Hopkins St. Drinking

Published/Last Modified on Monday, August 3, 2009 11:39 AM CDT

Concerned

Early Saturday morning, my husband went to the Penny-Wise on the corner of Hopkins St. and Admiral Doyle Drive to purchase gas for our boat. He noticed across the street at, I think it is called Brothers, a bunch of men sitting in that parking lot drinking beer for all to see!!!!! They were loud and shouting to the patrons at Penny Wise....like...."What are you looking at?" This was 7:00 a.m.!! I have also seen prior to Saturday, men and women just loitering around wearing pajamas and slippers with little children barely able to walk....all over the place!! We live near Jefferson Island road, so we always notice this. Can the ISPO do something about this????

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Comments

kp wrote on Aug 24, 2009 2:31 PM:

" Yeah, but are the people on Hopkins drinking and driving? Thank you!! I hate ignorance and PREJUDICE. "

CONCERNED wrote on Aug 24, 2009 10:57 AM:

" I guess most of the people who have replied to this post only got one message. THERE ARE CHILDREN INVOLVED!!! I did not say people are not drinking on Main St., even though there are BARS THERE! These people on Main St. are of drinking age and do NOT have their children toddling around because they do not let children into BARS. The Hopkins st thing happens EVERYDAY OF THE WEEK!! I HATE STUPIDITY!! GO LOOK FOR YOURSELF. "

forgot to mention.. wrote on Aug 24, 2009 8:18 AM:

" Haha..They always trynna set the people from Uptown up for failure. They putting sidewalks..they had sidewalks before, did they use them? No! But watch how the law is going to start issuing those people tickets for JayWalkin'. Ha,..so sad! "

You are so right wrote on Aug 21, 2009 2:54 PM:

" Yes, the whites are coming into the black neighborhood buying the drugs
and the black are going to jail. And guess what (?) I blame the young black males its time for them to get off the street corner and get a job. The system was design for them they just don't seem to get it. Black Female voicing her opinion!!! "

kaypistol wrote on Aug 21, 2009 12:17 PM:

" Don't get it confused. They sell dope across the bayou and in the BURBS. I guess it's better dope Uptown because I've seen lawyers and doctors, cops and politicians getting their CRACK on the "westside" . Anytime someone brings up Uptown PEOPLE automatically say dope or gangs but the same thing is happening in the gated communities too. Believe that. "

MeMeG wrote on Aug 20, 2009 2:22 PM:

" Yeah, where are all the cops riding around Hopkins and Anderson and all the other streets around there when white people are driving around looking for a drug dealer, stopping traffic to get their supply, then driving back across the bayou to smoke it up, then get on DI forum talking trash about the side of town they just came from doing their shopping at.....

Say it isn't happening... "

JoLisa M wrote on Aug 20, 2009 11:24 AM:

" Thank you so much for the response to my questions. I really loved New Iberia and, in fact, my husband and I have considered retiring in Louisiana. (We now live in a very cold climate.) The second house I lived in down there, in the northeast part, I think, was up for sale a few months ago and I was astounded at the asking price. Should have hung on to it! I'm sorry for the problems and the people stuck dealing with them. Wish all of you luck and a solution to the trouble. New Iberia deserves better. "

kaypistol wrote on Aug 20, 2009 2:33 AM:

" I don't like the subject ofthisdiscussion. Lets talk about all the people who get hammered everyday of the week on Main St. These people cross the St. right infront of moving vehicles to get to their vehicles..DRUNK. Drinkinganddriving, smartmove! If people want to go in public in their pjs, that is their choice. Wouldyou rathersee people'sfathangingout of their clothes or someone in a t-shirt and pj pants? I think the pjs are a littleeasieron one'sstomach. Obviously, you observed the scene a little too much to say howdistasteful it was. If you don'tlikeit, don'tlook. "

Good Question wrote on Aug 20, 2009 12:09 AM:

" Jolisa many people will not touch your question. What's happened to New Iberia's West Side is nothing more than what's happened in many cities in America. Those that could move up and out did so. Those that couldn't are stuck. Those are mostly the elderly who ask the same questions you do. What has happened to my town. In many places it's called white flight. The demise of the NIPD happened because of one mayor's inability to govern. The current mayor is spending $50,000 dollars to study whether the NIPD should be resurrected from it's grave. "

My opinion wrote on Aug 19, 2009 12:47 PM:

" The store managers should enforce it and there are to be a law. No, shirt; No service. PJ's; Houseslippers and among others outterwear should not be allowed in a publice place. There is a proper way to dress when you are out in public look around and see how others are dress. Some folks the menatily will never change. "

Dum Dum Boudreaux wrote on Aug 19, 2009 8:19 AM:

" Besides the bedroom fuzzy slippers and pajamas, don't forget about the faded T-shirt with holes on top of the bra area. "

To Reule Broussard wrote on Aug 18, 2009 6:16 PM:

