Greenpoint
Lorven Pharmacy
Culture on the Cheap
The Word On The Street: But…
Filed under: 11211, 11222, Greenpoint, Greenpoint Brooklyn, Greenpoint Magic, The Word On The Street, Williamsburg, Williamsburg Brooklyn
From McCarren Park.
Urban Artifact: 13 Days & Counting…
Filed under: 11211, 11222, Criminal Activity, Greenpoint, Greenpoint Brooklyn, Greenpoint Magic, Williamsburg, Williamsburg Brooklyn, WTF
It’s almost two weeks now and as of this morning (11:42 a.m.) the McCarren Park Hypodermic Tree is still in effect. My dedication to documenting this caught the attention of a passerby. He too took a moment to capture this curiosity with his camera.
After asking me how long this had been there (I told him “about two weeks”) he noted it had been used and added:
Kids could get their hands on this. That’s not good.
Precisely.
From The New York Shitty Inbox: Live From Channel 12
As posted on the North Brooklyn Comunity Yahoo Group and forwarded to me by the colossal Greenpoint badass that is Laura Hofmann:
Got call from news channel 12 Brooklyn (channel 156 Time Warner Cable). They wanted to interview us on the Museum’s land about the eminent domain. They are showing us on the Museum’s land today on tvnew… 10 pm Sunday night. They put a vote on their website do you want a park or museum? We didn’t know they were going to do this. I called them and said it is not either or. There will be a 27 acre park and 1 acre for museum. Check the link to their site below and vote for the Museum. Pass this around.
Janice and George
From The New York Shitty Photo Pool, Part IV: Barge Park
Is closed— by a single zip tie, no less! Special thanks goes out to the eagle-eyed Your Secret Admiral for this find!
Reader Contribution Du Jour: Bushwick Inlet Park
If this photo taken today by the inimitable Dennis Farr is any indication, it would appear someone forgot to lock the gate. Whoops.
From The New York Shitty Inbox: North Brooklyn Parks Administrator Wanted
Filed under: 11206, 11211, 11222, East Williamsburg, East Williamsburg Brooklyn, Greenpoint, Greenpoint Brooklyn, Greenpoint Magic, Williamsburg, Williamsburg Brooklyn
This item was brought to yours truly attention by a lass named Christine. Yours truly found the following passage of particular interest:
Qualification Requirements:
A baccalaureate degree from an accredited college and four years of full-time experience in one or more of the following fields: technical maintenance and operation of park facilities, policy formulation and implementation, or business promotion, at least 18 months of which experience must have been in an administrative, managerial or executive capacity, or in supervision of professional, technical, administrative or maintenance staff working in one or more of the above mentioned areas; or
Education and/or experience equivalent to “1” above. However, all candidates must have at least 18 months of administrative, managerial, executive supervisory experience, or experience in supervision of professional, technical, administrative, or maintenance staff as described in “1” mentioned above…
Interested parties (or simply the curious) can read this listing in its entirety by clicking here. NOTE: the deadline for applications is September 19, 2012.
Quicklink: “Two Boots”
Filed under: 11206, 11211, 11222, East Williamsburg, East Williamsburg Brooklyn, Greenpoint, Greenpoint Brooklyn, Greenpoint Magic, Williamsburg, Williamsburg Brooklyn
It would appear my intelligence was correct: not only have the folks at Open Space Alliance (“OSA”) deemed a change in leadership was in order, but we are currently without a Parks Administrator here in Community Board 1. I suspect I speak on the behalf of many when I wish Ms. Thayer the best of luck in her future endeavors. The responsibilities she shouldered as both our Parks Administrator and Advocate (via OSA) were a herculean task. These should have never been delegated to a single person.* Moving forward, I hope this change will:
1. be a valuable first step in addressing the manifold number of management and maintenance issues in our parks.
2. help heal the rift between Parks administration and public they serve (and contrary to what Mr. Kavanaugh’s comment intimates, this is a big problem).
3. serve as an impetus to motivate our Community Board (and foremost its Parks & Waterfront Committee— hear me, Mr. Caponegro?) to take a more aggressive role in advocating the public’s interests in regards to our open spaces.
(You can read the Post’s tome by clicking here.)
*What’s more, it posed a colossal conflict of interest.
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…
New York Shitty Video Du Jour, Part I: The Manhattan Avenue Kayak Launch, Revisited
Filed under: 11222, Greenpoint, Greenpoint Brooklyn, Greenpoint Magic, Newtown Creek
Upon having it brought to my attention— yet again— that trash collection (among many other things) continues to be a problem at the Manhattan Avenue Kayak Launch, today I decided to swing by and see it for myself. While certainly better than it has been in days past, there is clearly still ample room for improvement. Not only was this apparent by the overflowing garbage cans, but it was pointed out to me by none other than Kate Zidar: the immensely dedicated and all-around nice lady who heads the Newtown Creek Alliance.
You see, as it would happen she was there with a film crew from Vice Magazine. They were awaiting the arrival of a boat to take them up the ‘creek. Anyhoo, not knowing anything about plants/plant life (other than having an uncanny ability to kill them*) I asked her if she would take a moment to explain what else is amiss at this piece of public space. She was kind enough to oblige me. Without further ado, here we go!
I suspect I speak on the behalf of many folks when I write that I was absolutely ecstatic when this park— however small it may be— finally opened. Thus, it makes me not only sad but quite angry to see it in such a state. Or to put it differently: if the powers-that-be cannot take care of a park as modest as this one, why should the problems at the McCarren Park (and specifically its pool) come as a surprise? I for one am not surprised. Disappointed and fed up? Absolutely. But surprised? No. We deserve better than this, north ‘Pointers. Really.
*Yours truly is more effective than pesticide. I have been known to even dispatch cactus to its maker on occasion (hence why I stick to jade plants). Thus I am very, seriously, grateful for Ms. Zidar bringing me (and us) up to speed. Thanks!
New York Shitty Video Du Jour: Clean!
Filed under: 11222, Greenpoint, Greenpoint Brooklyn, Greenpoint Magic, Stuff That Makes Miss Heather Happy
I would like to take a moment to thank the folks at the New York City Parks Department for addressing the refuse problem at the Manhattan Avenue Kayak Launch. Keep it up!
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