"Justice Please" written by Libertad on estrip.org

06/01/06 02:45 - 73ºF - ID#25757

Justice Please

Word on the street is that Lon Coldiron, owner of Coffee &, was found guilty of insurance fraud after he burned it down. He wasn't convicted of arson, but insurance fraud? How can this be? I wanted to testify against him, but the investigators never contacted me even after I made an attempt to contact them. He faces 8-12 years of pound you in the ass prison. Good you stupid fuck.

Lon,

You are so selfish. I truly think you deserve your fate, not only for this, but for all the terrible things you have done. It is my hope that you have ample time to think of all the people you have used in your life. When I saw that beautiful house completely destroyed on my way to school in the fall of 2004, my most immediate concern was for your safety, because I knew that you lived in the attic, which was practically non-existent after you torched it. There was a look of absolute horror as I drove by that morning. I thought oh no, it finally happened, an electrical fire. See, if I knew that you had insurance, I would have thought that you had done it right away, but I didn't learn that until later. I got out of the car practically in tears; I thought that you could be dead. Why did I even care about you then? What have you ever done for me? You stole my tips, you left me alone to work, and when I was finally assaulted because I was working alone, you couldn't come to help me because you were in Niagara Falls gambling. You used Nikki as if she were disposable, pillaging her retirement, working her to death as you sat on your big fat ass. You sexually harassed me, as if I were some cheap whore that would have sex with you for money or so that I could become a manager like I would really be moving up in the world. Have you always been like this Lon? Did you ever have any morals, any decency?

That was not your house to burn down! It was part of Elmwood, part of history. You stole that from us. That house was not Coffee &, it was not yours! I have heard so many people tell stories about their experiences in that house. A couple came in once, they were so happy. They told me that they had gotten engaged there when it was previously a restaurant, can't remember which one. Christina Ricci supposedly vomited there all over the clown face mosaic on the floor. Oh my, that clown was evil looking wasn't it? I remember when I would close at night, in the beginning; there was one single light above the clown face that never shut off. That was until you couldn't afford to replace the light bulb. Everything would be dark after closing except that clown. If you stood on the clown's face you could see yourself in the mirror with that one single light shinning down on you. I loved that! I never had a run in with the ghosts that occupied that building, but I knew there was something there. I wonder what has happened to them? Do they haunt Cecilia's stupid patio now?

You did not pay your sales taxes; you did not know how to run a business. You made everyone else pay, because you are fat and lazy. I met someone very special in that house. He was so cute...Mocha Jet Café Please! There were lots of special people I met there, including the guy who made the mosaic clown. I hope that the dog you loved so much that you killed in the fire haunts you in your sleep. Really more than anything I just want you to be sorry, to finally take responsibility in your life and to apologize to the people that you have hurt so badly. You let all those people raise money for you after the fire, because you are not a man.

Libertad

If anyone has any photos of the house please post them! Maybe someday I'll find out his address in prison and send this to him.

libertad writes at 10:45:47 06/02/06 - Comment #8425: thanks for all your comments guys. I think I just needed to get that out of me.

ajay writes at 05:31:50 06/01/06 - Comment #8396: You can write a letter to the judge (copy to the prosecutor) about your views on this guy. I've heard it can have an influence during sentencing.

When I first heard about the fire, I was saddened. But then when I read the flyers he put up on the Strip, seeking help, talking about his dog, etc. (memory's fuzzy...), I started suspecting something was wrong. As Shakepeare wrote, "thou dost protest too much". Something smelled fishy, and I'm glad he's been nailed. Too bad about the house. And to think I wanted to help this guy offer free WiFi... :)

theecarey writes at 04:34:42 06/01/06 - Comment #8391: I am not sure if I said this before in a response to you. I vaguely remember commenting about "Coffee &" but not sure why?? hmm..

Anyway, I am not surprised that this incident finally caught up with him. As far as I know, his business dealings down south (um, Alabama? Louisianna?) went a similar route.

He did a lot of business off the books, "accidents", fires and the such for insurance money. Very sketchy... and manipulative.

Your story of him and how he dealt with people is very similar to people I know who worked for him.

