Greenpoint
Cafe Cito Bogota
From The New York Shitty Inbox: An Update Regarding The Mark Bar Raccoon
(Or, make that: raccoons)
I asked for it and I got it: the skinny on what happened at the Mark Bar Tuesday night. K writes:
It’s true: I first came across a baby raccoon near the Mark Bar late Tuesday night. It was the size of a kitten, and appeared scared and lost. I followed, then cornered it as I called 311: there was nothing anyone could do, the responder said; ASPCA was closed till morning.
Then last night there were about a half dozen police officers – and another half dozen onlookers – outside the Mark Bar with a spotlight directed toward the roof; cushions lined the sidewalk. Sure enough, you could see raccoons scurrying about in a hole near the roof molding. Apparently two had already fallen (hence the cushions).
I later found out the baby raccoon I tried to save on Tuesday was put to sleep. So was an adult yesterday. Another baby was let loose in McCarren Park; a third baby is….. well, living in a cage in the Mark Bar right now.
The first good news is that the raccoon didn’t seem to be injured at all. It did lie on the ground not moving for about 90 seconds, then was up and walking. Cooperation between patrons and staff from the Mark Bar and Tommy’s Tavern brought a plastic cat carrier to the scene, and the raccoon was placed inside with the plan for someone to take him home for the night in the hopes that arrangements could be made today to get him to a safe place. I don’t know what happened with that today; a woman who had just left the Mark Bar was contacted by phone and said she worked with some wildlife organizations and may be able to find a place. Someone else had volunteered just to set it loose in his backyard.
There were at least two more still up there, peeking outside. Somebody called the police, from what I saw there was one actual cop and five or six auxiliaries standing around. After one made a crack about “target practice” and was met with anger from the crowd, they ended up doing nothing. The cop said that since there was no immediate danger it wasn’t their concern.
Another raccoon had also fallen the night before. That time, as I understand it, the police responded and took it, saying it would be euthanized — but that’s second hand. But that’s why the bar staff didn’t want NYPD to be called this time. However, no one could be reached at Animal Control and 311 had no other help to offer.
Miss Heather
From The New York Shitty Inbox: Hit & Run
Filed under: 11222, Criminal Activity, Greenpoint, Greenpoint Brooklyn, Greenpoint Magic
(in more ways that one) Anonymous writes:
I ran into one of my old friends tonight and while we were talking about our recent life events, some guy and his girl apparently were arguing in front of the AT&T store in the triangle of Bedford/Nassau/Lorimer. Some other guy on a bike decides to be righteously angry and cold cocks the guy in the face as he rode by. The guy who was punched got knocked cold and hit his head on the bike rack (those upside down U shaped pipe things bolted to the sidewalk that nobody uses) on the way down splitting the back of his head open. Lotsa blood and freaked the g/f out. We called 911, four 94th pc’s showed, FDNY, ambulance, etc. We split once the authorities showed
Description of assailant was white, young, white t-shirt, green army pants on a crappy bike.
Sorry to bring yet another bike shit thing, but…
Hope the dude who got hit is ok, he looked pretty awful.
Never a dull moment in the Garden Spot.
Miss Heather
From The New York Shitty Inbox, Part I: Ticket Blitz In Greenpoint?
Anonymous writes:
The local traffic police are out to raise revenue with a vengeance. We have seen them patrolling the streets, car by car, on a SUNDAY, in places like banker & franklin where there are no restrictions on that day, looking for something, anything they can write a ticket against. The kicker was last week, where we parked on West St. because we got back late one night, only to find our car TOWED the next day. Towed, for a place we have parked before dozens of times and have never received a ticket, for allegedly “blocking a crosswalk” where there is no crosswalk. We have good grounds to fight the ticket in court but people should be warned about what’s going on and not take any chances – tickets are one thing, but them TOWING is ridiculous. It’s so obvious that it’s a revenue generator, because in all my years here, I’ve never seen anyone towed, the traffic enforcement ignores the people who do a u turn in the middle of manhattan avenue (or who drive on the wrong side so they can park next to the bank), the people who park in the bus stop – thousands of ticketable offenses that get ignored, and now they’re going to start towing.
