do we call it when a neighborhood falls from middle-class and becomes a poor neighborhood? A ghetto? I lived in a neighborhood as it went through this change. People with means took losses on their homes and moved to newer areas. Do we try and shame the new residents like we do the "yuppie scum" that gentrify poor neighborhoods?

When neighborhood house values plumet, those that lose are the home owners.

I'm still mulling over the whole gentrification issue, but I wonder if there isn't an inherent amount of racism and classism (anti-white, anti-middle-class) in there.

Anonymous said...

youre right shawn.
there is inherent racism and classism in our society.
maybe we can all get active and try to make the world a better place for the white middle class.
lets have a rally in the park or maybe a whole foods drive.
lets write letters to our state and local reps.
maybe they can help end this social crisis.
THE WHITE MIDDLE CLASS NEEDS A VOICE!!!!

Anonymous said...

Sweetpea

Get yourself a bran muffin and a laxative.
Your constipation is making you an angry, bitter person.

Anonymous said...

nah i just think its amazimg that you people are even real.
i wonder if you would feel so comfortable saying these types of things if you werent hiding behind the internet.
like maybe to your colored neighbors.

Anonymous said...

Neighborhoods go through cycles and residents move in and out of them. What some concider "gentification" often includes large scale real estate investment from outsiders that through its momentum literally kicks out existing residents because prices increase many fold quickly. Often what the "gentrifier" are seeking, the culture, quality of life is kicked out with the increases in prices and what is left is just a bunch of interesting houses and a new mix of businesses that cater primarily to the new residents. Although I have only lived in seminole heights for a few years, I can't say i see wholesale "gentrification" at work concidering all the rental houses and the different faces I see on the street everyday. in fact the shift in the housing market can only be good for ensuring a mixture of incomes etc. in the neighborhood remains. At least thats from my east side perspective.

Anonymous said...

Uh, yeah, Sweetpea ... I would tell my neighbors to have a bran muffin and a laxative if they were as clogged up as you are, even if they were African Americans.

By the way, who calls African Americans "colored" (besides maybe YOU)?? My black friends would really take offense to that.

Anonymous said...

The McDonald is in Tampa Heights so we can stop worrying about the skin tones in Seminole Heights.

There is nothing wrong with gentrification. Whites complain when non-whites move in. Blacks complain that forces them out. Hispanics don't want blacks and gringo's moving in.
They all unite against the first signs of homsexuals...the vangard of gentrification.


98% of all Americans are racist no matter how much or how little pigment they have in their skin.

god bless the land of equal opportunity bigotry and rascism

Anonymous said...

please, dont try to front
you people dont have black friends
and if you did youd know that for the most part they dont call themselves african americans.

they call themselves black.

white people like the term african american.
and just wondering what do you like to call black people from the united kingdom

african englishmen???!?!?

i think youre trying to use this pc kind of speak to cover your racism.

and what is with this jackalope talking about 98% of people are racist?
are you serious?
no sample no matter how large could claim that 98% of people thought anything.
unless of course youve interviewed everyone
and i dont remember speaking to a half human half jackass about my thoughts on race.
so, no of course he cant back this up with verification.

that is just the stupidist fucking pile of garbage ive ever heard in my life.

btw i went to the seminole heights police party a couple of months ago at henry ola park and there were zero black people there.
so, please dont try to say you consider them a part of "your" community or that you even bothered to invite them at all.

since i was in this aweful car accident a couple of months ago ive been sitting at home bored until i found this website.

you people are amazimg.

thanks for the entertainment.

maybe ill see you at the next event in the "hood".

Anonymous said...

Did you sustain a head injury in your "aweful" car accident? If so that would explain some things.

Anonymous said...

Since we are getting a little tense in here, lets lighten things up.

***********************

A woman was shopping at her local supermarket where she selected:
a half-gallon of 2% milk,
a carton of eggs,
a quart of orange juice,
a head of romaine lettuce,
a 2 lb. can of coffee,
and a 1 lb. package of bacon.

As she was unloading her items on the conveyor belt to check out, a drunk standing behind her watched as she placed the items in front of the cashier. While the cashier was ringing up her purchases, the drunk calmly stated, "You must be single." The woman was a bit startled by this proclamation, but she was intrigued by the derelict's intuition, since she was indeed single. She looked at her six items on the belt and saw nothing particularly unusual about her selections that could have tipped off the drunk to her marital status. Curiosity getting the better of her, she said "Well, you know what, you're absolutely correct. But how on earth did you know that?" The drunk replied, "Cause you're ugly."

Anonymous said...

I know this is late to add to this blog
But this site and this thread is incredibly insane i tell you its insane!


I LAUGHED MY ASS OFF !
see what this all started .why because someone got beat up at a mcdonalds here in Seminole Heights.
No one likes to be beaten down in any fashion .But what I gathered is this..There are TWO sides to this story.
The original poster didnt wish to state her actions in this mess.Why ? I DONT KNOW.
BUT her posting about her event sure did stir up some issues .

