Tree Branch Breaker

eastbloc

whynot_31 wrote: Sadly, a similar "process" (?) would be followed if he were destroying private property.

....NO ONE wants the seriously mentally ill.

I'm confident a morgue would take him.

perplexed

We had the same in front of our building towards the underhill end of saint marks, although as much as I hate to admit this it was needed pruning for us.

joshb

Hey, guess what? 911 doesn't give a flying damn. Tried to call and report the latest "pruning," perplexed, and all I got was, "If he's not doing it right now, we can't do anything."

Engaging folks on Steve's block? A fistful of my shirt in some Caribbean gent's hand, and a mouthful of profanities in my face.

Guess what: seven years in the neighborhood, and this situation—not the rampant drug dealings, shootings, and other delicious byproducts—has me at the end of my tether.

mha

"A fistful of my shirt in some Caribbean gent's hand, and a mouthful of profanities in my face."
Wonderful imagery.


There is a HUGE branch down on Franklin near the corner of Lincoln. It's hard to think that Steve could've done it, but given his history I don't know what else to think. I mean, it's a branch nearly as thick as a thigh. And, on Lincoln in no man's land, there is a fallen branch, and on Classon, and on Underhill, and on Sterling again....

For whomever piled the branches in front of his home, do it again!

novanglus

He broke a big branch of a new, fairly small tree in front of our building on Sterling between Washington and Classon. Evidence has already been removed, unfortunately.

mha

Call 311. His name is Steve, 693 Sterling Place.

arches

PHrez wrote: I have photos of the new damaged trees on Saint Marks if anyone needs them.

yes, please. We've been trying to aggregate as many pics as possible here: http://www.phcfarm.com/welcome/2010/06/14/trees-vandalized-near-the-farm/

That way you can send a single link to public officials to document the impact Steve has had on the neighborhood.

You can post them on flickr or some equivalent and post the link here, or just email them to me using my brooklynian username @yahoo.com.

whynot_31

While some attempt to obtain a mental health warrant, and Arches builds a website of your photos....

...others (like you, reading this thing) could make supportive calls to Tish and/or introduce yourself and your photos to Tonya, as provided on Page 5:

cheightsrez wrote: I was in touch today with the Million Trees folks and others in the parks department and told them of the development. They're encouraging any witnesses to the branch-breaking activity to please contact Captain Tonya Prince at Parks Enforcement Patrol who is collecting witness statements. She can be reached at (718) 437-1350 or [email protected].

Remember, emails from your work email may be the most effective.

...They tend to show that you are an employed, voting, taxpayer

....not merely a bored person.

Emails to Tonya should mention that Tish (and just about everyone else on this blog) requests that he first be taken the ER for evaluation, then prosecuted if not admitted.

...with enough documented visits to the ER and jail, we have a shot at pursuing AOT via Kendra's law.

caseopele

"Crazy" Steve hit my block this afternoon, tree branches everywhere from at least 5 trees. I have no tolerance for people like him who don't take their meds. He's aware of what he's doing and has the sense to stop when confronted. Maybe someone bigger than him needs to start seeing "demons" on Steve. How does he support himself? Or does that burden fall on his mother too?

This is coming from another crazy person who manages not to destroy property on a daily basis.

mha

Call 311. His name is Steve, 693 Sterling Place.

zimbob

Can you post Steve's description? Age, ethnicity, height, weight? Dean and Bergen appear to have been hit today. I saw someone dragging a tree branch behind them. Just wanted to know if this is the same guy.

mha

Weclome Zimbob.

He is approximately 5 feet 10 inches tall
He weighs between 215 and 235 (give or take 5 pounds)
He is a solidly built guy
He USUALLY has on Michael Jordan basketball sneakers; white, with red details
He usually wears a Michael Jordan t-shirt (red/white), and blue denim shorts
He has a full beard
He has matted, unkempt hair
He usually wears a blue/black knit winter cap to cover it.
He tends to gesticulate with his hands -- as if he is reeling in fish (seriously)
He is about 28 - 33.

Lastly, sadly there is nothing you can apparently do about this situation. Relax, and enjoy the show.

zimbob

Hi MHA,
Thanks for the info. Can you tell me his ethnicity? White, black, latino, asian?
thanks

mha

He is a brother who looks like he's from planet 'Treeless'.
But seriously, Steve is a Black man. His color is tree-bark brown, like the color of lightly stained pine. I don't have a camera, so unfortunately I cannot take a picture. He lives at 693 Sterling Place, between Franklin and Bedford, I believe. This troubled young man has damaged and destroyed trees at a value in the thousands of dollars. The range of the damage he has caused is incredible. Go down as far as New York Avenue and Eastern Parkway you will see what he has done. Speak to any of the older folks who spend more time than most looking onto the street and they will tell you stories about this guy. It's incredible! There has been face to face pleadings with the police department, numerous calls made to 311, 911, the Parks Department, and still, this guy is ripping branches off trees. Once you see Steve, you will know it's him. There is absolutely no way you can miss him.

whyfi

MHA wrote: He is a brother who looks like he's from planet 'Treeless'.
But seriously, Steve is a Black man. His color is tree-bark brown, like the color of lightly stained pine. I don't have a camera, so unfortunately I cannot take a picture. He lives at 693 Sterling Place, between Franklin and Bedford, I believe. This troubled young man has damaged and destroyed trees at a value in the thousands of dollars. The range of the damage he has caused is incredible. Go down as far as New York Avenue and Eastern Parkway you will see what he has done. Speak to any of the older folks who spend more time than most looking onto the street and they will tell you stories about this guy. It's incredible! There has been face to face pleadings with the police department, numerous calls made to 311, 911, the Parks Department, and still, this guy is ripping branches off trees. Once you see Steve, you will know it's him. There is absolutely no way you can miss him.