The only positive is at least the tow pound is on the B62 route so you don’t have to waste money on car service to get there.
This might sound spurious but— and this is a BIG BUT— as my buddy over at Queens Crap points out in this post it seems to be the current modus operandi nowadays. One would think if our city’s finest wanted to make easy money— and perhaps even protect and serve our community in the process— they’d set up speed traps along McGuinness Boulevard because those new speed limit signs are not doing the job.
Hmm…
Miss Heather
LAST GASP: The 94th Precinct On Yelp
Filed under: 11211, 11222, Criminal Activity, Greenpoint, Greenpoint Brooklyn, Greenpoint Magic, Williamsburg, Williamsburg Brooklyn
I suppose this is common knowledge to some of you but it is news to me. The 94th Precinct has its very own Yelp page. And, well, it is something. Here’s the first review:
I got my first ticket in New York!!!
I.Am.Dangerous.
Wait- I wanna try that again.
I.Am.MOTHERFUCKIN’.Dangerous
My run in with New York’s finest (hee hee hee) went something like this:
Brooks Brother Sweater Wearing Ring Leader: “Lets check out the view of Manhattan from that waterfront”
Me: “Um OK”
Brooks Brother Sweater Wearing Ring Leader: “Lets go on the other side of the BARB WIRE TOPPED (sic) fence”
Me: “Umm Ok”
Brooks Brother Sweater Wearing Ring Leader: “Lets go sit on that PRECARIOUSLY BALANCED DISGUSTING LOOKING (sic) log”
Me: “No way. I am far too cute to go any further and risk stepping on a hypodermic needle or falling into that skanky ‘waterfront’ or… SHIT its the Po-Po. I’m gonna be pissed if I get a ticket or a fine. Oh sure, you don’t have anything to worry about, but its hard out here for a sista’.
(Three cops roll up in a cruiser and get out)
Cop #1: “Are you aware that you are trespassing?” blah,blah,blah
Cop #2: ”Do you have identification?”
Me: ”Are you kidding me? Are you really gonna give us tickets?”
Cop #1: ”Thinkin’ about it”
Me: ”I guess I better cut back on the attitude then”
Cop #2: (a smile and a nod)
IGOTATICKETFORTRESSPASSING!!! But, the Police were efficient and very nice. (And Cop #2 informed me that the ticket would probably be thrown out AND he apologized AND encouraged my picture taking of the absent “No Trespassing Zone” sign)
I want to bake those boys cookies.I got my first ticket in New York!!!
I.Am.Dangerous.
Wait- I wanna try that again.
I.Am.MOTHERFUCKIN’.Dangerous
My run in with New York’s finest (hee hee hee) went something like this:
Brooks Brother Sweater Wearing Ring Leader: “Lets check out the view of Manhattan from that waterfront”
Me: “Um OK”
Brooks Brother Sweater Wearing Ring Leader: “Lets go on the other side of the BARB WIRE TOPPED (sic) fence”
Me: “Umm Ok”
Brooks Brother Sweater Wearing Ring Leader: “Lets go sit on that PRECARIOUSLY BALANCED DISGUSTING LOOKING (sic) log”
Me: “No way. I am far too cute to go any further and risk stepping on a hypodermic needle or falling into that skanky ‘waterfront’ or… SHIT its the Po-Po. I’m gonna be pissed if I get a ticket or a fine. Oh sure, you don’t have anything to worry about, but its hard out here for a sista’.
(Three cops roll up in a cruiser and get out)
Cop #1: “Are you aware that you are trespassing?” blah,blah,blah
Cop #2: ”Do you have identification?”
Me: ”Are you kidding me? Are you really gonna give us tickets?”
