fyi, i wrote this post a couple days ago and saved it in draft form to publish today. sadly, i just got word that 8 to 10 shots were fired at 176 Clarkson, in the very public lobby no less. Man down, seriously wounded. No word yet on motive or whether the assailant is still on the loose. Feel free to share anything you know w/th Police first, but here too if you're so inclined.
Lindiwe Kamau, intrepid leader of the Nostrand Avenue Merchant's Association, is quoted in the Daily News in regards to the lopsided state funding of security cameras for Boro Park over other, higher crime neighborhoods. Please do form and share your own opinion of course, but it seems to me that our electeds sound a bit defensive in the article and that they've been unable to find even enough money for a single security camera despite repeated pleas from Kamau and other local leaders. While everyone would like to see government money spent equitably across neighborhoods, let's be real. Effective pols get the money they need for the projects they believe in. Emphasis on the word "effective."
Last summer I witnessed hundreds of people speak up at town hall meetings for more police presence and security cameras. To my knowledge, not a single camera has been installed, nor has there been an increase in street patrols or crackdowns on known drug hotspots and gang hangouts. I'd love to be proven wrong, but I don't think anyone with power has done a damn thing in the intervening months. The effort to create a central Brooklyn "Take Back Our Community" initiative sounded promising, but it also put a lot of emphasis on big bands of volunteers creating another level of infrastructure. Meanwhile, after the horrific killing of an eight-year old boy in Boro Park, serious change is under-foot, to the tune of 150 new cameras and renewed vigilance from the civilian Shomrim patrols. BP has its priorities in order, I guess.
Remember that C.O.P. program we were going to start in the 71st? Is that a sucking sound I hear coming from a vacuum of leadership? I'm still waiting for my jacket.
I guess we'll just have to pray that when the heat hits, all the mean guys will leave their "heat" at home.
43 comments:
"The reality of it - a young boy was killed,” said Golden. “If we had cameras, maybe it could have saved his life. We see value in it. We’d love to see more communities get involved."
Um, exactly HOW are we supposed to "get involved"? Just, you know, ASK for 150 cameras? This is really revolting. I say we take some street signs to Goldens office. Talk about NOT sharing the wealth. Revolting.
Of course we could always call Hikinds Radio show...
Dov Hikind
Call in Show with Assemblyman Dov Hikind
WMCA 570 AM
Sat 11:00 PM-12:00 Midnight
Boro Park's Hasidic community is just exploiting the tragic murder of a child to get these cameras to keep an eye on any "outsiders" in their neighborhood. The whole affair is doubly outrageous in light of the recent revelations in the Times and elsewhere of how these fundamentalists shield child sex abusers and intimidate and harass abuse victims. They've made it quite clear protecting children is NOT their priority yet instead of being prosecuted they are rewarded with a one million dollar state grant.
The first politician who has the guts to stand up to these religious bullies will have my vote.
This was a statement made by Hikind at the time of the boys' death:
"This is a no-crime area," said state Assemblyman Dov Hikind, whose district includes the area. "Everybody is absolutely horrified," he said. "Everyone is in total shock, beyond belief, beyond comprehension … to suddenly disappear and then the details … and the fact someone in the extended community … it's awful."
Yes, you definitely need 150 cameras for a "no-crime area".
I know that there were 2 break-ins on Hawthorne and there's a guy in a house nearby who is doing god knows what with pit bulls.
And I am Jewish and anyone who stands up to the Hasidim who take advantage of a terrible crime by one of their own no less to get cameras? I'll stand with you in a heartbeat. This is not anti-semitism.
Rather than complaining about what Boro Park got, I'd rather complain about what Flatbush didn't get. Regardless of how you feel about Hifkind's tactics, you gotta hand it to a man who gets results.
This is much more about dysfunctional bipartisan politics than religion, in my view. Hifkind is for all intents and purposes a Republican, and gets things done by crossing party lines when it suits him and his constituency. I suppose it's okay to be personally offended by certain aspects of Orthodox culture, but it would be unwise to paint this as "us vs. them" in my opinion. For one thing, "us" is a pretty broad category to begin with! (so is them for that matter).
