Greenpoint
Lorven Pharmacy
Culture on the Cheap
From The New York Shitty Inbox: Riot Police Under The BQE?
Christine (who took all the photographs gracing this post) writes:
Tons of cops at RUMBLERS car show.
Escorting cars out … Skaters at the other end are fine but cars being guided out
The word is a “hells angel” punched a cop…
Shirt says when in doubt knock out… Maybe not a cop…
UPDATE, 6:52 p.m.: All is quiet…
UPDATE, 10:40 p.m.: I have the 411 about what happened from D. I. Hurson himself! He writes:
Miss Heather I noticed you have pictures of the car show. The event was larger then allowed. They were permitted for only two blocks but it stretched from Union to Manhattan ave. Several cars and motorcycles started drag racing. I ordered the event closed early and dispersed the crowd we made two arrest and issued numerous summonses. We will not allow them to get a permit next year.
UPDATE, August 21, 2011 12:20 p.m.: An anonymous tipster writes:
Hi, I would like it if you could add the following video to your story of the police shutting down the Rumblers car show on Saturday, August 20th, 2011. In the commanding officer’s statement he said that he ordered the show to be shut down due to “Several cars and motorcycles started drag racing.” Yet in this youtube video clip (Which dates from 2008 —Ed. Note), the police are the ones doing a burn out, and driving recklessly through a crowded street at The Rumblers Car Show.
Miss Heather
LAST GASP: Holy Shit
Yours truly has received a number of quite frankly incredible emails over the last seven days. Follows is the latest from a chap named Chris. He writes:
hey- a little birdie told me that while digging in the backyard of the church yesterday on kent street, a priest discovered a human skull!! police came, investigation ensued and upon further excavation a secret buried tunnel was discovered between the church and a neighboring home!! i don’t know how or what is true, but i thought you’d be interested.. hope all is well…
Guess what folks?
IT’S TRUE! Albeit with a couple of clarifications/tweaks:
- A skull and finger were found next door the the Church of the Ascension, not on the premises. Apparently the man was doing work on his backyard and made this discovery.
- No mention of a tunnel was made by the people I spoke to.
- The bones are purported to be “old”. Exactly how old is anyone’s guess. After all, we are talking about an area which was settled in the 17th century.
Interesting archeological find or the remains of some grisly deed from the Garden Spot of old? Only time will tell— but I have been told a New York Times reporter was on the scene today so hopefully he (or she) will dig up something (no pun intended). Otherwise, as I opined to a neighbor when he mused how these remains found their way to 119 Kent Street’s backyard:
Given that we’re talking about fingers I’m guessing they didn’t walk there.
UPDATE, May 31, 2011: I have been told by a reliable source that one Joe Vance (who it should be noted is a board member of OSA) once owned the house where these remains were found and was questioned by the F.B.I. Obviously the authorities are taking this matter very, VERY seriously and leaving no stone unturned. Wow.
Miss Heather
From The New York Shitty Inbox: Dead In The Water?
Filed under: 11222, Greenpoint, Greenpoint Brooklyn, Greenpoint Magic, Newtown Creek
This item comes courtesy of an anonymous tipster:
On Wednesday, March 16, 2011 at 1310 hours in the confines of the 94 pct. Police responded to a male in the water (Newtown Creek) in the rear of 16 Bridgewater Street. Upon arrival officers discovered a M/H-W/30-40 floating in the water unconscious and unresponsive. EMS responded and pronounced the aided DOA. Medical Examiner to determine the cause of death. The investigation is ongoing and the ID of the victim is pending.
First it was a horrific hate crime on the Northside and now this. This is proving not to be a good week in north Brooklyn. It goes without saying I will be asking about this (among other things) at the next 94th Precinct Community Council meeting…
Miss Heather
From The New York Shitty Inbox: A Benefit For Barie
Filed under: 11211, 11222, Criminal Activity, Greenpoint, Greenpoint Brooklyn, Greenpoint Magic, Williamsburg, Williamsburg Brooklyn
A gentleman named Michael writes:
Hi Miss Heather –
I was hoping you could spread the word about a hate crime that happened a few weeks ago in Williamsburg. on the corner of N. 4th St. and Wythe. A friend of mine who lives in the area, Barie Shortell, was attacked and on the way home one evening. He was not robbed, but the people attacking him did mock him with anti-gay taunts before they attacked him…breaking his nose, jaw and eye socket. The attack has been deemed a hate crime.