Cop #1: ”Thinkin’ about it”
Me: ”I guess I better cut back on the attitude then”
Cop #2: (a smile and a nod)
IGOTATICKETFORTRESSPASSING!!! But, the Police were efficient and very nice. (And Cop #2 informed me that the ticket would probably be thrown out AND he apologized AND encouraged my picture taking of the absent “No Trespassing Zone” sign)
I want to bake those boys cookies.
Trust me: it gets even better from there. Be sure to read the second item where a disgruntled citizen calls Denis Leary a “Stupid Boston Jerk” because (among other things) he won’t come out of his trailer and sign autographs. I am not making this shit up. This is North Brooklyn at its very finest, folks. Reading is believing.
Miss Heather
P.S.: For the love of god Mr. Leary give Gary L. your autograph already! Shit, give him his own damned television show!
The Calyer Street Bike Bandit Strikes Again!
Filed under: 11222, Criminal Activity, Greenpoint, Greenpoint Brooklyn, Greenpoint Magic
Remember the reader email I posted on January 25 about a fellow Greenpointer having not one, BUT TWO, bicycles stolen last weekend? Well, it would appear they have struck again. Per my Calyer Street tipster:
i don’t know who’s letting them in, so it has to be delivery something, or someone who works for the landlady.
i am having my brother in law put the new lock in TOMORROW.
First off, I want to tender my sincerest sympathies to my Calyer Street compadre. Knowing that a thief has been in your apartment building is disturbing enough. The fact he (or she, I suppose) had the chutzpah to come back— or worse—- someone else has taken to pillaging on your private property is even worse! While I realize this may be cold comfort to this individual, I want to reiterate that the 94th Precinct is registering bicycles. This service is totally free and will make tracking down your ride much easier in the event (god forbid) it is stolen. You can get the contact information for the woman spearheading this effort by clicking here (look at the second to last paragraph).
Miss Heather
Crime Prevention Tips From The NYPD
Filed under: 11211, 11222, Criminal Activity, Greenpoint, Greenpoint Brooklyn, Greenpoint Magic, Williamsburg, Williamsburg Brooklyn
Yesterday I attended a hastily convened meeting at the 94th Precinct regarding crime trends here in Williamspoint. Apparently there was a spike in robberies last week— and this obviously being a source of concern— local neighborhood groups were invited to discuss the matter. Most of the meeting can be summarized by the annotation on the flier to the left: don’t be an idiot. Nonetheless, I will outline the more salient points in this post.
Exercise Vigilance
70% of all crimes in the 94th last year were grand larceny/property crimes. These range anywhere from losing unattended property to smash and grabs; burglary and robbery. All more or less have two thing in common: they’re crimes of opportunity and appear to be perpetrated by a handful of serial offenders. D.I. Fulton cited one such example of this: a group of men who managed to rob three people in a single evening.
Although this is common sense I am going to list a few tips:
1. Watch your property
2. Do NOT leave valuables in your car
3. Refrain from talking on your cell phone and/or texting when walking our streets. Not only does negotiating around such people (who tend to weave around) piss yours truly off in a big, big way, but it makes you an easy target for robbery
4. When going out at night go in groups and refrain from being intoxicated. Public drunkenness makes one a sterling target for robberies and, as D.I. Fulton noted, one should not be impaired when negotiating the marginally secured construction sites hereabouts.
5. LOCK YOUR DOORS AND WINDOWS. This too is common sense, but Mr. Fulton recounted to us a robbery where the woman’s apartment was accessed via a window on her fire escape. If you think you’re not an easy target because you reside on a higher floor, think again.
6. If you see suspicious activity, call the police.
Arrests
Although D.I. Fulton pointed out crime was down 6.7% last year (there were a total of 1,651 arrests last year lest you are wondering), he did list a few areas where more arrests and/or citations are being made:
1. Robberies (as I have already mentioned)
2. Graffiti
3. Truck traffic summonses are up for a third year in a row.
It was also noted that they are also cracking down on derelict bicycles. Which brings me to what is probably the most useful piece of information I gleaned from this meeting: the 94th Precinct is registering bicycles. This service is totally free and anyone interested should contact Elizabeth Moulterie at (718) 383-3879. The 94th’s Community Liaison, Carlos Ortiz gave me a compelling, if darkly amusing, example why bicycle owners should register their rides. He was once contacted by a gentleman whose bike was stolen… and turned up locked to a gate a few doors down on his block! How’s that for chutzpah? Despite his protestations that the vehicle in question was in fact his, since he had not seen the thief take it and there was no serial number engraved on it there was nothing they could do about it.
