Greenpoint
Cafe Cito Bogota
LAST GASP: All The News Fit To Steal!
Filed under: 11222, Dung of the Day, Greenpoint, Greenpoint Brooklyn, Greenpoint Magic, Other Shit, Plagiarism
I am seriously considering adding this as a byline to my humble blog after having the following turd brought to my attention by buddy across the creek: Queens Crap.
The Crapper writes (in regards to the above colossal piece of crap):
You mean January 25th comes before February 3rd? Damn.
Not according to CBS 2. Follows is a time line of my coverage of this story. Read it and weep.
January 24, 2011: I am tipped off by a reader and compose a blog post to go up at 5:34 EST January 25th. I follow up with Community Board 1′s Transportation Chair, Karen Nieves, to get her take later in the day. She is kind enough to clue me in on the situation and I update my post accordingly. This post was linked to by Brownstoner on January 25th at 8:30 a.m.
January 28, 2011: I am informed of the Community Meeting about said project by Ms. Nieves at 12:38 p.m. I gladly post it at 1:39 p.m.
February 2, 2011: I attend said event, film it and blog it. If you skip to 1:23 in this video (which was uploaded February 2nd) you can see the cameraman from CBS setting up the microphone for the representative of the Department of Design and Construction. The audience asked if it was a public mike. It was made clear this was for CBS. My post was linked to by Brownstoner on February 3, 2001 at 8:30 a.m. and by A Short Story at 10:54 a.m.
February 11, 2011 at 11:37 a.m.: I announce the plan has been tabled and update my post as I learn more details. I made my final update at 3:23 p.m.
And then CBS 2 “breaks” the news (once again) at 7:08 p.m. I have taken the liberty of bringing CBS 2′s “blog amnesia” to their attention via comments.
This has yet to be approved. I doubt it will.
If the wholesale and flagrant editorial vandalism (as coined by Bucky Turco at Animal New York) of “neighborhood blogs” by mainstream media outlets offends you, gentle readers, I would very much appreciate it if you would follow suit. Seriously folks, this is downright laughable.
Lastly, had CBS 2 actually cared about the facts instead of generating hype (READ: page views) they would have, should have, mentioned the houses on Monitor Street (and the stoops which accompany them) would have been assessed on a case-by-case basis. That’s the general impression I had after attending and filming the meeting on February 2, 2011. In fact, I find most of CBS 2′s “reporting” in this feature questionable. Then again, the truth doesn’t generate page views. Distorting the truth and sensationalism does.
Miss Heather
P.S.: Thanks for reading, CBS 2! I am really enjoying the comments you have seen fit to approve (as opposed to mine). For example, Annie’s charming missive as highlighted below.
It would appear “hate speech” passes muster, but calling your organization out on a crime of the pen, if you will— that being blog poaching— merits censorship. I want to personally thank you, CBS 2, for providing the final nail in the coffin which contains my contempt for and distrust of televised “news”.
From The New York Shitty Inbox: Skid Row
Filed under: 11222, Bum Shit, Dung of the Day, Greenpoint, Greenpoint Brooklyn, Greenpoint Magic, Other Shit
Of this delightful item (which is located on a snow bank at Clay Street and Manhattan Avenue) Alicia writes:
Seriously G-point?!
Miss Heather
Spotted Waiting For The B62: (Priceless)
Filed under: 10014, 11222, Bum Shit, Crosstown Local, Culture War, Dung of the Day, Greenpoint, Greenpoint Brooklyn, Greenpoint Magic, Manhattan, New York City, Other Shit, Subway
Contrary to what some might think yours truly exercises some semblance of ethics when photographing people on the street. It is neither my purpose nor my desire to laugh at people. Which brings me to this.
I cannot tell a lie: I had a lot of trouble suppressing a chuckle.
But given the rather, um, copious notices I spied when exiting the Crosstown Local at India Street this afternoon can you blame a man (or woman) for being dazed and confused— or dare I say: possibly a wee bit pissed off— by our mass transit system? This is the real Greenpoint, folks— and don’t you forget it!
Fortunately there are intrepid souls who see fit— quite literally— to cut the crap.
CASE IN POINT: the Spring Street station in SoHo.*
Miss Heather
*Yes, that is a pile of human feces peeking out from under this flier-cum-asswipe.
