Greenpoint
Lorven Pharmacy
Culture on the Cheap
From The New York Shitty Inbox: A Very Special Problem
L writes:
Dear Miss Heather,
I’m writing you, the current authority of Greenpoint, for some advice,
How do you politely and safely remove a polish homeless man from your stoop? As of late, one has been currently making my sunny stoop his favorite napping place. It makes getting inside my apartment difficult, not to mention embarrassing. 311 has been of no help. Does WR Hardware sell a homeless repellent spray or some sort of scarecrow?
L brings up a very good point: while we are advised to call 311 by our elected officials and police department it seldom does any good. That having been written, here’s a few ideas I have for L off the top of my head:
- Call the 94th Precinct directly (WARNING: you might get relegated to their automated system. Not fun.)
- Go to the next Community Council Meeting (you can view calendar here) and talk to D. I. Hurson directly. (Probably your best option.)
- Take up the matter with your elected officials. Given that homeless outreach seems to be of special interest to him I would suggest reaching out to City Councilman, Steve Levin.
Does anyone have more advice for L? If so, please share via comments.
Miss Heather
New York Shitty Day Ender: Live From The 94th Community Council Meeting
Filed under: 11211, 11222, Criminal Activity, Greenpoint, Greenpoint Brooklyn, Greenpoint Magic, Williamsburg, Williamsburg Brooklyn
That’s right folks: another month, another Community Council Meeting. Naturally I shot footage and am in the process of uploading it. How long this will take is anyone’s guess. In the meantime here are a few teasers/spoilers:
- The recent hate crime was brought up by a member of our local Community Board, Tom Burrows.
- Phyllis (a neighborhood and Community Council institution) was in particularly interesting form this evening.
- As is often the case, bicyclists and bikes were discussed. Those of you who are tired of seeing old, rusted out bike carcasses attached to street signs, fences, etc., do not despair: Hurson tells us how to get them removed!
They’re uploading. Albeit NOT in order.
Samuel Pierre From Mayor Bloomberg’s Office Speaks
D. I. Hurson gives a run-down of crime stats and opens the forum for questions.
GOOD NEWS
- Crime is down by 22% for the month.
- Crime is down for the year (?) by 14%
- Burglaries, stolen cars (down 12%) and grand larceny (especially material stolen from cars— Hurson’s own wife made a “collar” on Calyer!) are down.
BAD NEWS
- The matter of the hate crime which came to pass February 22, 2011. No arrests have been made.
- A shooting on Jackson Street (NOT AVENUE near the “Cooper Projects”) Hurson then goes on to assure us that despite reports in the press, the staff at the 94th is at its usual level and opens the forum for questions. Community Board 1’s very own Tom Burrow’s kicks it off.
Q & A Session Continued: the matter of the Greenpoint Hotel is brought forth. Among other things.
Q & A Session Continued: The Subject of Graffiti Arises
Lincoln Restler Speaks About What Happened To Barie Shortell & Suggests A Group Be Created to Better Address North Brooklyn’s Growing GBLT Community
Ending: An(other) Announcement about the Town Hall Meeting regarding the latest proposal for a 200 bed assessment center at 400 McGuinness Boulevard.
UPDATE, March 23, 2011: After numerous attempts it would appear that my footage of some really nice folks from the Greenpoint Youth Court is unusable. This is a shame since this is a really neat endeavor. For this reason I encourage you to check out their flier by clicking here. NOTE: they are recruiting and participants (between the ages of 14 and 18) receive a $100 stipend per month!
Miss Heather
From The New York Shitty Inbox, Part II: Trouble At The Dzien Dobry Drinking Forest?
Filed under: 11211, 11222, Criminal Activity, Greenpoint, Greenpoint Brooklyn, Greenpoint Magic, Williamsburg, Williamsburg Brooklyn
The tipster who forwarded me the above photographs gives a first-hand account of what went down:
Midweek mayhem cut into McCarren Park’s Dzien Dobry Drinking Forest’s happy hour. NYPD and NYFD EMTs responded to an incident involving the co- treasurers of the Dzien Dobry Drinking League (DDDL), which resulted in a bloody nose and an escort out of the park of several of the group’s core members. The meeting resumed immediately after emergency response left the scene. This brief interruption in the group’s daily 20 hour al fresco brainstorming sessions will not be recorded in the minutes of their monthly report.
Miss Heather
From The New York Shitty Inbox: Early Morning Antics On India?
Filed under: 11222, Criminal Activity, Greenpoint, Greenpoint Brooklyn, Greenpoint Magic
This item comes from a woman we’ll call S. She writes:
Hey Miss Heather,
Early this a.m. (2:30?) my husband and I were awakened to commotion and yelling outside our house, which is mid block India St.between Franklin & Manhattan. My husband looked out and saw cops restraining a young man on the asphalt between 2 parked cars. A total of three police cars were converged on the scene, 2 having come down India St. the wrong way. The young man was strenuously restrained and loaded into a police car. After which police officers searched the gutters and snow mounds with flashlights. The police left about 3:30. This scene was a lot like the gunfire incident on our block last year. And it seems like gunplay is getting to be a recurring theme here in the point. Have you heard anything about this incident? Your blog was the first place I looked for information. Yes you’re that much of a neighborhood resource!! For which I say thanks.
First off, thanks for the nice words S. They are appreciated! Secondly, I have not heard anything about this incident. I have spent most of today enjoying the beautiful weather! If anyone reading this has the skinny on what went down please share via comments or via email at missheather (at) thatgreenpointblog (dot) com. Your identity will remain anonymous if you so desire. Thanks!