As to scandals involving sex and abuse, I think it's fair to say that no group can lay claim to a monopoly in that department.
Can someone please just give the merchants and residents the protection they're seeking, so we don't have to fight over table scraps?
I don't see it as us versus them.
Obviously Mr. Hikind has a knack for getting the goods....which he should then share with ALL his constituents. I mean, it's crazy to think ALL the areas are going to get 150 cameras. I million taken for an area that doesn't really need it is 1 million taking FROM an area that does, especially in a tight budget --not matter which those areas are.
But to base the need for cameras on one crime that it's unlikely would have been prevented by cameras, while nearby areas struggle with far higher rates of crime.....I mean, what DO you call that?
Side note: if someone is doing "God knows what" with pit bulls (which I'm assuming isn't walking/feeding/snuggling, the primary activities I do with mine) PLEASE call the ASPCA. They have dedicated departments for breeding/fighting dogs. No dog would choose that lifestyle, but the ASPCA can't do anything if they don't know what's going on to stop these horrible, abusive practices.
In a world of extremely limited resources, it's pretty clearly us versus them for those resources.
And the 'them' are those who exploited the death of a child to get the resources they wanted and that's condemnable.
And the 'them' cloak their avarice in a shroud of piety.
Regardless of what Flatbush does or doesn't get, that's repugnant.
I am agreeing with Elizabeth on everything here, as usual, and also am begging for action on the guy raising pit bulls over near or on Hawthorne. I've actually heard about this but didn't get enough information to take action. Please just post the guy's address here, do it anonymously, and let some neighbors experienced in animals rights activism take it from there. I know there's an apt or co-op building that overlooks the guy's backyard, this is what I heard. And that they DID call the ASPCA who did nothing. I think it will take calling 911. Raising and training fighting dogs is a crime, a federal crime right? So call 911. Or even the Feds. F the ASPCA if they can't be bothered with it. Go over their heads.
Please DO post the address: I'd be happy to take it from there. If the ASPCA doesn't respond, I'd be happy to contact other agencies. That's something our community should address not only because it is awful, but because it usually goes hand in hand with many other types of crimes.
Yes, please post so we can get those dangerous pitt bulls out of our community! (They really should ban the breed.(
Mr CF,
You are correct to say that "us" is a broad category, but "they" are not and that is largely the root of the problem. The rabbis just have to tell the pols either you do what we want or every member of our cult will vote against you. That's the problem AG Hynes is facing now trying to prosecute Hasidic child rapists despite rabbinical objections.
And I agree that no group has a monopoly on sex abuse scandals. But what groups go above and beyond to protect abusers? In addition to Brooklyn's fundamentalist Jews, maybe you remember Warren Jeffs' FLDS cult? How about the ongoing conspiracy trial in Philadelphia of Catholic bishops who knowingly protected pedophiles for many years?
Do you really think this is about "dysfunctional politics"?
The cameras are about dysfunctional politics. No need to draw larger conclusions.
Your diatribe on a branch of "the Tribe" is a bit like blaming all Catholics for priest abuse. Most hardcore top-down hierarchies do poorly in the democracy department, and the all-powerful tend to protect their power at the expense of the weak and vulnerable. I'm sorry to suggest that it's an old story, but...well, it is.
I appreciate your perspective, but I was hoping to stick to the lack of support for security initiatives in our own neighborhood. That a politically powerful group elsewhere was able to finagle some funds only highlights the fact that there is precious little political power happening around here. That was my point, and I'm sorry if I sounded dismissive.
OK, and BTW, don't be hating on pits - the reason that they become good fighting dogs is that they so absolutely love their owners that they are easily perverted to do anything their loved one wants, even if it hurts. In England they are called The Child's Nursemaid because they are at the time completely loving and fiercely protective of their child charges. Don't ban the bred; ban the illegal breeders.
I am on Hawthorne and know the house you are speaking about. FYI people in the apt building next door have flooded 311, ASPCA with calls. I even caught the guy in the house giving one of the dogs to someone in a car near Bedford/Hawthorne.