Dung Of The Day: Special Bloomblight Edition
Filed under: 11222, Bloomblight, Bum Shit, Dung of the Day, Greenpoint, Greenpoint Brooklyn, Greenpoint Magic, Other Shit
You can always leave it to 32 India Street to keep things on our gold coast, um, interesting.
Miss Heather
New York Shitty Day Ender: Theatre In A Van
Filed under: 11211, Bum Shit, Culture War, Dog Shit, Dung of the Day, Other Shit, Williamsburg, Williamsburg Brooklyn
Taken September 10, 2010.
Miss Heather
From The New York Shitty Photo Pool, Part II: Saturday At The Park
Filed under: 11211, 11222, Dung of the Day, Greenpoint, Greenpoint Brooklyn, Greenpoint Magic, Other Shit, Williamsburg, Williamsburg Brooklyn
Miss Mousey Brown (who took the above photograph this morning) writes:
Saturday 11:00 am. I took a 5 minute break from gardening to go use the port-a-potty between the handball courts. As I was walking back over I see this woman checking to see if she could get in the garden. I had locked it, for which I am thankful. I thought she might be the person that throws rotten rye bread in the garden (which the birds NEVER eat , btw) She was actually looking for a spot to dump an explosive diarrhea. She found one. When she saw me with my camera she hightailed it down Lorimer, with some sort of wardrobe malfunction going on.
NICE.
Miss Heather
From The New York Shitty Inbox: Shit & Awe
L writes:
Hello Miss Heather,
I was taking a stroll on the sidewalk along McCarren Park (east side of bedford) when I looked up and saw something I’d never thought I’d see: an older man, bent down, ass facing me, covered in *crap* It was a full view of asshole and bits. Normally, I take shots of everything but I was too horrified/stunned/ grossed out to do anything but cross the street and watch to make sure he wasn’t doing anything to harm anyone.
This was at 3:30 on Sunday, by the fence.. not too far from the bathrooms. He did not seem homeless, but who knows. He proceeded to pull up his trousers and seemed to head over to the bathroom. Was I the only one to see this? I generally see homeless/drunk people in this north area of the park. Does no one patrol? Stephanie Thayer? Anyone?
Definitely makes me think twice about where I sit, if I will at all, in McCarren or any park with grass now.
It’s disgusting but I wanted to pass this along to the unofficial Mayor of Greenpoint and all things shitty. Definitely a danger to people who use the park in these summer months.Horrifying.
I honestly don’t know what to say— other than someone has created a Flickr photo set documenting this kind of thing at our beloved McCarren Park. You can check it out by clicking here. Enjoy!
Miss Heather
Dung Of The Day: In Yer Face!
Filed under: 11211, Bum Shit, Crosstown Local, Dung of the Day, Other Shit, Williamsburg, Williamsburg Brooklyn
I rarely feature what this site was initially premised upon: that being shit of all stripes. Perhaps this is because I have become choosy? Or find other subject matter more provocative? I’d hazard to say both.
However, when I found the above specimen (which is located a short distance from the Union Avenue entrance to the G and L train) I knew I had to pass it along here. Why, you ask? Well, there are many reasons.
But mostly because of the New York City Transit Authority gloves that are found next to this public poo. NICE.
Miss Heather
Spotted In McCarren Park: Call-A-Head
Filed under: 11211, 11222, Dung of the Day, East Williamsburg, East Williamsburg Brooklyn, Greenpoint, Greenpoint Brooklyn, Greenpoint Magic, Other Shit, Vomit, Williamsburg, Williamsburg Brooklyn
As I mentioned in this post we, the people of north Brooklyn, have been promised by the peeps of OSA (Open Space Alliance North Brooklyn) a handful of port-o-johns to help augment the rather inadequate— and in some cases downright disgusting— facilities which currently grace our public parks. While not what I consider to be an ideal solution (they should be repairing and upgrading existing facilities; and breaking ground for new ones) today I had a glimmer (or would that be a whiff) of hope. At the corner of North 12 and Berry Street to be precise.
Not one, not two, but three port-o-potties! But wait— there’s a catch.
All save one are locked! Perhaps to be dispatched to elsewhere? I can only hope so. In any case I decided to check out the one that was open to the public.
If it is any consolation, dear readers, this smelled worse than it looks.
Methinks another inspection is in order. But why cry over spilled vomit?