I pity him.

uncutsaniflush writes at 04:13:45 06/01/06 - Comment #8389: wow, selfish bastards like this Coldiron guy never think how their actions affect others. It's just always "i, me, mine."

here's the buffalo news story on this:

No verdict reached in coffee shop arson case

Despite deadlock, jury finds guilt on fraud

By MATT GRYTA
News Staff Reporter
5/23/2006
After deliberating for four days, a jury Monday said that it could not agree on whether the owner of an Elmwood Avenue coffee shop set fire to his business two years ago. But the panel found him guilty in what proved to be an unsuccessful attempt at insurance fraud linked to the case.

Lon Coldiron, 39, was found guilty on three counts of attempted grand larceny for trying to collect $290,000 in property, business and renter's insurance on the fire.

The 12-member jury found him not guilty of an attempted-arson charge and was unable to reach a unanimous verdict on an arson charge.

It had deliberated for more than 25 hours since Wednesday, after a two-week trial before Erie County Judge Timothy J. Drury. Coldiron denied any involvement in the two-alarm fire, which killed his pet dog.

Coldiron, who now lives in West Seneca, did not react as the verdict was announced shortly before 2 p.m.

The jury foreman told the judge that the panel had reached a "deadlock that cannot be resolved" concerning a charge of third-degree arson in connection with Coldiron's alleged setting of the October 2004 fire.

Coldiron faces a possible prison term of up to 15 years for his conviction on the charge of attempted insurance fraud. Drury allowed him to remain free on $10,000 posted bail pending a June 1 post-trial hearing to determine what will be done on the felony arson charge.

Drury did not schedule a sentencing proceeding after trial prosecutors Michael L. McCabe, chief of the Erie County district attorney's Arson Bureau, and Maura K. O'Donnell told him they have to consult with District Attorney Frank J. Clark about the remaining arson charge.

Coldiron and his attorney, David G. Jay, declined to comment outside the courtroom. But Coldiron walked over to Erie County Sheriff's Deputy Ivy Wilson-Dinkins and thanked her for finding in the jury room a piece of evidence that Jay told the judge will play a role in an appeal.

The verdict came about three hours after the judge rejected Jay's motions for a mistrial because of alleged jury misconduct linked to a printout from the Internet of state criminal law dealing with someone guilty of aiding and abetting a crime.

Wilson-Dinkins found the printout Friday afternoon after the unsequestered jury had been allowed to go home early for the weekend.

Monday, Drury admonished the jury to consider "only law" that "comes from the court" without doing any unrelated legal research on their own. The identity of juror responsible for the printout was not revealed.

Coldiron suffered smoke inhalation and lost one of his three pet dogs as he and his two surviving pets were rescued by fire crews during the blaze.

Just days after the fire, neighborhood residents staged a benefit to raise funds for him.

Taking the witness stand May 15 and last Tuesday, Coldiron denied any involvement in the arson. He also told the jury he had been receiving threatening telephone calls for weeks before the fire.

Coldiron, who had been leasing the building from Ramesh Chainani of Amherst for about a year, was accused of setting the fire by using a flammable liquid in two spots on the building's first floor.

City fire investigators said they could never substantiate Coldiron's contention that he had been receiving threatening phone calls from an unknown man who he told authorities had threatened to burn the building down.

Prosecutors presented evidence that Coldiron, an admitted casino gambler who shut down his Niagara Falls coffee shop because of money problems, had only about $800 in the bank at the time of the fire.

The prosecutors also presented evidence that the state Tax Department only a week before the fire had threatened to seize the Buffalo coffee shop because Coldiron was at last $24,000 behind in sales tax payments.

During the trial, the jury also learned that while the Coldiron had lived above the coffee shop since May 2003, he never sought fire, property or rental insurance until about a month before the October 2004 fire.

paul writes at 04:08:32 06/01/06 - Comment #8388: Wow, that is some serious passion. I wonder if he really believed he was goign to get away with it. Or was he just totally insane? Why did they not contact you. That is so messed up. (e:mike) better work this nto the soap opera.