In closing, I’d feel remiss if I didn’t mention a little chicanery I encountered on the way to this meeting. On Manhattan Avenue between Java and Kent streets a 20-something woman hocked up a loogie— and noticing that she got my attention— tried to sell me a can of Folgers coffee for $5.00. Hot coffee. I was also equally impressed (if that is the most appropriate word to use) to learn at this meeting that apparently some of our local drug dealers are cutting their “product” with sheet rock excavated from the walls of their apartment building. The entrepreneurial moxie of the more criminally-inclined people in this neighborhood never ceases to amaze me.
Miss Heather
P.S.: I have recorded most— but not all— of the proceedings. Given the sensitive matter of some of the material discussed, I did not film the people present. I simply pointed my camera at the ceiling (so as to capture the audio and preserve the attendee’s anonymity). The sound quality is less than spectacular, but here it is.
1. General introduction, Crime rundown
2. Crime rundown, tips for crime prevention, Q & A
3. Q & A, continued. NOTE: last week’s “suspicious death” and Violeete Kryzak are touched upon at the very end. I advise you to give this a listen.
4. More Q & A: concerns about narcotics activity are aired (Speaking for myself, I have observed increasing evidence of heroin use along Manhattan Avenue north of Greenpoint Avenue.)
5. Concluding remarks
What’s Up At The Place Known Formerly As The Greenpoint Hotel
Filed under: 11222, Criminal Activity, Greenpoint, Greenpoint Brooklyn, Greenpoint Magic, Vinyl Siding
As I mentioned previously, the weather was such that I had to find alternative means of entertaining myself and/or news gathering. First on my agenda (after working) was visiting Emi at Dog Habitat. I quickly rushed home, took a shower and ran off to my next engagement: Community Board 1′s Human Services (Shelter, Social Services, Aging, Disability Concerns, Health) Committee meeting.
This might not seem like the typical person’s idea of how to spend a Thursday night. Given the dismal turn-out— only two committee members were present— I’d say this is a fair assessment. But then again, I am not typical. I’m a weirdo (hence why I live in Greenpoint: I feel at home). What’s more, my mission had a purpose: the new owner of the Greenpoint Hotel was slated to speak. And speak he did. I was all ears (and some mouth).
Follows a general outline of the proceedings (NOTE: some of the following content is redundant to what I have posted already. By omitting it the natural “flow” of the discussion would be lost— so I kept it) :
INTRODUCTION
First Mr. Deutchman introduced himself, made mention that he owns and operates a number of SROs in the city and gave a background as to how he acquired the property:
- He bought the property from the bank (foreclosure or seizure?) at the U.S. Attorney’s Office and D.E.A.’s discretion.
- He was the fifth bidder. The previous four bidders were rejected.
- He paid $3.5 million dollars for the property.
- This includes the laundromat next door (which can be seen above).
INITIAL FINDINGS/CHANGES
- This facility (I can honestly find no other word to describe this hodgepodge of buildings) sports 200 rooms. Just rooms. All plumbing (READ: bathrooms, sinks, etc.) is communal.
- The parcel in its entirety is 55,000 square feet.
- Although Mr. Deutchman was promised there would be 75 residents at signing. There were, in fact, 120 occupied rooms. This number has since been brought down to 80. (I will go into how later.)
- At the time of purchase this building had 300 open violations, this has since been brought down to 8.
- All structural remedies have been made, what is lacking is a “Certificate of Fitness”.
- A fire consultant has been hired to help this complex become fire code complaint.
- The exterior has been given a total overhaul. Including a healthy dose of Greenpoint’s personal panache/panacea of choice: aluminum siding!
