Greenpoint
Lorven Pharmacy
Culture on the Cheap
Quicklink, Part II: Stop, Frisk & Penalize
(Or: Beauty, Revisited)
Some of you might recall this photo of her which I shared just shy of two months ago. About Beauty, Chris Arnade, wrote:
Beauty, 21, was born and raised in Oklahoma, and was brought to New York City by a pimp who promised her she could “make some mad money.” She has since had nine pimps: “I have been through nine niggas. Got my first black eye from one, another punched me in mouth, but this guy is good to me.”
Her mother was an addict. “She started using crack. That’s when it all started, the walls started coming in on me. Now she is incarcerated. I can’t blame my mom–she’s my mom. I smoke weed, but not crack. I don’t like that peppermint burning smell.”
“I want to get out of this stuff, but I am scared. I guess I could stop at any time. Some of the guys tell me I could be a model. Money wise it’s good, but otherwise, fuck Hunts Point. Maybe I can become an RN, or go into childcare.”
When I asked her how she wanted to be described she said, “I’m a good person. I don’t like to see anyone down. I like to make people happy.”
Today Chris emailed me an update about Beauty. The subject line of his email was as follows:
Not sure if you ever do links
On occasion, I do. Given his tome pertains to “stop and frisk” (which is exercised quite liberally in the 90th Precinct)— one of the most odious assaults on our civil rights and an enabler for racial profiling— I will. Follows is an excerpt from his tome:
I was talking to Beauty as she sat on the concrete wall outside of Lafayette Park, across from the methadone clinic in Hunts Point. She is an addict and sex worker. Two officers approached and asked me to stand aside so they could question Beauty. What was her name? Where was she from? What was in her cup? “Soda” (they smelled, yes soda). Did she have any outstanding warrants? Let me see your bag? Why are your shoes off? “I am hot and relaxing.” A few minutes later she is charged with disorderly conduct. Her conduct then was about as disorderly as mine, but her past conduct far more. This is a common occurrence for the addicts, homeless and sex workers in Hunts Point. It is more than stop and frisk: It’s stop, frisk, and penalize.
These nuisance tickets, such as disorderly conduct, come with a future court date, that if missed, turns into an outstanding warrant. With little legal help and a very long rap sheet, few addicts will fight them.
How is this helpful to either the community or the addict…
Excellent question, Mr. Arnade.
Quicklink, Part I: Gothamist Takes On The Times
Filed under: 11222, Abjectecture, Greenpoint, Greenpoint Brooklyn, Greenpoint Magic, Stuff That Makes Miss Heather Happy
The patchouli oil of Gen Y gentrification is scenting the air. A two-bedroom three-bath garden duplex on Russell Street recently sold for $772,000.
Is this because people who spent $700K on a duplex can’t afford to wash themselves with soap? You know, like people who use patchouli? And can we borrow some of it? (Not patchouli, money.)
Thank you, Christopher Robbins.
Parting shot from yours truly:
David J. Maundrell III, the president of aptsandlofts.com, the marketing agent for the 149 Huron Street Loft Condos (where perks include Brazilian teak finishes and a Zen garden), gazed approvingly at 200 Franklin Street, a two-story storefront that camouflages a set-back 12-story apartment tower jutting into the air like a solitary exclamation point. “This is what’s coming to Greenpoint,” he said. “This is the future.”
Well, the “future” not only merited its own poster (as seen above) but it won Curbed’s “Greenpoint Ugly-Off” by a rather handsome margin.
P.S.: You can view the Times tome by clicking here. Those of you who are feeling impish might want to point out that the “new” five story building on Freeman Street (158 Freeman Street, to be precise) of which Mr./Ms. Finn writes is not exactly new…
and its ethically-challenged creator, none other than Robert Scarano himself, can no longer file plans with the Department of Buildings due to the creative license he took there. But who cares about ethics when there’s money— $3,500 a month for a one bedroom apartment— to be made! Nonetheless, it might behoove Mr./Ms. Finn to read/reference her own employer’s site.
She might learn something— I certainly did!
From The New York Shitty Inbox, Part II: On The Boardwalk
A fellow named Christopher (who took the above photograph today at 6:00 p.m.) writes:
From following your blog I thought you would “enjoy” this. I wonder how the people who paid 1/2 million plus for their condos on the new Williamsburg waterfront feel about their backyard on the weekends now.
Excellent question. I wonder if rats have been spotted yet? No worries, I am certain they will be soon enough…
The Word On The Street, Part II: Do Something
Filed under: 11101, Long Island City, Long Island City Queens, The Word On The Street
From 31st Street.
NYS Flickr Pool
You must be logged in to post a comment.