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06/01/06 02:37 - 73ºF - ID#25756

Diverse Videos

I happened upon this blog by accident. It's in Spanish, but you don't have to read it. The videos this guy has are a diverse collection of different bands that I though different (e:peeps) might enjoy. They are from utube.com, which I'm really starting to get into. If you have some time, check a few of them out. He also posted some nice photographs.

One of my favorites is dated "jueves, Mayo 25, 2006" title "Si pudiera decirle a Tim" it's called "Corpse Bride Duet"
Libertad

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05/31/06 04:28 - 86ºF - ID#25755

SSSumer SSSomethings

End of May 2006

Light Colors

Painted Toes

This gopher tortoise (Gopherus polyphemus), lives in my mother's backyard.

This cage keeps the creatures out.

You aren't anyone if you don't have a cage.

Animal Sanctuary. Rabbits, coyotes, and tortoises.

SSSlipery SSSeal

SSSlithering SSSwimer

SSSleeping SSSweeties

SSSoothing SSSlumber

SSSumer SSSomethings

SSSuny SSSmetry

Libertad

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05/29/06 08:39 - 80ºF - ID#25754

God Bless America and Wal-Mart

Today I went to Super Wal-Mart with my mother. She buys EVERYTHING there! It's Memorial Day so they had this TV broadcasting Wal-Mart propaganda about how we need to support our troops.

My question is if I hate Walmart, does that mean I hate America?

God Bless America, God Bless Wal-Mart.

mrdt writes at 12:02:04 06/02/06 - Comment #8414: dear uncut,

I understand you and Libertad are seperate people, I just assumed each of you would walk away with your respective parts.

Getting back to my original question, "if you hate large globalized department stores shouldn't you also hate other large and diversified brands like LG, General Mills, The Limited, Sony, Boeing, Prentice Hall Pub. and Darden Restaurants??? Or did Sam Walton step on your toes or something??"

This is what I wanted to know. AM I comparing apples to oranges, maybe but that's irrelevant and not what I'm getting at. I offered a broad range of businesses to see where Libertad stood on them hoping to understand where his hate comes from.

Sony and LG have brick and mortar retail stores all over the globe not-to-mention full service internet stores available 24/7. The Limited brand can be found in 5 different retail flavors in the malls of America and beyond. Darden restaurants owns many of America's favorite corporate restaurants (Olive Garden, Red Lobster, Smokey Bones and Bahama Breeze).

So to answer your question, I wanted to know if Libertad hated big business and the cookie cutter concept in general or was it just Walmart.

uncutsaniflush writes at 05:24:10 06/01/06 - Comment #8395: mrdt,

just to be absolutely clear, libertad and I are two different people. And I am not the one that has said that he hates Walmart.

As to my feelings on LG and Sony, perhaps that subject deserves a journal entry of its own.

But I do have a question for you, why are you comparing a retailer with manufacturers? As far as I know, neither LG nor Sony have thousands of big box stores located across the U.S. Though I must admit that I have see a small Sony electronics boutique store or two over the years.

So aren't you really comparing apples to oranges? A way better question to ask those who dislike Walmart is "Is Target or Kmart any better? than Walmart?"

But that is just me, as always I could be wrong.

mrdt writes at 04:16:31 06/01/06 - Comment #8390: Yes, I knew about Hillary but what does that have to do with disliking Walmart???

Yes I knew LG was a S Korean Brand and Sony in a Japanese brand with diversification in electronics, movies, television and music. So you should hate them too, right???

I like watching No Reservations and a Cook's Tour and have read 3 or 4 books from Anthony Bourdain. Actually I have all the episodes DVR'd and after I read the books I give them away as rewards to young, dedicated, hard working cooks for inspiration. Anthony definately praises the Mexican workforce. They do not demand high wages that the Americans do and they are not working to achieve high recognition or rank. Compared to kids coming out of culinary school they work a lot harder for a lot less and don't showboat. They do there job day in and day out as cheap labor, which in a NYC restaurant is good because over head is high and profit margins are low. Unfortunately they are draggin down cooks wages. But on the plus side they do disappear as I stated and have a higher rate of absinteeism. One day they work for you the next day they work for your competitor for 15 cents more an hour with out any notice.

uncutsaniflush writes at 01:26:06 06/01/06 - Comment #8383: yes, I know about Hillary and Walmart.