Inasmuch as some of you might find what I am about to write hard to believe, it is the truth: this is a big improvement. But back to the subject.
OTHER CHANGES/DEVELOPMENTS
- The only entrance to this building is on Manhattan Avenue. The fire exits are now self-closing and have alarms (so as to preclude people from using them in cases other than an emergency).
- Visitors are required to present valid ID to visit.
- The party being visited must meet the person in the lobby and take him (or her) back to his room.
- Fire safety directors have been hired.
- A web-based security system has been installed. It should be entirely “up and running” soon.
- The laundromat will stay. Mr. Deutchman is interested in expanding it to a full-service facility that will offer dry-cleaning.
TENANTS (Current)
As you can imagine, questions and concerns arose as to how current tenants are being handled. Here’s his answer:
- Upon taking possession of the property Mr. Deutchman posted notices stating he was tendering the rent roll over the the NYPD to review for unregistered sex offenders and parole-skippers.
- Some have been “bought out” through negotiation between his layer and MFY, a legal service.
- Some will be evicted for non-payment of rent. Apparently a number of tenants having (and understandably) grown tired of the squalid conditions in this building decided to quit paying rent and this was upheld in housing court. Now that the repairs have been made (which is what Mr. Deutchman purports), collecting rent from some of them has proved to be problematic.
- Mr. Deutchman has reached out to various social service agencies (the Veterans Administration among them) to help rehouse them.
- Mr. Deutchman faces paying $500,000 in rental over-charge payments to current tenants because (hang with me here, this gets interesting)…
- Any tenant who lives in a SRO more than 28 days becomes a rent-stabilized tenant, e.g.; someone who moves in paying $215 a month after 28 days will continue paying $215 a month until the rent can be legally raised. Per the rules and regulations as established by the DHCR. Division of Housing Renewal & Control.
- Per Mr. Deutchman a number of the previous owners violated the law and charged rents that were above the allowable legal limit.
And, I suspect, Mr. Deutchman’s predecessors did other things to circumvent the law. Some of the old(ish) timers reading this might remember Sammy. He was a local celebrity of sorts. If my memory serves me correctly he was once featured in the Village Voice— or was it the NYPress? I forget which. In any case, the article in question made light of Sammy’s Solomon-like wisdom when dealing with a dispute over an objet d’art (READ: cheap piece of ceramic crap) at the Salvation Army (where he worked). Two women argued vociferously over who had found the item in question first. After hearing their arguments Sammy rendered his verdict: he dropped said object onto the floor, thus rendering it into numerous pieces the two women could split amongst themselves. Problem solved.
Despite what the previous anecdote might suggest Sammy had a big heart. We were friends and it broke my heart when I heard he died (of a heart attack— he was only 51 years old). Sammy was a resident of the Greenpoint Hotel. One of the things he mentioned (mind you, this was back in 2001 or 2002) was their modus operandi of having the tenants stay there for three weeks (21 days), then stay somewhere else for one, only to return for another three weeks (repeat cycle). As crazy as Sammy’s story sounded at the time given what Mr. Deutchman said it makes sense. Sammy hated living there— as have others I know. Some food for thought— now back to my “minutes”.
TENANTS (Future)
The question was raised by the chair as to why Mr. Deutchman didn’t want to operate a proper hotel. I for one found this query amusing given the number of nondos which have been employed for such a purpose. Albeit, illegally. Mr. Deutchman made it known:
- He does not want to run a hotel.
- He wants to operate a SRO…
- along the lines of an “assisted living facility” or “supported housing”:, e.g.; an adult home…
- with the cooperation/oversight of an organization (such as the Veterans Administration, to use an example)
- to this end he has filed RFPs (request for proposals).
- As he reiterated will be the landlord, and they will administrate day-to-day stuff.
- In the meantime he wants to vacate the building entirely of tenants and start anew. When asked by the committee chair how long this might take Mr. Deutchman said three years.