" I don't care what color, race, creed, nationality, tribe, church title you pray under or law affiliation. If you drink and drive, if you're caught, if you kill someone, I will do my best to see to it that you pay the highest the law allows for your crime. I'm tired of those that hide under the skirt of the law or any other excuses used to escape punishment. If you can't do the time, then don't do the crime. No holiday specials, no time off for good behavior. "

JoLisa M wrote on Aug 18, 2009 4:44 PM:

" I've asked this several times on this forum, but never received a response. When did the West End become such a mess??? What happened to the New Iberia Police Dept? When we lived there in the 1960s, at least part of the west end was working class white and very respectable. I walked my kids everywhere and never worried about anything. Hopkins and Corrine were a mess, but the further west you went, the better things were. I parted on bad terms with my in-laws when my husband and I divorced, so I have no one else to ask. "

franklinite wrote on Aug 18, 2009 6:21 AM:

" cudos bam,you said it all,take AWAY THE FREE STUFF!!!!! "

Reule Broussard wrote on Aug 16, 2009 10:55 PM:

" Why doesn't someone just say it? It is a white v. black thing. Call it black culture v. white culture, African v. Anglo or whatever.

White people do the open container downtown and elsewhere, while black people do the open container thing on the West side. "

Ridem Cowboy wrote on Aug 14, 2009 12:54 AM:

" The Sugar Cane Festival will soon be kicking up it's annual storm. With that comes drunk four wheeler operators and drunk horse back riders. Heck I even think some of the horses are drunk in the parade. Can't wait to see what's in store this year. It should really be an eye opener. And you think open containers on Hopkins Street is something. Ha Ha Ha, He He He. One just has to laugh. "

Matter of opinio wrote on Aug 13, 2009 3:17 PM:

" I have to agree with the lady re: the mom in PJ's southern folks in N.I., been doing this for years and I never like it, it even bothers me to see women out-side of the home with house slippers on. Some attires call for the ocassion. It is very distasteful. It's not a black thing or white things. You don't wear an evening dress to church follow me. Good Day!!! "

JoLisa M wrote on Aug 13, 2009 11:54 AM:

" Drinking in public and yelling at others is a part of the "Broken Window" theory, which in a nutshell, means that if something is broken and quickly repaired, then certain elements will assume nobody cares and they'll smash a few themselves. Trees aren't going to fix up Hopkins Street. It's always been a mess because of the people there and their in-your-face behavior. I won't travel in that mess and until it's safe, or at least not insulting to do so, many more will also avoid it. Where are Chirldren's Services in this scenario? "

sick and tired wrote on Aug 13, 2009 8:32 AM:

" I have read all the comments...personally I'm tired of hearing about it. Any one person can change this. Stand up and speak. Will anyone do it? NO! Everyone will just sit there complaining to themselves instead of making the effort to fight it. If everyone would just get together tell the city what we want, we could change everything. Like it or not New Iberia has become an uncomfortable place to live. Come on people...now is the time to take New Iberia back. "

To why wrote on Aug 12, 2009 1:52 PM:

" What happened to no open containers on the streets? That was supposed to be against the law. So yes the IPSO could do something about it. If they wanted. But they don't! "

To Why wrote on Aug 6, 2009 11:41 PM:

" The holidays you mentioned are the times I yell the loudest about drinking. Too many lives lost during these times. One life lost is too many. And when it's because someone chose to use mind altering substances no matter the time of year or holiday I will protest loudly. When someone abuses their rights like this, and it causes the loss of life or damage to another life, that someone should loose ALL rights because not only have they hurt this one but every one connected to that one. Brittney, Ian, and Blake, we miss you. "

Why wrote on Aug 6, 2009 11:06 PM:

" We live in Acadiana, " the open container capital of the world" Men have drinks in every part of this town, at all times of the day, every day. Yet a couple of clowns pull an all-nighter on Hopkins street and suddenly we want the open container law to be enforced. It just seems a little hypocritical to me, thats all. "

Rebel wrote on Aug 6, 2009 4:46 PM:

" too: why

Why do you point out what someone else
is doing to make it ok when both are wrong. Downtown , Uptown , Westside,
Eastside, and Midtown It should be enforced NO OPEN CONTAINERS! Dont try to sound like my 8 year old and try and make it ok because someone else is doing it too. The reason that the guys on Hopkin st. was pointed out was because the guys were loud, (the squeaky wheel gets the greese)and main st. the people are at bars. "

Soon to be mom wrote on Aug 6, 2009 10:36 AM:

" I previously posted as To One Love about going to the store in your pj's when kids are sick. I agree that it is distasteful to wear pajamas in public but it is NOT nor should it be a crime. We have the freedom to dress however we want. My point is that people jump to the solution of making things illegal too quickly. Would you really want to be arrested for pj's in public?? Dressing appropriately is a matter of self respect, which I think is the real issue. If the drinkers had self-respect they would have jobs! "

Why wrote on Aug 6, 2009 3:10 AM:

" I find it funny how people complain about the open container laws being enforced when it inconveniences them. However, there never is much complaining about an open container during say Mardi Gras, festival times, holidays, or any other day of the week when we are not being inconvenienced. We don't mind the lack of enforcement when we are the ones having the good time, but let a few guys have a good time on Hopkins street and the attitude is "oh no we cant have that, something must be done." Lighten up! "