If memory serves she was on the Board of Directors of Walmart when Bill was the gov of Arkansas and she resigned in the early 90s when he decided to run for president

libertad writes at 01:03:34 06/01/06 - Comment #8382: Did you all hear that Hillary was a key player at Wal-Mart before Bill took office?

uncutsaniflush writes at 08:46:39 06/01/06 - Comment #8377: Libertad,

I thought you were being sarcastic but I wasn't absolutely sure; ironically enough I was being sarcastic or at least sardonic with opening "funny you should mention". As you pointed sometimes it is hard to tell if someone is sarcastic if you don't know them well.

But at any rate, I figured that putting in a good word for Mexicans couldn't hurt.

mrdt,

Since I have no idea what kind of chef is an American chef like you, I can't really comment on your assertion.

However, in my personal experience, the cooks and chefs and kitchen staff that I known and met outside of the internet speak highly of their Mexican co-workers. So, I am led to believe that the American chefs that I know are not like you since your experience doesn't mirror theirs.

Hell, Anthony Bourdain praised his Mexican kitchen staff in one of his "No Reservations" shows.

I shop at Walmart. And Sam Walton has been dead for a number of years. I doubt that he is stepping on anyone's toes anymore.

Do you realize that LG is a South Korean corporation? Or are you saying that Mr. Kim is just like Sam Walton, except for the dead part.

libertad writes at 11:56:03 05/31/06 - Comment #8371: uncut,

I'm not sure which of my previous posts you have read, but if you did read them all, I think it would be obvious that I was being sarcastic with my lazy mexican comment. Maybe because you don't know me and because of my wording that you failed to see my sarcasm. Just to be clear, in no way do I think Mexicans are lazy, in fact I believe the opposite.

Mrdt,

I'm too tired right now to even begin with a response to your comment.

mrdt writes at 11:15:03 05/31/06 - Comment #8369: In restaurant kitchens mexicans work there ass off, most of the time. The rest of the time they disappear (get high, phone home, phone mexico, long shit break). But I tell you what, I never stop from the second I walk in the door. Mexicans hate working with American cooks like me cause we make them look lazy.

Also, if you hate large globalized department stores shouldn't you also hate other large and diversified brands like LG, General Mills, The Limited, Sony, Boeing, Prentice Hall Pub. and Darden Restaurants??? Or did Sam Walton step on your toes or something??

uncutsaniflush writes at 10:36:51 05/31/06 - Comment #8367: funny you should mention the words "lazy" and "mexican" in the same sentence.

No one that I have ever met who has actually known, worked with and/or employed people from Mexico thinks they are lazy.

Even the racist crackers in the deep South that I have known say Mexicans "are good enough to hire but not good enough to marry."

And for a cracker, a lazy person just ain't good enough to hire.

Thanks for the Walmex link. I wasn't aware that Walmart did anything other than Sam's Club and Walmart in Mexico. Apparently, they do a clothing store called "Suburbia" (is that store a plot to make Mexicans into Stepford Americans?" and a restaurant chain as well.

I wonder if Americans would think less of Walmart if they knew how many stores Walmart has outside the U.S.

I think that in some ways it is walmart's dirty little secret. I don't think they mention their foreign stores on the U.S. website.

libertad writes at 09:40:14 05/31/06 - Comment #8365: uncut,

Wal-mart de MÃ©xico. :::link:::
I found no evidence of any mexican flags at the Walmex doing a google search. I did see on their site "Por quÃ© trabajar en Wal-Mart?" (why work in walmart) I think the appropriate response from the company would be; you have no other choice, now get to work you lazy mexican!

uncutsaniflush writes at 07:30:30 05/31/06 - Comment #8356: hating walmart is no more unAmerican than is eating a sandwich cubano. lol

Since walmart is a multi-national corporation with stores in Germany, Brazil, Mexico and who knows where else, it's a bit funny to me that it wraps itself up in the American flag.

