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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.
Urban Fur: Shy
This little one (with some amazing markings and gorgeous green eyes) wasn’t interested in coming out for a nice head scratch but he (she?) was too damned cute not to post here. Closing on some cat-related news I am pleased to report that Spiff is safely back home with her people! Stephanie writes:
Heather,
We found her! Two guys on Dupont and McGuinness had her – they saw the sign at Pets on the Run and called Sean around 9:30 tonight. THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU again!
YAY!
Miss Heather
Spotted On Manhattan Avenue: I Want You
Chris of T & N Wine shows ’em how to market vodka in Brooklyn.
Or at least in Greenpoint, anyway. Ginger and apple infused vodka; stoop stories?!? Fuck that candy-ass crap. This is the real deal!
My advice to Mr. Lee and his “collaborators”: leave such matters to the professionals.
Miss Heather
From The New York Shitty Photo Pool: Stroller Brigade
This scene of gentrification marching bravely forward on Manhattan Avenue was captured by Single Linds Reflex.
Miss Heather
Something Neat!
Filed under: 11211, 11222, BAD ASS, Crazy Cat Lady, Greenpoint, Greenpoint Brooklyn, Greenpoint Magic, Williamsburg, Williamsburg Brooklyn
(Or: Miss Heather Gets A Present)
Last night I swung by Dan Witz’s book signing at Spoonbill & Sugartown and at long last got to meet a Flickr “friend” of mine in person: an incredibly talented chap named Drew.
And he came bearing gifts! For those of you who are wondering, the furkid depicted in these lovely paintings is none other than Jerzy! I showed them to him.
He did not seem terribly impressed.
Then again I was reminded this morning that Jerzy has, how shall we say, a rather discerning palate.
I can’t honestly say wadded up tissues, hair and used Q-Tips are my cup of tea— but to each their own. Here’s a slide show of Drew’s other work: a series of “Pickle Houses”. Enjoy!
Thanks again, Drew. The Mister and I love your thoughtful gift— even if it’s “subject” doesn’t!
Miss Heather
From The New York Shitty Inbox, Part II: Homelessness At McCarren Park
Filed under: 11211, 11222, Greenpoint, Greenpoint Brooklyn, Greenpoint Magic, Williamsburg, Williamsburg Brooklyn
This item comes from a person we’ll call “L”. He/she writes:
I live across from the Vincent V. Abate Playground part of McCarren Park, otherwise known as “tent city” for all the homeless people that sleep/pass out in the playground area. Actually saw 1 guy passed out on the kiddie bridge and another pissing down the slide….awesome! Well, I decided to call some type of williamsburg/greenpoint public official so I found the email address to Assemblyman Lentol’s office (the guy who swam the canal for google internet) and voiced my utter disgust of the upkeep of McCarren Park. I emailed them a bunch of links of sites (your included) that showed how bad it really is and they got back to me with this….
“I’ve been told that the Parks Department has added 3 more workers to McCarren Park this week. Two more workers have been added for the summer to work weekend/late nights to supplement the efforts of the Parks Department. An interagency task force has been organized to address the homeless issue. A Parks Enforcement Patrol Officer is going to be hired for the district as well.”
Now I have no idea if the Parks Dept. is just blowing smoke or what but I’m hopeful..
This brings up a something I have been noticing a lot of late: a very visible increase of homelessness in our parks— and north Brooklyn in general. I have observed encampments at McCarren Park, Transmitter Park, India Street and the American Playground to name a few. I am not the only one either: I learned this when I spoke with a Department of Sanitation employee yesterday afternoon.
After I pointed out to him that someone has been living in the above car for at least two months (he said three) and he pointed out a new homeless encampment under a parked tractor trailer I asked him the $64,000 question:
Is it just me or is there a much more visible— and sizable— homeless population here than in recent years?
His answer was “yes” and he went on to tell me:
1. about how he and his partner accidentally crushed two homeless people to death when they tossed what they thought was a pile of rubbish into the back of his truck. He was truly horrified and traumatized by this.
2. he and his colleagues have been complaining to the city only to have these people taken into observation and later return.
I guess what I am trying to get around to is this: more workers at McCarren might improve the deplorable conditions at this park— but it is not going to address the homeless problem. While “an interagency” task force sounds promising, what strategy do they have to address what has to be (in my opinion) the largest homeless population I have seen here since 2002? I’m talking about addressing the core roots of homelessness, e.g.; unemployment, mental illness and substance abuse to name a few— not merely kicking the can by forcing them to move elsewhere (which seems to be what is going on now). Thoughts/observations anyone?
Miss Heather
UPDATE, July 1, 2010; It would appear L has received a call from New York’s Finest!
Hey missheather. so I just got a phone call from the 94th precinct about a complaint that I made to 311 about the homeless problem in McCarren Park and the officer sounding a little annoyed told me this “well, if they’re asleep in the grass at McCarren Park then I don’t see anything wrong with that, it’s not illegal to be homeless” and I said of course its not illegal but you have to know of the growing homeless problem in the neighborhood, especially in McCarren Park? His answer “I am not aware of this”…..WTF!!! After I told him about the issue of them camping out in the play ground and pissing on the slides and what not then he was more understanding saying “oh, well in the playground that’s a different story, we’ll send someone over there now”. As if their going to still be in the same spots as the morning…..I don’t know about you but I get the feeling that the police are either out of touch or just don’t feel like dealing with it.
From The New York Shitty Inbox, Part I: Raccoon Injured On Manhattan Avenue?
This item comes from a lady named Sophia, she writes:
Hi!
So, I’m not sure if you have any information about this, but since it’s the sort of subject matter you usually cover, I thought I’d ask. Last night at around 9:00, a baby raccoon fell onto the sidewalk on Manhattan Avenue between Green and Freeman (right in front of the Mark Bar) from where its mother had made a den in the roof of the building. It survived, but was pretty badly injured, and lay there helplessly. A crowd gathered, and three or so people (sympathetic Mark Bar patrons?) were diligently tending to the little guy while attempting to contact the appropriate City authority on their cell phones. I didn’t stick around to see how the situation resolved. Were you aware that this happened? And if so, do you have an update?
To answer Sophie’s questions, no I did not know about this— but I would love to hear an update from someone in the know. If anyone has the low down on what happened pleased tender them via comments or email at: missheather (at) thatgreenpointblog (dot) com.
Thanks!
Miss Heather
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