Barie is doing much better but is not insured and will certainly still have a way to go in recovery…more surgeries are guaranteed.
- An account has been set up in his name for donations.
- Additionally, a Facebook page has been created.
- There will also be a benefit at the Blackout Bar in Greenpoint next Wednesday the 23rd to raise funds.
Any attention we can draw to this would be amazing. Barie could really use the support and people should know that this kind of shit is happening right here right now?
Duly posted. For what it is worth I heard about this disgusting act at last week’s Community Board meeting. It was described as being “pretty bad”. This is an understatement (he was in surgery for over nine hours to have his face reconstructed). Please be a good neighbor and help spread the word about what happened to Mr. Shortell. Those who are able, please tender a donation to help defray medical bills and/or attend the previously mentioned fundraiser at Blackout:
Gay Bash: A Benefit For Barie Shortell
Wednesday, March 23 2011 starting at 7:00 p.m.
Blackout Bar
916 Manhattan Avenue
Brooklyn, New York 11222
Cost of admission: $35.00 (includes three hour open bar)
Let’s show ’em that we north Brooklynites take care of our own!
Miss Heather
Found at the Intersection of Green Street & Manhattan Avenue: Nose Candy
Filed under: 11222, Criminal Activity, Greenpoint, Greenpoint Brooklyn, Greenpoint Magic
You know the neighborhood is getting downright tony when you find this much white stuff left in the baggie. Back in 2001 this bad boy would have been picked clean. Do these noobs think this shit simply grows on trees?!?
Miss Heather
From The New York Shitty Inbox, Part III: Calyer is Clogged
If my inbox is any indication this would appear to be the winter of Greenpoint’s discontent. I can only hope to keep up. Nonetheless, here’s my third (and not final installment from the New York Shitty inbox wailing wall. JBG writes (regarding the above photograph):
I live on the corner of Calyer and Franklin Streets in Greenpoint. While Calyer is not an arterial, and is also not a truck route, the truth is that it plays a very important role, as it’s the first turn off from Franklin St. that connects northbound vehicles with McGuinness Blvd. There is a stalled vehicle in the middle of Calyer St., just north of Dobbin St. No one has attended to this stuck vehicle. The plow came up Calyer St. but couldn’t get all the way through because of the vehicle. Clearly, they backed out of the street. The street from in front of the vehicle all the way up to Manhattan Ave. is also still unplowed.
I am watching vehicle after vehicle make a turn onto Calyer St., see that it is blocked, and then backing out onto the very busy and not adequately plowed Franklin St. because they realize they can’t get through Calyer St., and they also can’t turn right at Dobbin St., because that road is completely unplowed.
The one-way system in Greenpoint effectively is now shuttling everyone up Greenpoint Avenue. This, combined with the fact that Franklin St. isn’t adequately plowed, is causing traffic backups. It’s only a matter of time until there’s a terrible accident; I already watched an ambulance and a squad car back down Calyer last night because they couldn’t get through.
This street is also a critical passage way to the 94th Precinct and to the Post Office over on Meserole.
I tried calling 311 but they will not take the complaint (if you can even get through, which you can’t any more). The Mayor is on TV right now touting how many stalled cars have been removed (HAHAHA! — Ed. Note.), but yet somehow this one is being overlooked. Could you have someone look into this as soon as possible? I don’t understand how this hasn’t been attended to given the proximity of the 94th precinct, the presence of DOT this morning in the area, and repeated police cars backing down Calyer.
You can read what our City Councilman has to say per Brooklyn Heights Blog. Given that many of the snow plows that are used to clear streets hereabouts are located under the Pulaski Bridge at Clay Street*— and that I am a Greenpointer— I find the negligence here particularly inexcusable.
UPDATE, December 29, 2010: I am pleased to report this story has a happy ending! You can read it by clicking here.
Miss Heather
*A mere 15 feet away from our proposed 200 bed homeless intake center.
Christmas With Q
Filed under: 11211, 11222, Greenpoint, Greenpoint Brooklyn, Greenpoint Magic, Williamsburg, Williamsburg Brooklyn
(Or: Drinking On Duty)
Last night a good friend of mine— one who I do not see as often as I’d like to— came over for Christmas dinner. The reason I do not see her much is she is a bartender and as a result keeps “vampire hours”. Nonetheless my friend, who we will call “Q”, usually has a host of work stories to share when we do see each other. Some of them are very funny, some of them are not. Which brings me to the subject of this post: as we supped and were getting caught up the subject of the 94th Precinct arose. I found what she had to recount downright disturbing.