S wrote on Aug 5, 2009 10:40 PM:

" What has this world come to for someone to think it's ok to go anywhere in your pajamas. Do you think I didn't have sick children and needed to go out to get something for them. I dressed in my clothes because I have pride in myself. They are loitering and drinking liquor from an open container and harassing customers at the store. Of course they're breaking the law. Go someplace else. I wouldn't go there in the middle of the day. Those people have no self respect - how would they everrespectothers. "

For To One Love wrote on Aug 5, 2009 7:05 PM:

" That's a cop-out and you know it. It's not respectful of yourself muchless anyone that would have no choice but to see you in your sleep wear. Give it a rest hunny because I had kids, at night IS the time they get sick but I NEVER ran to the store in my pj's, not even the hospital and we were there plenty. As a parent you learn to be prepaired. VERY FEW casses I've seen that called for that scene. Say what you want but you won't convince me of it. "

BAM wrote on Aug 5, 2009 3:34 PM:

" As a former business owner I used to serve free food during happy hour. Soon after I noticed more and more new
faces that would wipe out the chicken wings and not spend a dime. My regular
good paying customers were uncomfortable with them around. I cut out the freebies and they went away. If you want to wear fuzzie slippers and pajamas, then get your chicken at Church's. "

MeMeG wrote on Aug 5, 2009 2:24 PM:

" I'm more worried about the cops that are hooked or Lortab and oxycontin being allowed to arrest anyone... "

TO ONE LOVE wrote on Aug 5, 2009 1:51 PM:

" The people are not shopping or getting gas. They are sitting around in a parking lot across the street talking away while their toddlers are roaming around by the road. They do not have sick babies in their cars BECAUSE THEY ARE NOT IN CARS..... "

To One Love wrote on Aug 5, 2009 8:32 AM:

" I totally disagree with your comments. I am about to have a baby and if I have to make a late night run to the store in my pajamas because my child is sick, do you really think I should be arrested and charged with a crime? I think that the government is involved in our lives enough, they should not have the authority to tell us what to wear! I don't particularly like seeing people dressed trashy in public either but that is a matter of self respect and there is nothing that you can do about it. "

Concerned wrote on Aug 5, 2009 6:57 AM:

" TO 'WHY'..did you not read that I stated that children barely able to walk were all over the place?? The only thing you read was pajamas. Thank you "polital Hack" for stating the law concerning OPEN ALCOHOLIC CONTAINERS...."WHY"..I do not know where you are from where it is legal to have an outdoor drinking party at a buisness that extends to the next morning...does intoxicated in public legal where you come from as well? Geesh...I expressed concerned and I get this......what a mess! "

MOONBAT wrote on Aug 5, 2009 6:42 AM:

" Let them plant trees. "

ONE LOVE wrote on Aug 5, 2009 2:05 AM:

" THESE ARE THE THINGS THAT SHOULD BE REPORTED AND LAW ENFORCEMNT SHOULD follow through. just as there is a law for sagging pants, there should be one for wearing pajamas in public. it is a disgusting style and inappropriate. snitch, snitch, snitch, its a GOOD THING "

Why wrote on Aug 4, 2009 9:19 PM:

" To political hack: You can see the exact same activities that you just described in your two points on any given night downtown on main street. If it is against the law, then it certainly is not being enforced anywheres else, so why enforce it at the corner of Hopkins and Admiral Doyle? "

Whatever wrote on Aug 4, 2009 12:51 PM:

" People, this is Hopkins Street! Would you expect anything else? "

EARL wrote on Aug 4, 2009 12:31 PM:

" where have ya'll been the past 20 years. it's been like that,i lived on that end of town in tae past. the ipso don't care if people are drinking publicly on the west end. they drink all day and all over just look at bunk johnson park "

political hack wrote on Aug 3, 2009 7:37 PM:

" To Why: you are so very wrong. #1) it is against the law to drink from open alcoholic beverages in the city. The store is also in violation by allowing these drunks to congregate and drink alcohol on his property. His liquor license is for package purchases only. #2) what about the yelling across the street? Isn't that considered disturbing the peace? Would you enjoy getting yelled god knows what while pumping your gas from these sots? I'm sure not! The IPSO should make periodic patrols and charge the offenders, including the store owner for allowing and enabling these hooligans. "

D. Hertz wrote on Aug 3, 2009 4:52 PM:

" Hey, this is New Iberia, you should expect this. "

call wrote on Aug 3, 2009 2:16 PM:

" Call IPSO and make a complaint. Only then will you know if they are able to do anything about it. "

Why wrote on Aug 3, 2009 12:12 PM:

" Why would the sheriff's department do something about this? Neither one of the instances that you just described are against the law! If these men are over the age of 21, they are allowed to drink publicly, it doesn't matter what time of the day it is. As for walking around in public in pajamas, this is also not against the law. Both instances are in poor taste and judgement, but perfectly legal. "

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Hopkins St. Drinking

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