Very Angry

AR wrote: Thank You,
Alafairnadia
I wish I had said it as eloquently as you, I got emotional and hotheaded after my last encounter with some of the neighborhood thugs,I vented here. I really wanted this to work, the guy who owns my house is a really good friend.
I don't want to deal with what everyone says the summer will be like here. It will take a few months to move, if we can find a place at all in the summer renter's rush. This just isn't where we want to be at this point in our lives. Thanks

venting is easy - I've had years to ponder that time of my life.

obviously, we don't want to lose you guys - just try moving into PH! it's still cheaper than cobble hill and PS and has more transport options.

Subject: Question for AR

Hi AR ,
I read your post about the 3am screaming outside of the apartment buildings between new york and nostrand. We are moving across the street from those apartments in two weeks or less. (We bought it) so I am terrified now. Do you ever call the 311 number? I am going to make a big stink if that keeps me up every night.

Mod Edit: Now you see it, now you don't. Watch it, Alex.

What the hell was that Alex?
Was that supposed to be a dig on PS/PH or some kid of personal judgement, either way you're sick.

yes, please. that's not even working-from-home safe.

Subject: Re: Question for AR

AR wrote: [quote=alafairnadia]


I wouldn't call 311 - I'd call 911 about screaming.

Let me clarify, usually these are people screaming at each other. Or yelling up at one of the apartments, it's not blood curdling terror screams. Sorry if that went into a different context.

ahh. I'd still call 911. I call 911 about car alarms and they send tow trucks, and if people are screaming at each other, I've called 911. but I sleep like a rock - if something wakes me up it's legitimately loud and intolerable.

Though I am so intrigued by what Alex said that enraged everyone and provoked censorship, I am more interested in the background of the posters weighing in on the CH crime issue. AR, where are you from? I only ask because as a lifelong NYer, I think there is a certain sensibility to the class/race issues of this city that you can only have if you're from here or have lived here for a certain period of time. New York is unlike any other place in the world for its sheer diversity. The downside of so many cultures living next to each other without a buffer zone of a car like in other cities is that conflicts are bound to arise. I remember the '91 riots really well-- they were bound to happen. The tension had been building for so long. The reaon I bring this up is I'm wondering how much of your unhappiness is due to culture shock.

That being said, I think that stupid criminal behavior is inexcusable. I know certain people get themselves all worked up when white people complain about crime like we just want to have this glass bubble around us that insulates us from the REAL problems of the world. The truth is, longtime CH residents deserve to live in a safe, clean neighborhood that gets a fair level of public service. I'm sure the elderly CH residents too scared to leave their homes at night wish someone would do something to change the neighborhood.

I'm moving to St. Marks avenue in a couple of months (from Harlem). I joined the message board recently to get more of a feel for CH. I read this thread and started getting nervous about all the complaints. Then it hit me that some of the posters were probably not NYers and not used to our vibe. Don't take it so hard: we don't even make the top 20 list of most dangerous cities.

Meeshka,
Hello, I grew up in downtown Atlanta for the first 27 years of my life, then Seattle( ok, Seattle is like the whitest place on the planet) but, it's not culture shock that I'm feeling.
There are some really great people here in CH, but, there is also that element of some of the younger crowd that screams " I don't give a shit about anything" . It's sad because it is unfair to everyone here, new resident or old. My neighbor, who has been here since before time was complaining about the dog poop on St. Johns and about various other things that we have discussed on this board. So thank you for recognizing that white people aren't the only ones that complain about crime. Some of the people on this board seem to think that way. Contrary to what some people here might think, I do like this neighborhood, with the exception of feeling oppressed by my choices as far as safety at night. Man, I've been writing in giant run on sentences lately.
By the way, now that we are talking about crime in the summer on this board and late night options you can get a better feel for CH (IMHO), I guess what you make of it is up to each individual, as Nebula said. I didn't get to come to CH before moving here so when some says " CH is really changing, and is really up and coming" I usually think that means a little more than just a few white people are moving in. Good luck in your move.
AR

Alex wrote: Here is some background on the censored material

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Goatse

Enjoy!

god i thought that thing went away like tub girl /pukes

Oh, so it was a guy stretching his butt open? Fascinating.

Oh AR, I hear you. I think about the crime issue so often. Living in Harlem, I know what you mean about the groups of unsupervised kids walking around, causing trouble, messing with homeless people and such. I think it's a real problem-- city-wide--that people from all backgrounds acknowledge. My current landlord is a good friend and has lived in this neighborhood for decades. As a minister, he tries working with these kids to give them something contructive to do with their time and some valuable life skills. But I don't see the problem going away anytime soon.

Now that I have a one-year old, my tolerence level for it is pretty low. I've contemplated leaving the city completely on a number of occasions, but then I read a story about the fucked up (can I say that, MOD?) stuff that these bored, white suburban kids pull and I realize that I really want my kid to grow up as a NYer. There's so much beauty here, culturally. But as a parent and an (almost) homeowner, I guess I view the whole "home" issue differently. You've made the distinction between owners and renters and I think that's valid. I had a long talk with my friend's mom who bought a house on Eastern Parkway 6 years ago. She said things have dramatically improved and continue to get better and it's a great area to invest in.

We also talked about the whole race issue (she's black, and in case you haven't figured it out, I'm as white as it gets) and she said that, yeah, people complain about gentrification, but homeowners are secretly happy to see white faces on their block because it means their houses will be worth more and the neighborhood will improve. Of course my white liberal guilt kicked in right about then. I guess I can only hope that my new neighbors will see past the color of my skin and grow to accept me. I'm willing to do what it takes (cue swelling violin music). Homeowner, do you think a white person could pull off a "zero tolerence" policy or would it only create animosity? My husband is black, but he's not a very threatening-looking guy (though his military training makes him a good fighter). How would you suggest I deal with loud talkers or worse? Currently, I put up with a great deal of street noise, though I'm not so happy about it, obviously.