The noise from that house bothers lots of people trust me. The driveway entrance is locked and there are wood panels so you can not see in. The yard is overgrown so you can not see into the house. There's some kind of shed or building in the rear.
As many as 7 dogs
From 2006 to 2008, pit bull type dogs killed 52 Americans and accounted for 59% of all fatal attacks. THEY SHOULD ALL BE PUT DOWN. Learn the truth about this destructive breed at http://www.dogsbite.org/
Ban the breed. Arrest the owners!
Wow. It's been a LONG time since I've seen such a major troll. Huzzah, Anon 9/9:35!
(How do you identify a troll? Hint: they can't spell "pit bull" correctly).
One way to address issues with having too many dogs is to contact the building management. Athough if it's a house...anyway, if someone could give more exact approximates, I'd be happy to check it out and take further action.
There is a very intense and remarkably related and telling mixing of issues happening on this thread...
I have my doubts about whether he is training fighting dogs, but he definitely abuses them (metal pipes, small cages, I have even seen him punch one repeatedly straight on in the face) and sells puppies. I have always wondered though what happens to the ones who get older and then suddenly disappear. It is awfully hard to get video or images without endangering yourself. He has threatened people and from time to time beaten girlfriends. He also thinks the only ones who have a problem with him are the newcomers to the area. He lives and breeds the dogs in his locked up back lot out of the garage. God knows what goes on in the house proper.
Pit bulls do not fight each other or bite humans. That is just boisterous play.
How can we protect the pit bulls without more cameras in the community? I won't be able to even sleep tonight thinking about the poor innocent doggies.
Pit bulls do not fight each other? Michael Vick.
For the sincere dislike of michael vick and scumbags who raise pitfulls to fight can somebody who knows the address please provide it so that action can be taken immediately.
Don't feed the pit bull TROLL! He's a rep from dogs bite.org, a lobbying and misinformation site that focuses on pit bull and pit bull type dogs. They're a bit...um...crazy. (Not to put too fine a point on it). anyway, they live to drag people into inane discussion peppered with unsubstantiated facts, and flaked with their own unscientific "studies". It's not a very tasty meal.
Begone, Sir! We need you NOT in our good lands!
Pit bull TROLL? I have no idea what this means and found your response um..a bit....crazy . Clearly my anonoymous tag through you off. I do not represent bite.org nor have I ever heard of this organization. I live in the community and I'm an avid dog lover, especially pit bulls. I was appalled but unfortunately not surprised to hear that people know the house where brutality is taking place and not really taking action. As I regularly speak with senator adams office as part of TBOC I would be happy to raise a red flag versus sitting idle as more dogs are abused. Elizabeth, if you want to take charge to report this abuse that is very cool with me. I just urge you to please take action beyond calling 311.
I'm really not sure why my last two replies were suppressed from this thread. All I was trying to do is get involved in helping to stop a problem close to my heart. I love your blog but am really perplexed by the entry removal. Just hope the problem of dog fighting in our neighborhood doesn't continue to be ignored like many other local issues.
FYI, I don't moderate. If your comments ended up in the blog's spam, it's because google's blogger detects it as spam and sends it there. Sorry, I have no control over that. I put your comments back because they weren't blatantly offensive. In two years of writing this thing I've only taken down three comments for being truly offensive. I consider that a pretty liberal free-speech batting average, but please, as always, try to keep it civil. Maybe someone can hip me to what constitutes a troll. Thanks! - the Q
No, no no THIS is the troll:see about 8 comments above.
"From 2006 to 2008, pit bull type dogs killed 52 Americans and accounted for 59% of all fatal attacks. THEY SHOULD ALL BE PUT DOWN. Learn the truth about this destructive breed at http://www.dogsbite.org/
Ban the breed. Arrest the owners!"
But yes, the frequent use and re-use of the anon tag does make things confusing. Cant you guys pick a fake name? We won't know the difference!
TIM!! Get OUT! How can a media savvy gent as you NOT know what a Troll is?
In Internet slang, a troll is someone who posts inflammatory,[2] extraneous, or off-topic messages in an online community, such as an online discussion forum, chat room, or blog, with the primary intent of provoking readers into an emotional response[3] or of otherwise disrupting normal on-topic discussion.[4] The noun troll may refer to the provocative message itself, as in: "That was an excellent troll you posted."