Woah!
Im just a renter and I see alot of problems with being a home owner in this area of Tampa.The increases in insurance and all the other problems ...buying selling on an on .But I dont see prejudical people on my street or anywhere else that I may go to here.
Cant we all just get along.

Anonymous said...

Actually it wasn't her event, if you read it you will see she posted an email from someone.

Anonymous said...

Maybe the lack of participation by blacks and hispanics in their communities can help explain why their neighborhood end up the way they do: crime-ridden, dirty, poor. You see you should always ask yourself if the chicken or the egg came first. The truth is that here is SESH the established black community has been extremely resentful of the new "white" neighbors coming in and "cleaning things up". I don't know exactly why, but I imagine it has something to do with the new people shining a little light on the truth of the black man's "plight".

Anonymous said...

This is the ORIGINAL POSTER again.

So you all want to know what led up to me getting beat down? Here it is:

I waited in the drive-thru for 20 minutes while the defendant took her time ordering EACH hamburger to her liking. I had the NERVE to tap my horn after 25 minutes.

That was it. I walked into the store to get my food since I did not want to wait another 20 minutes for said defendant to finish putting in her special order. Want a copy of the police report? Thats exactly what the drive-thru cashier said happened.

Said defendant then walked into the store, started to have words with me, yes I said some things back to her, said defendant started to "bump" me with her chest, trying to get me to fight INSIDE the store. I grabbed my food, walked outside, and was then pushed by the defendant from behind. The rest...is history.

People, don't assume that I am white, or a racist. I am Hispanic, half black really, and I have had NO beef with any minorities in the 'hood. I love it here.

However, that does not give morally and emotionally bankrupt people the right to beat me up becuase I dared *GASP* to express my frustration over the defendants inconsiderate attitude toward everyone else's time.

And if you all think it does, then you are as morally bankrupt as those who beat me.

I love it when people get their panties in a wad over "opression of the minorities". Give me a friggin break...I am a minority. But I was taught manners and respect from my elders, and I was taught NEVER to lay a finger on anyone. That being said, I am not going to stand there and take what those people like to dish out as "justice".

BTW - said defendant spent almost a week in jail with NO bond, since she was already on felony probation. I will be seeing her in court on Monday, with my head held high, knowing that I did what I had to do, and knowing that I have the law and all evidence behind me.

Anonymous said...

Flyer,

I am confused by your comment. Are you suggesting that blacks (or, for that matter, any existing group in an area being "gentrified") should be exempt from code enforcement? Or are you saying that such groups have a higher tolerence for living in or next to conditions that violate code? I don't think that that the powers of the state should be considered oppressive if they apply code enforcement in a race (or income) neutral fashion. Now, if you can show that code enforcement is being applied to minorities/low-income groups while ignoring similar violations among the "gentrifiers" then I could see their grounds for being resentful. Otherwise that resentment would seem to be the result of being forced to obey the minimum standards of code. While I know that you may disagree with idea of someone anonymously turning in a neighbor to code enforcement without at least attempting to resolve the issue first, I cannot believe that you condone the code violations themselves.

Anonymous said...

Flyer,

That raises some interesting questions. For instance:

Is there a degree of violation that will exceed your toleration?

Is so, at what point does a violation exceed your toleration?

Do you think your level of toleration should supercede the law?

How is someone supposed to know what your level of toleration is?

What would you do if a violation exceeded your level of toleration?

Personally, I have no problem letting someone slide that has a code violation that doesn't bother me. However, I will not restrict anyone else's right to hold a violator accountable if that person so chooses.

Anonymous said...

That is the biggest pile of crap I have ever seen. From the legal side, the city is asking for law suits by selectively choosing who it would like to cite. Florida statutes were written to be upheld. There is no grey matter, it is either a violation, or not. Instead, you have rogue inspectors, judges and managers, that choose to comply cases without full compliance therefore creating a liability for the city. If I have to keep my yard mowed, so should everyone else. The Florida law states how tall your grass can be. It is not unreasonable to demand that Curtis Lane and his boys uphold the laws that they were hired to uphold. It should not matter about race, gay, or straight or anything else. What is fair for one should be fair for all. Could you imagine the crime and filth in this city if everyone could do what they want.

As for touching the property line, that is unreasonable. For years, we were affected by a property down the street that refused to mow. Most of the times, the grass was over 5 feet tall. This created places for crack ho's, rodents and illegal dumping to occur. Therefore, it does affect my propety value and quality of life. IF people are not sure of certain laws and codes they should contact code to clarify.

Anonymous said...

hey guys i love you all so much
i havent had this much fun since i first found AIM.
we should have a little cocktail party at my house.
would any of you come?
let me know we could finish this debate over cheese and crackers.


no pun intended.


ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha!

Anonymous said...

I LOVE TO LEAVE GARBAGE IN THE STREET