THE FUTURE OF 1109-1113 MANHATTAN AVENUE
The committee chair asked the $64,000 question: given you have purchased such a large parcel of property, why not develop it?
Mr. Deutchman replied that at some point he would like to build “market-rate” housing on the site. “16 units” (which I would deduce to be 16 floors, I haven’t done the “math” but a footprint that big could plausibly be employed). In any case the chair, did and offered (as a fellow landlord) advise he go higher. Yup.
New York Shitty analysis:
- Mr. Deutchman has a contingency plan.
- He will develop this property. This is a given.
- He will employ it as an SRO in the interim— or given the time line he provided— skip this step and go to point #2.
- I am not against an SRO on this property provided it is well managed and maintained. I take a much broader view of “affordable housing” than many in my community do. In my world view an allocation of X units to be sold to families earning $45,000 or less in a tower does not constitute affordable housing. What I want to see (and what the market here really needs) are affordable RENTAL units, be they two bedrooms, one bedrooms, studio apartments or SROs. If the tenants of this hypothetical SRO are long-term residents, as opposed to transients (which seems to have been the prevailing trend at the “Greenpoint Hotel”) and/or a co-educational college dormitory (which is pretty much what the Northside of Williamsburg has become and what the Marzili Hostel was) methinks they’ll become part of the community and be (for the most part) good neighbors.
- Sooner or later we’re going to see something big at the corner of Clay Street and Manhattan Avenue.
My feelings are mixed. On the one hand, I hate towers. On the other, I do have to acknowledge that Mr. Deutchman has made numerous improvements to the place formerly known as the Greenpoint Hotel. Inside and out. The lobby is painted in cheerful (a term I never thought I would attribute to this establishment) hues of bright green and orange. It needs to be seen in person to truly be believed. The regular visitations by the police and fire department have abated— or at least subsided substantially.* Which brings me back to one thing Mr. Deutchman mentioned repeatedly: a desire for the NYPD canvass the area and the building proper.
On that note, the next and last 94th Precinct Community Council Meeting for the year will be this upcoming Monday, November 16. Given the wife of a good friend of mine was almost mugged on Roebling and North 8 Street earlier this week (at 7:00 p.m.) I am certain it will be interesting.**
Miss Heather
P.S.: This post is dedicated to the Human Services Committee Member who asked how my raccoon problem was going. I assured him it has stopped. THANK GOD. I’m genuinely sorry your friend in Little Neck got bit and had to go through a series of rabies shots. All nine of them. That sucks. Big time.
*If you care to dispute this please tender your observations via comments or email them via my “tips” page.
**Here’s his account:
Last night was parent teacher night at my two son’s school. Since my wife is a teacher she like to go to meet his teachers since I pick up my kids and drop them off everyday. As she was heading out she told me that her girlfriend who I believed she would be walking with had an earlier appointment and she would be going alone.
I got a bad felling and I actually asked her to take the car the seven blocks we normally walk. I did not want her walking under the BQE alone, even though it was only a little before seven pm. She said no and reminded me how hard it is to park by the school. She assured me she would be careful. The phone rang a little after eight and I answered the phone. It was my wife. She was screaming for me to run down the block because two men had just attempted to rob her. I ran out of my house to see my wife coming up our block crying and screaming. I got her inside and she explained that she had decided to walk up North 8th street instead of north 7th because it was closer to the church and better lit. As she walked up North 8th toward Roebling she was on her old, not fancy cell phone talking to her mother. Two men walked by her. Something told her to look back a few seconds later and she saw the two men closing in on her. They told her to give them everything she had. She started to scream at the top of her lungs. Police, I am being robbed, Police over and over. The two men ran away and my wife then called me and ran the block and a half to our home. We immediately called 911 and then the 94th to report what happened. A car came about a half hour later. The officers took a description of the two but did not fill out any paperwork and left. Although my wife was lucky no physical harm occurred and nothing was taken, I fear that this violation of trust that she now fears walking in our community at night is going to be difficult to overcome. I also am angry that these men are lurking in our community and probably found someone else to rob and will do it again. I also thought about my wife’s mother who is in her seventies and had to hear her daughter screaming over a cell phone not being able to help her. I have been complaining for the last two years that things are not so swell in Williamsburg. I should have went with my gut last night. I will have to live with that decision but I am happy my wife is physically safe. Be careful out there.
