Greenpoint
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Culture on the Cheap
Spotted On Nassau Avenue: Graffiti…
Filed under: 11222, Greenpoint, Greenpoint Brooklyn, Greenpoint Magic, NYPD, Stuff The Makes Heather Sad
The things one finds when walking around this community. I went to the McGolrick Farmers Market to buy ingredient for calabacitas. When walking home I saw this. Once again let us reference what constitutes graffiti:
S 145.60 Making graffiti. 1. For purposes of this section, the term "graffiti" shall mean the etching, painting, covering, drawing upon or otherwise placing of a mark upon public or private property with intent to damage such property. 2. No person shall make graffiti of any type on any building, public or private, or any other property real or personal owned by any person, firm or corporation or any public agency or instrumentality, without the express permission of the owner or operator of said property.
I think it is safe to say we have hate speech here too, but I will let the authorities make that call. To this end I have created this handy map.
On it I have indicated the location as 144 Nassau Avenue. I did so because while technically on the premises of 146, specifically the burglar gate, the graffiti in question is located directly by the front door of 144.
From The New York Shitty Inbox: DNA.info
Filed under: 11222, Culture War, Greenpoint, Greenpoint Brooklyn, Greenpoint Magic, Wow, WTF
Choice quote/teaser:
“You know what? Change the laws, because nobody came along and said there were rules and regulations that would allow people to stay in place in their homes in the Polish community here,” Olechowski said. “Nobody’s regulated the rents in this community. Market-rate rents are legal but they’re affecting peoples lives.”
You don’t say, Mr. Olechowski? Speaking as a resident of north ‘Point I have seen a great many people priced out of this community. The Latino population, in particular, has taken a drubbing. Don’t take my word for it— a simple comparison of the 2000 and 2010 Census statistics say it all.
To favor one part of the community above all others is not only illegal*, but it strikes me as craven political pandering. I would also like to note that by designating housing for a specific group/demographic, one is effectively precluding others access. Thus the discrimination being exercised is actually two-fold.
Of course you can’t say I did not see this one coming. I wonder who will administer this special Polish-specific housing? North Brooklyn Development Corporation, perhaps? Yes sir: those ULURP hearings were essentially co-opted by local organizations whose interest is getting a cut of the action be it in the way of parks, affordable housing, etc. The overall health/well being of this community is immaterial. I’ll refrain from using the unseemly word “extortion”. Whoops, I just did.
You can (and should) read this tome in its entirety by clicking here.
*The man doesn’t give a flip about Community Board One’s By-laws or Parliamentary Procedure, so why should this be surprising? Really?
From The New York Shitty Photo Pool: (speechless)
What can one say about this item (as found in Greenwood Heights by lostinbrooklyn) other than perhaps “Wow, this is really offensive”? Are any of you, dear readers, fluent in Russian? If so, please do yours truly the favor of translating the label of this delightful product. My curiosity is killing me.
Miss Heather
LAST GASP: Automotive High School Isn’t McCarren Park’s “Home Team”
Filed under: 11211, 11222, Culture War, Greenpoint, Greenpoint Brooklyn, Greenpoint Magic, Williamsburg, Williamsburg Brooklyn
When I read this article by the inimitable Aaron Short I became furious. Not only do I find the fact these youths have to travel one mile (and purchase their own Metrocards) for the pleasure of playing football when there’s a field across the street utterly ludicrous, but I cannot shake the nagging suspicion that race— or at least class— has something to do with this. These suspicions are not in the least bit assuaged when I read a quote like this, which comes from a Department of Education Spokesperson:
It creates too many obstacles and we don’t want to have any kind of furious accidents there.
Perhaps Ms. Feinberg would be kind enough to explain to me exactly what constitutes a “furious accident”? God only knows I have seen my fair share (and then some) of unsavory activity at McCarren Park. I fail to see how a high school football game could possibly make the situation any worse. If anything watching these games would, in all probability, be a source of enjoyment for many in our community. But of course, youth football games do not make money. Which brings me to the Parks Department’s rationalization for this farce:
…A Parks Department spokesman added that the athletic league’s rules state that the games must be played in places that are not open to the public. Four years ago, the Parks Department actually issued permits for two Pistons games in McCarren Park, but the city reversed course, citing security concerns…
Yet, these very same people have no problem whatsoever taking much-needed playground space (READ: Barge Park) to throw carpet-bagging fund raisers. Events, which I can assure you, are of negligible interest to the people who use said park(s). Here’s the deal:
In the 10+ years I have lived here I have seen nothing but good things happening at the Automotive High School. It has come a long way. The Automotive High School’s students have treated me with nothing but respect. When they have bumped into me on Bedford Avenue (as excited gaggles of teenagers often do after school— we are talking about kids, after all) they have always said “excuse me”. This cannot be said of many folk who populate Bedford Avenue nowadays. Why is it so difficult for this city to— instead of blame-tossing— afford these youths a little respect and consideration? They deserve it. In closing here are a few vintage shots of football at McCarren Park.
Miss Heather
Photo Credits: The image at the beginning of this post was taken by Aaron Short.
Spotted In Greenpoint: More Hate
Filed under: 11222, Criminal Activity, Greenpoint, Greenpoint Brooklyn, Greenpoint Magic
Anonymous (who took the above photograph) writes:
Hi Miss Heather,
I hope you are well.
I recall you once did a story on this. I found that sticker again, on a stop sign at the corner of Calyer and Newel.
I alerted 311 and the police, but I still found it up there when I biked by there 5 hours later.
As I have written before, these stickers are produced and distributed by a recognized hate group. If you happen upon one please report it to the police. STAT. In closing, here’s another such sticker I found recently on Manhattan Avenue.
Disgusting.
Miss Heather
New York Shitty Day Starter: Hate
Last night after having long overdue catch-up time with a friend of mine over dinner I found this turd affixed to a pay phone in front of the Dunkin’ Donuts at 862 Manhattan Avenue.
Don’t bother trying to find it. Immediately after taking the above photograph I tore it off and threw it in the garbage (where it rightfully belongs).
For those of you who are wondering “.cc” is the country code for the Cocos (Kealing) Islands, an Australian territory. Mind you, the peeps responsible for producing this sticker (and the website listed therein) are not Aussies: they hail from the good ‘ol U.S. of A. Arkansas as best as I can deduce.* I know this because I looked at their web site (which I will NOT link to out of principle— look it up yourself). A noose graces “Tightrope’s” header and they offer such niceties as mouse pads emblazoned with Barack Obama depicted as a monkey, swastikas and other neo-Nazi crap; exclamations of “Celtic Pride” (which is sort of weird considering the so-called “master race” was supposedly Nordic in origin. The Normans and Celts were enemies. Ask any Irishman or Basque.) and my personal favorite: “The Original Boys in the ‘Hood” (which a sports a number of Klansmen wearing hoods. A double entendre. How clever!).
Speaking as someone who spent a fair amount of her childhood in what the Yankees here call “the south” (Texas**) it has been my observation that the most vocal proponents of white supremacy (such as the people who produced and saw fit to affix this sticker to a Greenpoint pay phone) are the biggest arguments against it. I moved to New York City to get away from this shit. If any of you, dear readers, find a sticker like this do me (and everyone a favor): rip it down.
In closing I’d like to leave you with this. One of my favorite segments from one of my favorite movies.
Miss Heather
*P.O. Box 1116—-Calico Rock, AR.—-72519—USA
**It isn’t. Texas is— for better and worse and all the hype— its own country. The Lone Star State defies categorization. It is what it is.
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