Greenpoint
Lorven Pharmacy
Culture on the Cheap
From The New York Shitty Inbox: Manhattan Avenue Park Squat Gets A New Addition
Filed under: 11222, Greenpoint, Greenpoint Brooklyn, Greenpoint Magic, Newtown Creek
(Or: Greenpoint At Long Last Gets Some Affordable Housing!)
Laura (who the above photographs earlier this afternoon) writes:
The homeless camp at Manhattan Ave St. End Park is expanding. There’s a tent, laundry in the tree, and a small covered ditch which I suspect is the toilet.
(speechless)
Miss Heather
From The New York Shitty Inbox: Defend Greenthumb Gardens!
Filed under: 10002, 10003, 10009, 10012, 11101, 11104, 11201, 11205, 11206, 11211, 11215, 11216, 11217, 11221, 11222, 11231, 11237, 11372
This item comes from a fellow flower lover in north Brooklyn. She writes:
The agreement between the City of NY and the NY State Attorney General that has been protecting community gardens for the past 8 years is set to expire in September.
The City of NY recently published Proposed Rules for community gardens under the jurisdiction of the Department of Parks and Recreation and the Department of Housing, Preservation, and Development.
The AG’s agreement referred to itself as a “protocol for preservation and development of GreenThumb gardens” — some community gardens were given up for development, some were “subject to development” and 198 community gardens were “offered to the Parks Department or land trusts for preservation as community gardens or open space.”
The word “preservation” appears nowhere in the proposed rules. In a nutshell, the rules essentially make new NYC community gardens not owned by land trusts or Parks subject to development after a review process.
This is a sea change for community gardeners. Though the city has said they do not intend to develop community garden sites, this is little consolation for gardeners who fear the protections that allowed their community gardens to thrive for the past 8 years are being stripped away.
Green Guerillas has been supporting the untiring efforts of the NYC Community Garden Coalition (NYCCGC) as they have negotiated with the city, mobilized community gardeners, and made a strong case for why community gardens can and should be preserved.
Green Guerillas also mailed out 550 copies of the rules to community garden groups across the city and co-sponsored with NYCCGC an information session to help community gardeners understand the issues so they can mobilize support in their neighborhoods.
We could make an emotional appeal for why you should voice your support for preserving community gardens, but we would not do a better job than the New York Times – read their editorial HERE.
What can you do?
…Attend the upcoming public hearing: The city will be holding a public hearing on August 10th at 11 AM at the Chelsea Recreation Center at 430 W. 25th Street (between 9th & 10th Avenues) – closest trains are the C, E at 23rd Street or A at 34th Street. (To testify, you must notify Associate Counsel, Ms. Laura LaVelle at the Arsenal via telephone at (212) 360-1335 or e-mail at laura.lavelle@parks.nyc.gov by August 9, 2010.)
View and comment on the rules on the City of NY website HERE.
If you prefer to put pen (or ink cartridge) to paper, submit comments to General Counsel, Mr. Alessandro G. Olivieri, Department of Parks and Recreation, The Arsenal, Central Park, 830 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10065.
Call 311 and tell them you would like to comment on the Proposed Park Rules as published in The City Record.
As arduous and boring as this legalese is you should read it. Especially this passage:
Given tour Parks Person (and “Open Space Advocate”) has seemingly seen fit to obstruct Nick’s Garden/Red Gate Garden’s Greenthumb paperwork it makes one wonder who she’s serving. Is it the people using said parks? I think not.
The dead tree that graces the beginning of this post is a testament to her folly. It was one of the many trees planted by the Boy Scouts of America last April at her behest and due to neglect (no watering) and poor placement (being pissed on by humans and canines) died. They since have been removed. I suppose our “Parks Person” finds “carpet-bagging” concerts and fund-raisers more compelling? I can’t blame her. She has no public administration or horticultural knowledge at all. She formerly hails from Wall Street. It”s all about the money.
Which is, I can assure you, what this revision of the Greenthumb rules is about. Cashing in.