Shortly thereafter I discovered that Bushwick Inlet Park has received its promised privy! Two down, two to go…
Miss Heather
Image Credits: The photograph gracing the beginning of this post hails from Sergeant Dougherty Playground and was taken by yours truly.
Greenpoint Audio/Visual Presentation Du Jour: The American Playground
Filed under: 11211, 11222, Asshole, Bum Shit, Dung of the Day, Greenpoint, Greenpoint Brooklyn, Greenpoint Magic, Other Shit, Williamsburg, Williamsburg Brooklyn
Given that we are embarking upon a holiday weekend (celebrating our nation’s birthday, no less) I feel it is only fitting to showcase Greenpoint’s very own American Playground. Rutila wrote regarding the above image (which I posted June 20th):
There was a homeless man sleeping in the jungle gym this morning when jumping rope in one of the handball courts. He was coughing, and I wasn’t sure if he was sick or clearing his throat to let me know I was interrupting his sleep. Should I have apologized?
Oh, and one of the trees/bushes that flank the storage shed/bathroom was pulled — roots and all — from its planter and dragged to the middle of the basketball courts. I don’t see how this would be possible without a vehicle.
I have been keeping a careful watch over this park ever since.
It isn’t pretty.
But what I was most puzzled by was the womens bathroom’s “new arrangement”.
I have no idea why the Parks Department, in their infinite wisdom, would do something like this. And here’s why:
1. This bathroom is located at a playground. Children will invariably get dirty and need to wash their hands. Most of the children I have observed at this park are tended to by their mothers. Thus, they will need to use the womens bathroom. And if someone is using it they are shit out of luck.
2. This kind of open space (with added privacy) is an enabler for all manner and variety of criminal activity. Foremost in my mind is drugs, as heroin addicts seem to have taken a shine to this park.
And then of course, there is this.
A detergent bottle (Tide, methinks, this brings a whole new meaning to Tidy Bowl) being retrofitted for some hitherto unknown purpose.
Here’s a close-up of its contents. And on July 1st, dear readers, I finally got the wherewithal to flush said toilet and film it.
It appears to be collecting water from the faulty plumbing. Incoming or outgoing I do not know. What’s more, it’s not important. This is yet another (and exemplary) half-assed solution to the manifold problems our parks “comfort stations” face. On that note I have word via a tipster/leaked email that port-o-lets are one the way. Four to be precise:
- One for Bushwick Inlet Park
- One for Barge Park
- Two for McCarren Park
In regards to the lattermost, here’s what one board member of Open Space Alliance North Brooklyn— not the Parks Department— had to say:
They’re portable so, if you or other parks users have strong feelings about their placement, they can probably be moved. Personally, I think it’s a good idea for the condo-dwellers on Bayard to fundraise for the park.
This statement is in regards to a Bayard Street resident calling 311 and complaining about public urination; getting a letter from Adrian Benepe advising him/her to talk to our Parks Administrator, Stephanie Thayer, only to be asked by Ms. Thayer if he/she would be interested in fundraising for more garbage cans and bathrooms in McCarren Park (via Open Space Alliance, which is Ms. Thayer’s other employer). Fundraising for amenities one would presume (hope) would have already been paid for via our tax dollars. But I suppose I am being old fashioned.
To recap: a 311 complaint seems to have been employed as a recruitment tool for a not-for-profit org which, theoretically, has nothing to do whatsoever with a public urination complaint. But I suppose that’s what happens when you have a public/private partnership which is out of touch with the very people it purportedly serves. Here’s my advice for anyone who has issues with our public parks:
- Call 311. Repeatedly.
- Document and send your complaints to our local Community Board.
- Don’t bother with our local Parks people, copy the head honcho: Adrian (dot) Benepe (at) parks (dot) nyc (dot) gov
- It criminal activity is involved, go the the 94th Precinct Community Council meetings and make D. I. Fulton aware of it.
Miss Heather
P.S.: If our Port-O-Potty point person at OSA is listening (because it’s become all too apparent this organization holds the purse strings, not our Parks Department), you might want to toss one WNYC Transmitter Park/”Playground’s” direction.
It’s very popular.
Albeit not by not children.
When I saw this gent walk away from a secluded part of this “playground” a few days later I decided to investigate.
Yup.
NYS Flickr Pool