Miss Heather
New York Shitty Photos Du Jour: Whoopsy Daisy!
Filed under: Area 51
Taken January 27, 2011.
Miss Heather
Notes From The 94th Precinct Community Council Meeting
Filed under: 11211, 11222, Criminal Activity, Greenpoint, Greenpoint Brooklyn, Greenpoint Magic, Williamsburg, Williamsburg Brooklyn
Last night’s meeting was the most subdued— and brief— yours truly has ever beheld. Not even Phyllis had a word to say. This is a shame as I always enjoy hearing her take on what’s going on in our community. However, there were items of interest. To new a few:
- D.I. Hudson did not have much to say about the Monitor Street shooting (as it is under investigation) but he did state that the victim (who is not expected to live) was acquainted with the shooter in some capacity. In other words: this was not a random incident.
- The 94th Precinct has been allotted ten new officers.
- Some interesting facts about truck traffic arose.
- Steve Levin talks about the “three-quarter house” at the former Greenpoint Hotel and notes that the next Community Town Hall regarding the proposed homeless intake center at 400 McGuinness Boulevard is tentatively scheduled to take place the first week in February. It is his hope to have a representatives of HELP USA and the Department of Homeless Services present— so mark your calendars!
- A number of attendees present were under the impression the former Greenpoint Hospital complex was no longer being employed as shelter space for homeless people. I personally dispelled them of this erroneous notion, as you will see/hear.
Without further ado here is the footage. Do take a moment to watch it— especially the segments when Mr. Levin speaks (the third and fourth videos).
NOTE: next month’s meeting of the Community Council will come to pass February 21st at 7:30 p.m.* It will be conducted in the basement of the Peter J. McGuinness Seniors Center (715 Leonard Street).
UPDATE, January 19, 2011: I have received word that the victim of the shooting at 211 Monitor Street has died. My sincerest condolences go out to his family and loved ones.
Miss Heather
*Right, Tom?
Monday: 94th Precinct Community Council Meeting
Filed under: 11222, Criminal Activity, Greenpoint, Greenpoint Brooklyn, Greenpoint Magic
Give how much interest my post about yesterday’s “gun play” on Monitor Street has elicited, I feel compelled to make everyone aware that this month’s 94th Precinct Community Council meeting is this upcoming Monday, January 17th at 7:00 p.m. NOTE: since this is Martin Luther King Day (and therefore a bank holiday) it will be conducted at the Peter J. McGuinness Senior’s Center.
94th Precinct Community Council Meeting
January 17, 2011 starting at 7:00 p.m.
Peter J. McGuinness Senior’s Center
715 Leonard Street
Brooklyn, New York 11222
Miss Heather
LAST GASP: Shots Fired On Monitor Street?
Filed under: 11222, Criminal Activity, Greenpoint, Greenpoint Brooklyn, Greenpoint Magic
Jay writes at 10:45 p.m.:
Just heard two shots fired across the street from my apartment on monitor. Neighbors spilled on to street a few seconds after. Took less than two minutes for NYPD to appear and set up yellow tape. Something bad happened but don’t know what.
Katie writes at 11:27 p.m.:
Hi Miss Heather,
Don’t know if you have seen the police choppers circling the neighborhood tonight, but if you see this you might want to spread the word to be extra safe in Greenpoint tonight/this weekend — someone was just killed on the street on Monitor between Norman and Nassau. It happened across from my brother’s apartment, and he says the street is currently swarmed with emergency vehicles and concerned neighbors. Evidently they aren’t sure of the victim/shooter/situation yet, but that the shooter ran away and (as far as he knows) has not been found. I’m not sure when exactly it happened — definitely in the last two hours.
Thanks — your blog and reporting are such an invaluable resource to our neighborhood! I’m sad to be writing in about something so awful.
Whoa. If anyone reading this has any more information please share via comments or email at missheather (at) thatgreenpointblog (dot) com.
Thanks!
UPDATE, January 15, 2011: Here’s a little more information per Jay.
Adult male victim taken in ambulance. Suspect fled on foot. Street still blocked off by yellow tape and detectives in trench coats and flashlights searching the area. There was a helicopter with search light over Nassau St and mcgolrick park area.
UPDATE, January 16, 2011: According to the New York Post the victim of this shooting was a 35 year old male. He was taken to Woodhull Hospital and is listed as being in “critical condition”.
UPDATE, January 19, 2011: I have received word this gentleman has died. My deepest heart-felt condolences go out to his family. He was only 30 years old.
Miss Heather
From The New York Shitty Photo Pool, Part II: Outside The 94th
Diana Gee (who took the above photograph) writes:
Hummer = check! In front of a fire hydrant = check! On top of old snow = check!
Miss Heather
Quicklink: Christmas In Greenpoint
(Or: If You Can’t Beat ‘Em, Join ‘Em!)I recently had the pleasure of helping a friend of mine, Bitchy Bluestocking copy edit a draft of her rather lively Christmas experience in our fair burgh. As of today, dear readers, it is up! Follows is my favorite passage:
…I told my roommates that I’ll be in Istanbul from January 13 through the 18. If during that time they’re awakened by Martin Luther King, Jr. carols then they’re welcome to join the party — I’m serious, we have a standing invitation — and drink as much of the landlord’s booze, smoke as many of his cigarettes, and tell everyone spierdalaj (spear-doll-eye), Polish for “fuck off,” which I take as being the true meaning of Christmas — or any other holiday — in the 94th precinct.
Read it for yourself. It’s a hoot!
Miss Heather
NYS Flickr Pool
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