First up from Jeanne E. comes a nice reminder of what happens when no one takes ownership of a commercial strip's tree pits. K-Dog and then Blue Roost always took care to keep the frontage in front of their businesses free of debris. I highly suggest that either landlord Rong Ge or the new lease-holders keep an eye on the trash problem, since this block (like her sister avenue Parkside) is traveled by thousands of commuters every day who would ask only that their work-walk take place in visual and olfactory peace. The Q was about to blow a gasket over the insane dumpage at old Mansoob's bodega at the NE corner of Parkside/Flatbush just before he left town. We GOTS to do something bout that corner too. Will the madness never cease?! Okay, maybe I sound a bit histrionic, but it really amazes me the level of indifference.
Remember the fresh tomatoey goodness of Cafe Pomidor, the delightful eatery at the corner of Flatbush and Midwood? Of course not, because it never opened, despite months of promise via a colorful gate-draping banner. Marshals (federal? flatbushian? the discount clotherie a la TJ Maxx?) have seized the space, which apparently often occurs when the rent is not delivered on time and in full. The Q has often wondered why Marshals of any kind need be involved - probably means that there was stuff of some value inside the premises and the landlord has taken possession of said stuff in lieu of payment. (more info on Marhals, per Adrian's comment, here)
7 comments:
Here's the nyc.gov page on city marshals. http://www.nyc.gov/html/doi/html/marshals/marshals.shtml
Unfortunately, I think we need to do some basic community education on littering and 'keeping your neighborhood' clean kind of thing, as I see mainly grown people just throw things on the ground, like it's their own personal garbage can. Clearly they need to be taught that tax-paying money , possibly theirs, goes to pay for that type of unnecessary expense. It's not like there's not a garbage can on almost every corner in NYC. It makes me so angry when I see someone throw their garbage on the ground. I want to say, why don't you just throw that in your own home? Other people share the streets with you.
My favorite thing to see is when parents tell their children to throw whatever piece of garbage on the ground. Most of the time the children look confused by this command from their parents.
Jen
I have been crazed this past week about this tree well. It has been growing all week. I am surprised how many businesses don't take care of their tree wells and the trash in front of their storefronts and/or use the trees to tie up their delivery bikes!
Lincoln Park Tavern does a good job and Purple Berry has really stepped up. Purple Berry not only keeps their areas clean but they recently planted and mulched. It is makes such a difference. Maybe Jus' Fishy and Gino's could do the same type of plantings and start a new movement on the 'Bush.
It's true, the lovely lady who owns Purple Berry makes an effort for her business to be organized, clean and attractive, interior and exterior both. As for this tree outside the old Kdog/Blue Roost spot, somebody is responsible for it in the eye of Dept of Sanitation. We need to start calling 311 constantly about this and the other spots. It's terrible that people litter like this but if you own/lease property you're supposed to clean it up.
Unless and until the trash on the "Bush" stretching from Empire to Clarkson is cleaned up, doing anything like the Parkside Prize
will be a waste.
We have Ginos, Lincoln Park Tavern doing their fair share and I salute them. But until the trash is under control and the bottle joint gets closed or severely limited, we won't get anywhere.
I just want to make Parkside better. It deserves better... we all do.
This might sound like a strange suggestion, but I noticed one of the residents of the supportive housing/halfway house/group home on Flatbush (not sure what it's called) sweeping the sidewalk near Thriftway and Ginos early one morning. Would it make sense for the neighborhood to approach the group home, raise some money, and hire their residents to do cleanup? Maybe in exchange for a donation or something? Not sure how that would work...
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