Miss Heather
Now At McGolrick Park: Baggies & Dead Squirrels
Filed under: 11222, Criminal Activity, Greenpoint, Greenpoint Brooklyn, Greenpoint Magic
I have long been remiss in checking out how things are shaking across McGuinness Boulevard. Namely, McGolrick Park. Fortunately I got a much-needed reminder via an email from an anonymous tipster. He/she writes:
…Used needles are being found in the woody garden areas of McGolrick by Nassau. That’s the scarey part, but I am awaiting confirmation because this was third hand info…
I decided to go down there and see if I could find any. First up, the good news: I didn’t.
And now the bad news: it became all too clear from the get-go someone has a pretty brisk business selling and/or consuming illegal intoxicants— especially around Nassau Avenue and Russell Street. Without further ado here is a slide show featuring the rainbow assortment of baggies I found on my sojourns. I have tossed in a few shots of dead squirrels I found as well. Why, you ask? Because one would think the Parks Department would be “on” that kind of thing. Enjoy!
Miss Heather
Update, 6:12 p.m.: I have received an email regarding “activity” at McGolrick park from someone who wishes to remain anonymous. He/she writes:
I live on McGolrick Park and have seen more drug activity lately- came home from work one day to a woman nodding out in her car parked in front of my apt.- car door was wide open and she was seriously messed up. I called the cops and they were uninterested. I asked them to come because I figured if she tried to drive in her condition it would be dangerous. They asked if I had “seen her commit a crime” and I said no, but obviously they might want to check into the situation and they refused.
Spotted At Barge Park: A Royal Flush
No, make that two royal flushes!
It looks like we have finally gotten our temporary crappers, Greenpointers!
What’s more they’re actually clean! Will the wonders ever cease?
Miss Heather
P.S.: I have also word from Miss Mousey Brown two port-o-lets have been placed by the handball courts at McCarren Park. Click here and see ’em for yourself! On a related note, Monday, July 26, at 4:00 p.m. Parks Moms will be having a walk-through at McCarren Park. What’s the purpose, you ask? Here’s the 411 per the email I received:
THE IDEA IS TO WALK THE WHOLE PARK, POINT OUT, AND LIST THINGS THAT NEED FIXING/IMPROVEMENT (both short and long term) AND DETERMINE WHAT IS NEEDED FROM OSA/PARKS/THE COMMUNITY/PARKS GROUPS TO GET THESE THINGS DONE. This meeting has a practical, get-things-done and work-together intent. Right now we will try to especially focus on “the “low hanging fruit” as Kate Z. so succinctly put it- things that can realistically get done now to improve McCarren!
WE WANT TO MAKE A “QUICK” WALK-THROUGH AND THEN FOLLOW UP WITH (OPTIONAL) COFFEE/HAPPY HOUR AT LOKAL FOR ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION/NETWORKING OR JUST PLAIN RELAXING.
Park Mom’s McCarren Walk-Through
July 26, 2010 starting at 4:00 p.m.
McCarren Park, meet at the corner of Bedford Avenue and Lorimer Street
Brooklyn, New York 11222
Greenpoint Photo Du Jour: Transmitter Park
While hardly the most comely of open spaces (although has attained some popularity with a certain segment of the population, as seen above) I have it on very good intelligence WNYC Transmitter “Playground” could be shuttered as early as next Tuesday, August 27. Why, you ask? Because they will need time to make preparations for the ground-breaking ceremony that will come to pass August 3, 2010 at 11:30 a.m. Who knew wood chips needed so much fussing over?
WNYC Transmitter Park Groundbreaking Ceremony
August 3, 2010 at 11:30 a.m.
Greenpoint Avenue and (roughly) West Street
Brooklyn, New York 11222
In closing it has been brought to my attention that a fig tree graces this site. For those of you who are not in the know (I didn’t) apparently fruit-bearing trees are not allowed on city park land. If you are interested in giving this tree a forever home please shoot me an email at: missheather (at) thatgreenpointblog (dot) com. I will forward it to the appropriate parties. Thanks!
Miss Heather
Spotted In McCarren Park: Call-A-Head
Filed under: 11211, 11222, Dung of the Day, East Williamsburg, East Williamsburg Brooklyn, Greenpoint, Greenpoint Brooklyn, Greenpoint Magic, Other Shit, Vomit, Williamsburg, Williamsburg Brooklyn
As I mentioned in this post we, the people of north Brooklyn, have been promised by the peeps of OSA (Open Space Alliance North Brooklyn) a handful of port-o-johns to help augment the rather inadequate— and in some cases downright disgusting— facilities which currently grace our public parks. While not what I consider to be an ideal solution (they should be repairing and upgrading existing facilities; and breaking ground for new ones) today I had a glimmer (or would that be a whiff) of hope. At the corner of North 12 and Berry Street to be precise.