From The New York Shitty Inbox: An Ugly Incident At Bedford Avenue
Filed under: Williamsburg
A number of you, dear readers, have brought this story to my attention. For those of you who are not in the know, a rather ugly arrest recently came to pass at the Bedford Avenue stop of the L train involving— get this— a PUG. Although there is certainly more to the story than what has come to light, I strongly encourage each and every one you to read Gothamist’s coverage (they have since added some photographs of the incident, such as the one to the left, which was taken by Jason Wagner). One word: DISGUSTING.
Miss Heather
An Ugly Incident At Greenpoint’s New Park
Filed under: Greenpoint Magic
Some of you no doubt recall how long it took this park (which is located at the end of Manhattan Avenue) to happen: just shy of two years. After an inexcusable series of delays it is open now, much to the pleasure of Greenpointers new, old, or simply passing through.
Like these EMT workers taking a much needed break on a Sunday afternoon.
Unfortunately where are others who not only are treating this sorely needed bit of open space as their own beer garden, but when confronted they became belligerent.
Laura writes:
Mike & I have been going to the new park at Manhattan Ave, practically every day. It’s beautiful. Sunday evening, we were there with some family members. There was a group of young Slavic guys & gals drinking beer and tossing the beer bottles onto the lawn and in the high grass. My son sensed that I was upset and went over to pick up any visible bottles. He said to the group, “There’s a garbage over there, you know.” One of the guys responded with a few sarcastic comments and the group continued to drink and litter there. I was looking at the group, hoping they would feel uncomfortable and leave, but that didn’t happen. I proceeded to call the police. Then the same sarcastic guy hollered over “Are you calling the F%#@@ Police on us, you bitch?”. I replied, “Yes”.
With that, the same guy started to approach us with threatening motions. He was clearly trying to start a physical confrontation with my family. ( My granddaughter was there. ) My son, of course stood up ready to defend us. I didn’t want a fight to break out so I stood between the guy & my son & continued to call 911. The guy started to make threatening motions toward my son. He threatened to hit my son & Mike ( cane & all! ). I pulled out my camera. And he moved away. Mike took the phone to complete the call. The others began to scatter. I started to take photos of their vehicle & license plates. One of the guys tried to block the photo. With that, they scurried out of the park ( still holding the beer bottles)…
while I continued to take pictures. One of the guys and one of the girls, came walking back.
The girl was cursing and coming toward me until she realized that I had two daughter in laws with me. They left. There’s a witness… She gave me her name & phone number…
As previously stated Laura called the police— and guess what? After taking an hour to show up they didn’t seem to care!
The police got there over an hour later. The PO ( Ferguson ) said that we couldn’t make out a report. He did however give me the precinct phone number (after some push from me) so I could call in the license plate number when I enlarged the photo. I enlarged it and did leave that message… I don’t believe that I couldn’t fill out a police report just because the offenders left. I feel that I was denied a police report. Technically, there’s nothing on record at the 94th about this incident. And that’s how the precinct likes it. I called 911, so it’s in their system… I’m really tired of not getting help from the 94th Precinct. These youths know my family’s faces. And they are evidently a nasty group. The last thing we need is a nasty group of drinkers at that park. The lack of police interest makes me feel like we’re in the position to defend ourselves…
Welcome to life in the 94th Precinct.
Miss Heather
More Notes From The 94th Precinct Community Council Meeting
Filed under: Greenpoint Magic
My colleague Graham T. Beck of Streetsblog has published his account of this week’s Community Council Meeting. I strongly recommend that anyone interested in the details surrounding the car chase which resulted in Violetta Kryrzak’s death give it a read. Those of you who have not done so already can read my take (and watch video footage of the proceedings) by clicking here.
Miss Heather
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