If you're talking replacement cost (tree/transportation/labor), you're probably in to the 5-digits, by now.

whyfi

On the walk to the subway this morning (Classon, between Prospect and Eastern, Eastern to Franklin), I counted 9, FUCKING 9, fresh breaks. Three particularly notable breaks:

- Large branch cluster from an elm on Eastern.
- Huge branch from large, healthy maple... except I didn't see a maple of that sort within a couple blocks.
- Another branch, I didn't look closely, but I think that it was another elm, was still hanging from the tree - the branch, and break, were about 12 feet off of the ground - unless this motherfucker is the second coming of Earl the Goat, he had to have climbed up, grabbed the branch and hung, bouncing around, until it broke.

I may have to deposit some branches in a front yard when I have some free time.

whynot_31

Lots of damage in Mount Prospect Park this morning (the small park on Eastern Parkway, next to the Botanical Garden).

Mrs Whynot reports at least a dozen trees damaged.

Feel free to take photos (or branches.....) before the parks dept cleans them up. Big branches.

I'll bother the government officials once I get to work.

whynot_31

July 12, 2010

[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]

Dear Tonya Prince, Tish James, Jackie Brown, Gigi Davis Elliot, and Martin Brown,

As you are likely aware, many Crown Heights and Prospect Heights community members are upset over an ongoing situation in which a man with severe mental illness damages neighborhood trees.

The man is brazen, and has ripped the limbs from trees despite being confronted by community members. Photos have been taken of him in the act, and he was recently briefly incarcerated for his actions. The Park Police, 77th Pct, politicians, and community activists have all been involved in trying to find a resolution.

Despite this, the man continues to damage trees, and a great number of trees were reportedly damaged along Classon Avenue and Mount Prospect Park last night (July 11th).

I understand that many people have previously brought this situation to your attention, and that you are struggling to find a solution.

You have been sent emails.
People have called you at your office.
People have met with you at community meetings.

While I share their concern for the man’s seemingly untreated mental illness and the trees he is damaging, I am most concerned about the man’s safety.

This is a situation in which this man’s behaviors, identity, description and address are widely known.

As someone who has worked in the field of mental health for the past 20 years, I am aware of the struggles of obtaining care for someone who does not consent. I have experience in successfully obtaining outpatient supervision through the use of Kendra’s Law and encourage you to pursue this method.

However, most people are not aware of the obstacles you face, and instead attribute the ongoing situation to inaction, indifference, and perhaps incompetence.

Given the level of frustration people are beginning to feel, I genuinely fear that well-meaning (but misguided) community members may take the matter into their own hands. Violence between the man and the community members could result.

Please do not hesitate to contact me should you need any assistance.

Sincerely,

(real name)

king without a crown

I dont believe he was incarcerated maybe just evaluated and released. Did anyone find out his full name?

whynot_31

King without a crown wrote: I dont believe he was incarcerated maybe just evaluated and released. Did anyone find out his full name?

Or simply evaluated,
then detained
then released
(as I described in my 6 point thing on Sun Jul 11, 2010 12:50 pm EST).

Everyone in the above email knows his real name. I guess some discretion has been used here by not posting it.

Yea, if someone PM'd KWAC his last name, KWAC might be able to answer some questions for not only himself but us too.

(sorry, I'm not among those playing Private I with this guy)

king without a crown

Not quite sure why people are protecting his identity

whynot_31

King without a crown wrote: Not quite sure why people are protecting his identity

Everyone knows his description and where he lives ...so I'm not sure either.

I think the random bloggers know hearsay, and the gov types have elaborate systems build on 3 ring notebooks, and Dbase III platforms (sarcasm).

You may want to consult the ladder.

....I'm looking at moving to Canada. I hear they are less confused.

wirenut

more tree damage yesterday, JULY 11, at St. Marks & Bedford in front of the community garden

whynot_31

wirenut wrote: more tree damage yesterday, JULY 11, at St. Marks & Bedford in front of the community garden

Please take photos and/or email people who make a living off your taxes.

....I perceive tree branch piling as also acceptable.

joshb

If I knew his last name, I would tell. But I don't. But I have seen him come and go from 693 Sterling Place.

I'm all for a tree-branch piling. A public shaming/spectacle can work wonders for spurring action.

whynot_31

Mr. (whynot),

Thank you for reaching out to me regarding this issue. Please allow me
to make some phone calls to determine the latest on the law enforcement
front and will get back to you in regards.

Sincerely,



Det. Martin Brown

Police Commissioner's Liaison Unit

646-610-6016

mha

KWAC,

The police know his name. The police captain -- the new one for the 77th -- he said he is personally taking special interest in this. Call the 77th and ask to speak to him (Mr. Carpaccio?). Tell him it concerns Steve -- the guy who lives at 693 Sterling Place.

mr. met

hope yall know that this is going to end very badly for Steve.

but hey, we'll have our branches and stuff, and one less "crazy" person, as he is termed on the Prospect Heights board.

mr. met

when did it become okay to call a schizophrenic a "crazy person"?

whynot_31

A lot of people are busy trying to get him evaluated again.

....we'd like for this chapter to be a peaceful one.

Yes, there is a risk of someone taking the matter into their own hands. ....hence the urgency to get him care again.