Now At McCarren Park: The Punk Rock Drunk Bench

Per this group’s apparent leader, a nice (if inebriated) chap named Russell (with whom I had a most fascinating conversation after his crew decided to get some shut-eye after breaking into a rollicking cover of Parliament’s Give Up The Funk*), that is what this particular piece of public furniture is called. Why, you ask? I suspect the reason is apparent, however, it should be noted that Russell added that no drugs are allowed. So there have you.

P.S.: Russell also inquired of yours truly (after asking if I would let him take a shower at my apartment in exchange for house-cleaning services):

You look familiar. Did you squat a few years ago?

I do not make this stuff up, folks.

*Which is, curiously enough, not punk rock music.

From The New York Shitty Inbox: A Plea From The McCarren Dog Run

The headmistress of the McCarren Park Dog Run, Christine, writes:

Good afternoon Heather,

I can’t tell what a soul crushing pain in ass this project has been … This week we got the news that we need another $4k for it.   After months of asking our contractor to include every cost into their budget and such, we found out the they didn’t include excavating the dog run of nearly a foot of chips and such from the whole dog run before they could start.    It is gonna cost another $4k … not being one to give up BUT feeling pretty defeated and actually having some very dark thoughts … I reached out to the dog run community … Can you help spread the word?  …We are in a challenge grant period right now raise a $1k get $1k from Must Luv Dogs.  We have got 36 hours to do it.   Must Luv Dogs is the latest of supportive pet stores to help.  Others who have helped are PS9 and NYC Pets.  These 3 stores have shown a level of generosity that is amazing.

Here’s the deal (once again), folks: this project, which has all the necessary permits in place, can either break ground this month or be postponed due to a lack of funds. As Christine has made clear, a few local businesses have stepped up to the plate to help make this (much overdue) project happen. One such establishment is Must Love Dogs and to this end they are offering a matching grant of $1,000.

The deadline is midnight, October 2nd— that’s tomorrow, so time is of the essence! You can tender your donation(s) via the McCarren Dog Run’s ChipIn widget on their web site or via PayPal at:

brooklynassociationfordogs@gmail.com

Let’s make this happen, Greenburg dog lovers!

Photo Credits: billy l.

 

 

Greenburg Photo du Jour: Legs

From McCarren Park.

From The New York Shitty Photo Pool: Lorimer Street

Taken by Miss Mousey Brown.

From The New York Shitty Photo Pool, Part III: Mercedes Benz

This item hails from McCarren Park and comes courtesy of Miss Mousey Brown.

Greenburg Photo du Jour: A McCarren Park PSA

Taken September 18, 2011.

New York Shitty Day Starter: Found At The McCarren Dog Run

A good Samaritan named Christina writes:

Hi Miss Heather,

I am a Williamsburg resident and a dog owner of a while whopping year. I was at the dog park (McCarren dog run) on 9/13 and found an abandoned dog there. Poor thing had been tied up to a fence with no tags, no micro chip, etc.

Just look at this guy!!! He’s adorable. I took him home because I couldn’t just leave him there, you know? I took him to our vet and he’s around 8 years old, needs a dental cleaning, and is unfixed, but he’s probably one of the chillest dogs I’ve ever met. For real, all he does all day is sleep and sit in your lap.

He’s 9 lbs. Pretty tiny. So I’m asking if you’d post about him on your blog. He didn’t do anything wrong to deserve being abandoned, and the ASPCA said they would come pick him up, but that if he couldn’t find a home, he’d be euthanized. 

He’s really sweet and deserves the best. He enjoys kibble, long walks, napping, and water…. (the dog on the left is MY dog and is not up for adoption)!

Anyone interested in giving this cutie the care and forever home he deserves should contact Christina via email at: stina93446 (at) mac (dot) com

Thanks— and please spread the word!

 

THIS WEEKEND: McCarren Park Clean-up

This item comes courtesy of the folks of HUH: Hipsters Uniting Hipsters. The premise is easy enough: starting at 11:00 a.m. this upcoming Sunday they will be hosting a clean-up of McCarren Park (to which they refer to as being “The World’s Largest Toilet”). Yours truly thinks this might be a bit of a stretch— but let’s face facts: it is in dire need of some TLC. Check it out!

Clean Up Together in I DON’T mcCAREen Park
September 11, 2011 starting at 11:00 a.m.
McCarren Park
Brooklyn, New York 11222

Those of you desiring more information can/should contact the folks at HUH via email at: huhbrooklyn (at) gmail (dot) com

New York Shitty Video du Jour: Live From McCarren Park

It would appear that the Vagina Tree’s parting gift, a felled lamppost, has been re-purposed as a skateboard ramp.

New York Shitty Day Ender: Sweet Dreams

Manhattan Avenue: September 1, 2011

Jerzy Popieluszko Square: September 1, 2011

From the University of Texas’s web site:

The Ending Community Homelessness Coalition (ECHO) has released a report entitled “Solutions for Homeless Chronic Alcoholics in Austin”. According to the report, 35-40% of the U.S. homeless population struggles with alcoholism as compared to just 5% of the housed population. The report estimated that out of the 3,451 homeless people in Austin, 1,208 homeless people had some form of alcohol problem and 875 suffered from chronic substance abuse.

At times, the addiction to alcohol is so great that when faced with the choice between sobering up for a shelter or staying on the streets, many alcoholics stay on the streets. Some are so addicted that they are willing to drink harmful substances like mouthwash to supplement their bodies’ need for alcohol. The report also states that 150 homeless people died due to alcohol-related deaths on the streets of Austin last year. Individuals with the most severe forms of alcoholism are the most in danger of dying on the streets and are the most frequent users of resources (i.e. hospitals, police, court systems). Severe alcoholics have a need to drink all day, which causes them to be unable to properly seek food, shelter, or aid.

One of the more surprising findings in the report was that shelters that allow alcohol (aka wet shelters) saved both money and lives. Wet shelters are a part of the “harm reduction” strategy, which aims to meet substance abusers “where they are at” as opposed to immediately imposing sobriety. Although the long-term goal of the strategy is to stop substance abuse, the immediate goal is to improve overall wellness. The ECHO study looked at other cities that have used “harm reduction” methods. One of the programs is based in Ottawa, and the results from a study in the Canadian Medical Association Journal indicate clear benefits for the individuals involved in the program:

  • the average daily consumption of alcoholic drinks dropped from 46 to 8;
  • most participants indicated they had improved qualities of sleep, personal hygiene, nutrition and health;
  • employees reported that 88% of participants complied with their prescription medication requirements;
  • problems with the police decreased by 51%; and,
  • trips to the emergency department decreased by 36%.

Seattle also implemented a “harm reduction” strategy by creating a program where seventy-five rooms were offered to “individuals placing the greatest financial strain on city resources” as part of their “harm reduction strategy.” The program has been successful in not only reducing alcohol consumption, but has also saved $1.8 million in emergency room visits alone.

To read more about the study’s findings, you can read the ECHO report here or the article in the Austin-American Statesman here.

If this can be implemented in the Lone Star State, why not here?

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