While the word troll and its associated verb trolling are associated with Internet discourse, media attention in recent years has made such labels subjective, with trolling describing intentionally provocative actions and harassment outside of an online context. For example, mass media has used troll to describe "a person who defaces Internet tribute sites with the aim of causing grief to families."[5][6]
I'm glad to hear that it was spam who yanked my comments and not you and even happier to hear that the troll comment was not directed at me. Love the blog and think you are doing a great service to this community.
Not taking action?....There have been so many calls to 911, 311 ASPCA, 71st precinct, Mr. Adams, Dept of Buildings, there were even planned warrant inspections that never happened that one would think this guy is an informant. It is what it is, but he obviously feels untouchable. This is the world we live in. People throw a bag of trash on the street or even a candy wrapper ( it's just a candy wrapper right?) and they cannot be held accountable. An individual can make countless hardworking parents and their children and scores of others lose sleep and their sanity because they have a right to live how they'd like no matter how many people they disturb. Hey, I guess it's not the crack epidemic so we should just accept it. All of this is sick and I'm about ready to throw my hands up and say good luck.
I hate to say this, but the real problem with any and all crime in our neighborhood is that Adams and Eugene suck. Yette Clark went on to the US House, and have we heard ANYTHNING from her at all?? She sucks, too.
Though I am a person with no poltical aspirations, I've considered running for City Council because I am so tired of our ineffective representation. I would probably not win, however, because I am not from one of the large immigrant groups in the neighborhood.
This whole conversation thread is so full of fail. The more I witness these types of dialogues, the more frustrated I become with the entire PLG 'community', with all of its various levels of ignorance, entitlement and myopia. A topic that was supposed to be about getting more resources into the community has degenerated into segues about the benefits of various dog breeds (?!?!); an anonymous and unsubstantiated attack on some guy living on Hawthorne; and now shot in the dark at local politicians blaming them for "any and all crime", while accusing the local Caribbean voters of being bigots.
Agreed! Although I would be careful not to draw any broader conclusions about the larger community from a few asinine remarks on a blog.
Most people I meet around here impress me with their intelligence, and despite the enormous differences of background, I'm continually amazed at how much we AGREE on. If you listen to the outliers and haters only, you'd think we were polarized beyond repair. I find this to be true of the electorate generally, too. But according to most mainstream media, for instance, people can be divided into precisely two types, and those two types have ZERO common ground.
I would vote for the Q for elected office! have you considered?
I strongly disagree that this conversation thread is "full of fail". I enjoy hearing the various points of view -- the myopic, the ignorant AND the entitled. Sure the focus may meander, but how else do I ever hear what's going on in my neighborhood?
I agree with Elizabeth that this thread is NOT "full of fail". The discussion of the dude breeding and torturing pitbulls is 100% on topic if we are talking about our local politicians being ineffective and being completely unable to get police attention for PLG. Eric Adams got a lot of complaints about the blatant drug dealing directly across from his office for many years and what does he do? He moves his office. Here is a quote from the person reporting on the pitbull breeder issue. Tell me if this sounds like the city and the 71st are doing their jobs for us:
"There have been so many calls to 911, 311 ASPCA, 71st precinct, Mr. Adams, Dept of Buildings, there were even planned warrant inspections that never happened that one would think this guy is an informant. It is what it is, but he obviously feels untouchable.
Wow, Elizabeth and Anon-that-follows-Elizabeth-from-thread-to-thread-agreeing-with-Elizabeth-right-after-she-posts, I am so glad you feel you came up with some solutions.
But I beg to differ.
PS: 9:57 AM is hardly "right after" 10:08pm. Unless you have a time/space continuum that absorbs 10-12 hours.
Well, Anon 12/1:39 pm; please feel free to interrupt this idle chatter with YOUR solution. And putting your name ( or A name).
If you're looking for security cameras to protect your business, farm, house or any other property we have recently doubled our selection of the security camera systems that we carry.www.dynaspy.com
This ine seems awesome and with security cameras like this ensure that you get better deal...
Post a Comment