Q recounted to me numerous occasions when those who ostensibly protect and serve us would drop by her place of employment seeking something to drink. In uniform. On duty. When one such public servant requested a margarita Q felt compelled to point the beverage in question had alcohol in it. To wit he replied:
A margarita has alcohol in it?
The last time I checked they do. Or should. In any case I can personally attest that my buddy Q makes ’em strong!
Another time Q overheard one officer say to another:
What if (excised— supervisor) smells this on my breath?
Inasmuch as I understand it this issue was quickly resolved and they proceeded to imbibe. As you can imagine my friend does not feel very comfortable being asked by officers on duty to serve them alcoholic beverages. Can you blame her? After all, we are talking about a group of men and women who have to think on their feet and let us not forget: bear firearms. But as the evening wound down I came away with the distinct impression drinking on duty is a fairly common practice.
Why don’t they go to the Turkey’s Nest? Everyone knows they’ll give you drinks to go. That’s where the police go.
Q mused. This is a very good question. Perhaps someone should posit it to our new Commanding Officer?
Miss Heather
From The New York Shitty Inbox, Part II: A Dispatch From Engert Avenue
Filed under: 11222, Criminal Activity, Greenpoint, Greenpoint Brooklyn, Greenpoint Magic
E writes (in regards to this post):
Miss Heather,
I have no idea if this is coincidence or not but last night around 4am we had a break in at our building 76 Engert Ave, a group of young Hispanic teens buzzed their way into our building and took over our lobby (no doorman or anything) and ran down to our storage units and stole a bike and large box of containing personal items to one of the tenants here. I recovered the box but the bike is gone. Called the cops, they came and I went with them to indentify the kids since I only saw their backs as they were running and they were teenage Hispanic kids, the cop kept asking them what they were doing all the way over here and I heard one of them say they were at a party…..
If there is a lesson to be learned here it is: if you live in a building such as this do NOT blindly buzz people in.Have your guests call when they arrive and then buzz them in— or better yet: meet them in the lobby and let them in personally. While this may seen like an inconvenience, the fact is it will help prevent opportunistic crimes such this. What’s more, this is not just about property. It is about protecting the personal safety of your friends and neighbors. Be a good neighbor: keep a watchful eye on who gains access to your building.
Miss Heather
New York Shitty Day Starter: A Simple Assault
Filed under: 11222, Criminal Activity, Greenpoint, Greenpoint Brooklyn, Greenpoint Magic
Remember the melee in front of Club Exit I made mention of last November?
If not, no worries. This should bring you up to speed:
This was first brought to my attention by someone whose son is a friend of a someone involved, e.g.; via the Greenpoint grapevine. By that I mean the friend (of the son of my tipster) in question was allegedly beaten up by the police and went to the hospital. Per my tipster the fight started over a woman being harassed. Her son’s friend tried to intervene and police officers were knocking cameras out of the hands of bystanders. And busting heads.
This was brought to the attention of D. I. Fulton at the 94th Precinct Community Council Meeting on November 21. A Greenpoint citizen called it a brawl.
Mr. Fulton begged to differ.
It took awhile but a video documenting this incident has finally surfaced. Here it is.
And here is a description of what you have just seen per my tipster:
This video isn’t clear, but I’m familiar with some of the voices, since they are friends of my son. The video starts with my son’s friend K—- laying on the ground, handcuffed & unconscious. His friend A——, who is handcuffed, is yelling in the background to tell the police that his friend isn’t moving and in need of an ambulance. One of their friends D—– begins to video the scene. An officer pushes D—– with the video phone but the girl quickly regains control of the video phone and keeps running the video. Another girl M——, is screaming in the background and trying to get to K—- to see if he’s ok. (K—- is the kid that had his teeth knocked out by guys at Club Exit who were bothering one of the girls.) As you can see, the officers grab the unconscious K—- by the arms and drag him to a police car, not an ambulance. You can hear his friends calling out to the officers about getting an ambulance… None of the white Club Exit patrons were arrested, even though one of them knocked out K—–‘s teeth.
Kind of makes you happy Club Exit’s (ostensible) swan song was last night, yes?
Miss Heather
UPDATE: February 17, 2010; Here’s another video.
NYS Flickr Pool
You must be logged in to post a comment.