Not one, not two, but three port-o-potties! But wait— there’s a catch.
All save one are locked! Perhaps to be dispatched to elsewhere? I can only hope so. In any case I decided to check out the one that was open to the public.
If it is any consolation, dear readers, this smelled worse than it looks.
Methinks another inspection is in order. But why cry over spilled vomit?
Shortly thereafter I discovered that Bushwick Inlet Park has received its promised privy! Two down, two to go…
Miss Heather
Image Credits: The photograph gracing the beginning of this post hails from Sergeant Dougherty Playground and was taken by yours truly.
From The New York Shitty Inbox: More About Abate
Filed under: 11211, 11222, Greenpoint, Greenpoint Brooklyn, Greenpoint Magic, Williamsburg, Williamsburg Brooklyn
Remember L, the guy who was complaining about homeless people sleeping and urinating at the Abate Playground? Well, he’s back— and not the least bit happy. He writes:
Hey, so I’ve been taking pictures of the Vincent V. Abate playground for the last month to show how gross the park has become, literally the same garbage and litter has been in the same place for almost a month now and I see parks people with their little garbage sticks at the park everyday and nothing happens??? What the hell do they do when they’re there?? Here are some pics if you want to use them on your site (note, none of them are from July 4 or 5th, that seems to be the excuse all the time, “oh well these are obviously the day after such and such holiday”)
Without further ado here they are. Enjoy!
Miss Heather
Quicklink: $86,528 A Year
Filed under: 11211, 11222, Greenpoint, Greenpoint Brooklyn, Greenpoint Magic, Williamsburg, Williamsburg Brooklyn
That’s what we— the taxpayers— are paying to look at such niceties as what you see to the left: a man surrounded by rubbish urinating on a tree on a Saturday evening at McCarren Park. My favorite excerpt:
…In 2008, Stephanie Thayer became director of the Open Space Alliance for North Brooklyn – and the Parks Department’s director of North Brooklyn Parks.
Records show Thayer got $86,528 from the city. She said her work for the nonprofit is voluntary.
“I’m still fighting the good fight,” she said. “I’m just doing it in a different way.”
Miss Heather
Photo Credits: Miss Mousey Brown
Reader Comment Of The Week: WNYC Transmitter “Playground”
d writes in regards to this post about Greenpoint’s public lavatories— or more accurately the lack thereof: Gross. And people think Transmitter is a dog run because of the chips, it’s not a dog run, yet people let their dogs poop in there and don’t clean it up. Now, I love dogs, but I haven’t forgotten last summer when the heel of my shoe ended up in poo.
The chips do lead to a certain ambiguity as to whom this park services: humans or canines. To my recollection the only place in our public parks are to be found are in the dog runs. If you go to the dog run at McCarren you’ll see it’s at least one full foot deep with the stuff. What I find curious is how this “interim” public space is “categorized”. Initially it was referred to as a park— but once it was pointed out that it did not meet the Parks Department’s own specifications of what constitutes a park it has been deemed a playground. Once again, this is curious given there is no equipment for children to play on/with so, as d has observed. It has been employed as a dog run. This would be fine and dandy (god only knows Greenpoint needs one) if people would be more considerate about scooping up their poop. It should be noted that in this respect the Parks Department has made their stance very clear.
Or have they? Let’s look more closely at the sign to the left.
Here’s the deal: there is no “designated area” to let one’s dog run without a leash— but it is not completely clear that dogs are not permitted to go off-leash either. It is not unreasonable to presume that the wood chips do lead some to believe this is a dog run. Then again, you’ll always have people who— for reasons only known to them— will not follow the rules. Case in point: consuming alcohol.
Here’s the deal: I personally don’t care if people imbibe in our parks— provided it does not pose a problem to the other users. Let’s face facts: we all know this is going on.