I wonder if it wraps itself in the Mexican flag in Mexico?

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05/29/06 08:05 - 67ºF - ID#25753

Jimmy Hoffa and Joel Giambra

This nightmare I had this morning was cwazy! I have been thinking a lot about Jimmy Hoffa, because they are looking for his body underneath this barn. Anyways, I was walking downtown with my ex, ex, ex (yes dreams are random). These mafia guys asked if I knew about the murder. Of course I did, but I said which one, because there are murders happening all the time. They were referring to the murder that happened in front of my car. I acknowledged that I knew about it and then they offered me a pack of cigarettes to come and talk to them, which I declined. We departed ways, but eventually I ended up in some Guercio type place and the mob guys saw me. They were really mean to me and made me take off my shirt! I don't know why they care about me, I didn't even see the murder that happened in front of my car. Joel Giambra was there. He was wearing a police uniform and was connected with the mob, cause he didn't do anything to help me. They were so going to kill me, maybe even torture me and then I woke up. I like dreams, even the scary ones.

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05/25/06 12:29 - 64ºF - ID#25752

News Flash

I wish I had a police scanner right now. Just about every cop in Buffalo just raced down to the Psych Center at about noon. I was driving down Richmond and was almost hit by a cop car head on!

Just a heads up to pay attention to the News today. I'm off to sunny FL, will return on Tuesday.

Libertad

Here is a photo I shot last summer of the HH Richardson Complex.

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05/24/06 06:45 - 62ºF - ID#25751

What's cookin good lookin?

What is (e:mike) cooking?

It smells good. I'm a little nervous because he keeps screaming in the kitchen and I can't hear what he is saying cause I have the music too loud.

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05/24/06 04:16 - 66ºF - ID#25750

Not guilty!

This is an update regarding my previous post "Parking Tickets" see

Today I got another ticket. It was so shitty. My friend that is moving to Phoenix gave me some things, so I parked my car in front of my house on Elmwood to run the things inside. All I did was bring the items in and go right back down to take my car to get it inspected, so I wouldn't get any more parking tickets! Of course there was a parking ticket on my car after coming back down the stairs! I was so upset, I was practically in tears. I could see the ticket Nazi ahead of me at the next corner. If he were just a little bit closer I probably would have been arrested for assault.

Anyways, after I learned that i need $200 in repairs to get my car an inspection sticker to avoid more tickets, I decided to fight both of them at city hall. Let me tell you it wasn't easy, but I was found not guilty on both charges! I won! My defense was that they don't give as many tickets on the East Side because they are too scarred of getting shot. I think he agreed with me. He was going to give me just one ticket, but I was relentless and wouldn't give in. My efforts paid off. He seemed to think that I chose to live on Elmwood because its the "cool thing to do." I was like look I'm poor, I'm a student and its not fair I have to pay for the cities problems. I live on Elmwood because I happen to have an affordable apartment, not because its cool to live on Elmwood. I'll have to admit its nice, but it comes at its price. Anyways, things are looking a little bit brighter now. I was just around the corner from having a complete emotional breakdown.

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05/23/06 10:43 - 51ºF - ID#25749

A day in the countryside

Today I went to Alden to visit a friend of mine. It was so beautiful there. I miss the peacefulness of the countryside. His yard was amazing with all these beautiful birds that came to feed at the feeder. Unfortunately, I didn't bring my camera. Anyways, we drove around for a while and we came across someone selling things out of this shed that kind of looked like it could have been some old school house, except really tiny. She had some really nice things there, and her and her husband were so nice. It seemed like people were really nice out there, and laid back too. I always thought I was a city boy, but maybe I could live in the country. Here are some pics of my finds today. The first one is a ceramic ashtray made in Japan with a painted face. I love it! I think I'm going to plant some kind of herb in it so he can have green hair. It was only a dollar.

My next great find cost three dollars. It is a tapestry of JFK. It really is beautiful, the blue is so rich and it is made out of this velvety material. I wish I could drape myself with it!

What a great day! I'm sad that my friend is leaving for the summer. Another friend of mine is leaving for good to live in Phoenix. Good bye friends. I'll miss you.

