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Williamsburg Photo Du Jour: And Now A Word From 373 Graham Avenue
Filed under: 11211, Crazy People, Criminal Activity, Williamsburg, Williamsburg Brooklyn
To Complain
94 Percint 1 718-Fuck-U
In NYC.
Or mind your own business.— Taken July 7, 2012.
From The New York Shitty Inbox: A Neighbor Of 373 Graham Avenue Speaks
A person we’ll call “K” writes:
Hi Heather,
I wrote you a couple of months ago about scumbag Joe at 373 Graham Ave. I was wondering if you know how I would get in touch with the person who runs the 373 Scam Ave Tumblr. My wife and I live basically across the street from that asshole and would like to start giving regular updates to whoever runs that blog (happy to send them to you if you’d rather, but since you cover a lot more than just that guy’s house I thought it more appropriate for that blog).
For instance, there’s been a woman showing up with a dog occasionally to scream at him in the street early in the morning, I walked by the other day and heard him say “if I hit you, you’ll know it” to someone inside the house (maybe the same woman?), and on Sunday night he was playing loud-ass classic rock radio all through the night (I was regrettably too tired to get up and call in a noise complaint and just silently cursed him from my bed).
Bottom line is that man is making this whole neighborhood miserable, and my wife and I would like to contribute anything we can to the cause of exposing his despicable behavior.
Feel free to forward my email on to the author of that blog, or let me know if you’d like us to just keep sending you updates.
To answer your questions, K (not in any particular order):
- Reader contributions are always welcome, so if you have anything to share by all means kick ’em over!
- I do not know the person who operates 373 Scam Ave, however his/her email address is as follows: 373scam@gmx.com
- As for what you and yours have been experiencing: you are not alone!
I know a great many people who are tired of the rowdy and occasionally downright scary activities at this establishment. However, none seem to have taken this up with the proper authorities. This needs to change. Here’s what you need to do:
- The next time the merrymaking at 373 Graham Avenue keeps you up all night call 311 and complain!
- Record the complaint number and…
- Send a general outline of your complaint and complaint number to our local Community Board: bk01@cb.nyc.gov
- Here’s why: although the Community Board is provided data about 311 complaints no specifics are given. Thus they will have no idea if 1 or 50 complaints have been lodged about noise/disorderly activity at 373 Graham Avenue unless you keep them in the loop!
- Go to “the meetings”: the 94th Precinct Community Council* and Public Safety Committee (of Community Board 1, which handles criminal matters and inexplicably sidewalk cafe permits— hey, I didn’t make the rules!) respectively.
- Unfortunately, neither the 94th Precinct nor Community Board 1 conduct meetings in July or August. HOWEVER…
- The Public Safety Committee’s last meeting before summer break is next week!
Public Safety Committee Meeting, Community Board 1
June 27, 2012 starting at 6:30 p.m. (NOTE: you must sign up to speak)
435 Graham Avenue
Brooklyn, New York 11211
In closing, I would like to note that representatives of both the 94th and 90th Precincts attend Public Safety Committee meetings so they are an excellent way to take up any matters/concerns with the police directly. Be there!
*Here’s the calendar for the 94th Precinct Community Council meetings for the remainder of the year for those who may be curious.
New York Shitty Day Starter: 373 Graham Avenue, Revisited
As is often the case the story behind a photograph is often as compelling— if not more so— than the image itself. This was certainly the case yesterday after I took this one. “Joe”, as he is known both in the neighborhood and online— saw fit to come out the front door and shout at me. He wanted me to stop taking photos of his establishment.
Given this very same fellow wanted to make my acquaintance not too long ago while playing “air guitar” with a mop to Van Halen (“Dance the Night Away”, I would have preferred “Unchained”) I was a mite bit surprised— but unshaken.
I informed “Joe” that I was perfectly within my rights to take photos of his establishment. Believe it or not, this reasonable (and legally nuanced) response seemed to make an impression on him. This is the only reason I can muster as to why it took him a few seconds to shout another inquiry at me:
What are you going to do with these photos?
Post them online
I replied and walked off. I was once told by a very wise man named Tim* that all a man (or woman) has is his (or her) word. And that I have just kept.