Rather, what I want to know is exactly what these people are doing? Staging a re-enactment of Cool Hand Luke’s infamous “50 eggs” sequence perhaps?
Oh wait, you need a permit to do that!
Miss Heather
Greenpoint Audio/Visual Presentation Du Jour: The American Playground
Filed under: 11211, 11222, Asshole, Bum Shit, Dung of the Day, Greenpoint, Greenpoint Brooklyn, Greenpoint Magic, Other Shit, Williamsburg, Williamsburg Brooklyn
Given that we are embarking upon a holiday weekend (celebrating our nation’s birthday, no less) I feel it is only fitting to showcase Greenpoint’s very own American Playground. Rutila wrote regarding the above image (which I posted June 20th):
There was a homeless man sleeping in the jungle gym this morning when jumping rope in one of the handball courts. He was coughing, and I wasn’t sure if he was sick or clearing his throat to let me know I was interrupting his sleep. Should I have apologized?
Oh, and one of the trees/bushes that flank the storage shed/bathroom was pulled — roots and all — from its planter and dragged to the middle of the basketball courts. I don’t see how this would be possible without a vehicle.
I have been keeping a careful watch over this park ever since.
It isn’t pretty.
But what I was most puzzled by was the womens bathroom’s “new arrangement”.
I have no idea why the Parks Department, in their infinite wisdom, would do something like this. And here’s why:
1. This bathroom is located at a playground. Children will invariably get dirty and need to wash their hands. Most of the children I have observed at this park are tended to by their mothers. Thus, they will need to use the womens bathroom. And if someone is using it they are shit out of luck.
2. This kind of open space (with added privacy) is an enabler for all manner and variety of criminal activity. Foremost in my mind is drugs, as heroin addicts seem to have taken a shine to this park.
And then of course, there is this.
A detergent bottle (Tide, methinks, this brings a whole new meaning to Tidy Bowl) being retrofitted for some hitherto unknown purpose.
Here’s a close-up of its contents. And on July 1st, dear readers, I finally got the wherewithal to flush said toilet and film it.
It appears to be collecting water from the faulty plumbing. Incoming or outgoing I do not know. What’s more, it’s not important. This is yet another (and exemplary) half-assed solution to the manifold problems our parks “comfort stations” face. On that note I have word via a tipster/leaked email that port-o-lets are one the way. Four to be precise:
- One for Bushwick Inlet Park
- One for Barge Park
- Two for McCarren Park
In regards to the lattermost, here’s what one board member of Open Space Alliance North Brooklyn— not the Parks Department— had to say:
They’re portable so, if you or other parks users have strong feelings about their placement, they can probably be moved. Personally, I think it’s a good idea for the condo-dwellers on Bayard to fundraise for the park.
This statement is in regards to a Bayard Street resident calling 311 and complaining about public urination; getting a letter from Adrian Benepe advising him/her to talk to our Parks Administrator, Stephanie Thayer, only to be asked by Ms. Thayer if he/she would be interested in fundraising for more garbage cans and bathrooms in McCarren Park (via Open Space Alliance, which is Ms. Thayer’s other employer). Fundraising for amenities one would presume (hope) would have already been paid for via our tax dollars. But I suppose I am being old fashioned.
To recap: a 311 complaint seems to have been employed as a recruitment tool for a not-for-profit org which, theoretically, has nothing to do whatsoever with a public urination complaint. But I suppose that’s what happens when you have a public/private partnership which is out of touch with the very people it purportedly serves. Here’s my advice for anyone who has issues with our public parks:
- Call 311. Repeatedly.
- Document and send your complaints to our local Community Board.
- Don’t bother with our local Parks people, copy the head honcho: Adrian (dot) Benepe (at) parks (dot) nyc (dot) gov
- It criminal activity is involved, go the the 94th Precinct Community Council meetings and make D. I. Fulton aware of it.
Miss Heather
P.S.: If our Port-O-Potty point person at OSA is listening (because it’s become all too apparent this organization holds the purse strings, not our Parks Department), you might want to toss one WNYC Transmitter Park/”Playground’s” direction.
It’s very popular.
Albeit not by not children.
When I saw this gent walk away from a secluded part of this “playground” a few days later I decided to investigate.
Yup.
NYS Flickr Pool
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