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05/21/06 03:13 - 48ºF - ID#25748

Downtown Violence

Last night I was at Club Marcella and there was a lock down. Nobody was allowed in or out as there was a shooting or something. It either happened upstairs in the old Tralf or right in front of my car that was parked in front of a meter on Pearl directly in front of the club. Police were everywhere, and everyone was smoking inside because they weren't allowed to leave. We eventually left, but my car was completely surrounded in police tape. There were two black garbage bags on the street next to my car and police guarding the area. I assumed the bags were covering up evidence of some sort. The police said it would be several hours before I could get my car from the "crime scene". There was definitely a bad feeling in the air last night, and I was afraid to go into the Club in the first place. Finally, at about 4:30am I was able to leave. Of course it wasn't that simple. We had to stand and gawk at more violence. This girl got slammed in the head by this guy. The guy takes off running and some girl chased him down to beat him. Then the cops came and slammed the girl that was beating the bitch slapper into a cop car. Downtown area at night is like a crazy circus complete with all the animals. That's right, savage animals...

Bitch Slapper* The girl that was hit by the guy may or may not have been a bitch, but I coined the term anyways. I know its not politically correct, but I like it.

metalpeter writes at 05:44:16 05/22/06 - Comment #8056: Last night On Chanel 7 News thing got verry interesting did any one else see it? Basicly the Owner of (video went between him and the guy from the tralf so it could be out of context a little bit) Marcellos said "This dosn't have to do with race but I think this is the Wrong place for this it should be in the Ghetto". So I mean he was basicly saying he dosn't want blacks there and they should stay out and have there concerts in there hood, cause he dosn't want any of there problems. I find that kinda intersting cause I'm sure there are a lot of people who don't think he belongs downtown. I remember when it first openend they wanted to have all nude male stripers and they where told No, by I think the city. But to be honest nothing makes people move out of a nice Lofts and apartments quicker then crime or a killing. It may not be racial it may be a business thing from the guy from Marcellos in any event I wonder if there will be fallout from this and what will happen next if anything.

libertad writes at 02:30:32 05/22/06 - Comment #8050: uncut,

Thank you for providing the news story. I couldn't find one at the time of the posting. I can't believe that happened in front of my car...makes you wonder. We all should remember that there are real dangers out there and use caution. I'm certainly glad that I didn't see that tragedy.

paul writes at 11:10:41 05/22/06 - Comment #8040: Holy crap, I hadn't noticed this journal until my RSS reader picked it up this morning. I am so glad I decided not to go out that night after all. Was it gang related violence? I mean who goes up and shoots someone in the face?

uncutsaniflush writes at 09:51:06 05/22/06 - Comment #8036: This is what happened I think:

May 21, 2006 - Buffalo police are investigating a fatal shooting, a stabbing and an attack on a police officer after a wild night in the downtown club district. Police say the shooting happened around 1 am near the intersection of Pearl and Chippewa. The victim, 21 year old Lamar Williams died at the scene. Williams was behind the wheel of a minivan, stopped in traffic on Pearl Street, when the gunman came up to the vehicle and shot him in the face. It's believed the victim was either heading to or coming from the Tralf nightclub less than a block away.

A short time earlier The Tralf was the scene of a ruckus after a larger than anticipated crowd showed up for a concert by Hip Hop performer Jim Jones. "There were probably about a thousand to fifteen hundred people waiting to get into the club that couldn't get in," said the Tralf's Rohit Kapoor. He added that some people tried to rush the doors which were locked; Our first priority was to keep everybody inside the club safe." As locked out patrons spilled out in to the street, police were called. A female officer was struck on the head. As police made an arrest in connection with assault on the officer, the man they had in custody began complaining of a pain in his side. Police soon found out why--he'd been stabbed. 36 year old Lamar Williams was taken to ECMC where he underwent surgery this morning. His condition was being characterized as Good.

more (including a video report) at :::link:::

metalpeter writes at 05:57:51 05/21/06 - Comment #8016: wow that sounds crazzy. Did you ever find out what was the first act of violance. To "" someone other post at least there warn't any "Danza Slaps".