A few closing thoughts:
- The assorted detritus on the sidewalk (including a chair with a half-smoked cigar on it) falls under the jurisdiction of the Department of Consumer Affairs and possibly the Department of Transportation (as it involves obstructing our city’s sidewalks).
- The material obstructing the entrance to the apartments upstairs is blocking the primary means of egress. This is a violation of fire code provided (what I have heard is true) that someone is residing in any/all of the apartments upstairs. Which brings me to…
- This building, per the Department of Buildings Building Information System, does not have a Certificate of Occupancy, thus (theoretically**) no one should be residing here in the first place.
Nuance your 311 complaints accordingly, folks.
*There are many wise men named Tim.
**Note that I wrote “theoretically”.
New York Shitty Day Ender: 373 Graham Avenue, Revisited
If any of you, gentle readers, have ever wondered (as I often have) what— if any— rules, etiquette if you will, are in effect at our fair city’s detention centers— but never wanted to find out firsthand: I have excellent news!
If any of you, gentle readers, have wondered (as I often have) what rules, etiquette if you will, are in place in our fair city’s detention centers but do not want find out firsthand I have excellent news! Graham Avenue’s good friend “Joe” has seen fit to share literature from one of his excursions through our legal system. Without further ado, here are a few selections. Enjoy!
As always, you can peruse all the previous in larger format by clicking here.
In closing, I would like to share what predicated my visit to 373 Graham Avenue (AKA: “Spooky Hollow”). A fellow we’ll call “C” writes on May 28, 2012 in an email entitled “End of an Era”:
Spooky Hollow has collapsed into itself like a dying star. Sorry for the poor photo, but Joe seems to be telling the world that the building has been “sold”…
Or, maybe “sold the building” is a euphemism for “locked up in Rikers”?
Only time will tell, I suppose.* However, the bigger question on my mind is exactly WHO is maintaining the bat-shit crazy menagerie of crap in front of his non-property in the meantime. Anyone?
Image Credits: New York City Department of Corrections screencap comes courtesy of 373 Scam Ave.
*Although it should be noted another missive on the front door 373 Graham Avenue indicates all matters be taken up with N.C. Pepe Real Estate. Anyone care to make the call?
From The New York Shitty Inbox, Part III: What’s Up At 373 Graham Avenue?
Filed under: 11211, Criminal Activity, East Williamsburg, East Williamsburg Brooklyn, Williamsburg, Williamsburg Brooklyn
Many of the people reading this site are familiar with the phenomenon that is 373 Graham Avenue. For those of you who are not in the know you can get up to speed by clicking here, here and here. Suffice it to say something very, VERY strange is going on there.
A sign has been posted by the ostensible owner of this establishment extolling upon the pleasurable experience that is “central booking”. And if what I have received this correspondence evening is any indication, the author of this tome has gained firsthand experience of just this. Tonight. An anonymous tipster writes:
Hey — you know that weirdo who has that weird storefront with all the weird posters and garbage on the street on Graham Avenue and Skillman? This guy?
The cops just arrested him a few minutes ago. The showed up outside his place around 6:50 and were talking calmly to him for about 20 minutes. Then they handcuffed him and continued talking, until he got quietly in the back of their car. Couldn’t really make out anything they were saying, but as a couple who lives nearby, we were pretty stoked to see this. That guy is a creep.
Per the head of the 94th Precinct, D.I. Hurson, the author of this tome was arrested for menacing someone with a knife. Can I honestly say I am surprised by this? No, not really. This situation has been building critical mass for some time. Yikes!
New York Shitty Photo du Jour: Graham Avenue
Filed under: 11211, East Williamsburg, East Williamsburg Brooklyn, Williamsburg, Williamsburg Brooklyn
Taken January 15, 2012.
From The New York Shitty Inbox: Found On Skillman Avenue
Filed under: 11211, East Williamsburg, East Williamsburg Brooklyn, Street Justice, The Natives Are Getting Restless, Williamsburg, Williamsburg Brooklyn
Many of you reading this tome are aware of the phenomenon that is 373 Graham Avenue (as seen above). I have featured it on this site on a number of occasions. What you might not know is the man behind this endeavor is named Joe…
and someone would very much like to have a word with him.
NYS Flickr Pool
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