Buyers remorse

You don't see more of an improvement because even though your neighbors own their own properties they do little to nothing to hold others to a higher standard. There is behavior that exists in this neighborhood that is just appaling and those of us who own here look the other way or shield our kids eyes and just walk by. Nothing will change if we don't demand a higher standard of behavior from out neighbors.

Last week I came home in the evening with my child as as we were walking in the house I heard/saw a couple arguing with one another. It was the early evening so the street was full of kids playing, guys hanging out and people coming home from work. The arguement escalated until the guy grabbed his girl about the head and started flinging her around like a rag doll. Everyone just stood around looking. What made it even worse was the girl had a couple of small kids with her. Finally, I went across the street and asked him to leave her alone and let her leave. I pointed out the cops were around the corner and if they intervened all of them might end up jailed or in custody by the end of the night. His response "I don't give a damn, let them take all these kids away."

After I intervened the girl's friends started drifting over trying to get her to go home. Then some older ladies came out (her mother? his mother? grandmothers? who knows...) and tried to shoo them away. But they had been out there at least ten minutes before I went over. If I hadn't intervened would he have just been allowed to beat her in the street? Granted that's an extreme example, but there's enough little stuff that goes on that we don't check one another on (cars pulling up in the street with music blaring, folks not picking up trash, sitting on one another's cars, etc) that effect the feel and fabric of the neighborhood.

There is definitely almost a peer pressure that exists in the neighborhood both positive and negative. Once we start saying that certain behavior is not acceptable, you've be surprised how the neighborhood will change.

have you thought about kingsengton(sp?) anyway its about pretty cheap and safe. okay schools full of immigrants.

From personal experience, cops don't seem to give a crap about DV incidents.

But then, it might just vary by precinct. The 114 was AWFUL in dealing with DV. How's the 77?

Perhaps, but part of the reason why I didn't want to move to Kensington is that it is really hard to get groceries.

lilbangladesh wrote: Perhaps, but part of the reason why I didn't want to move to Kensington is that it is really hard to get groceries.

there is supermarket there. alot of small grocery stores. got fruit stands and other things in the hood that ch or bed sty doesnt have.

OP, I live about 2 1/2 blocks from you, on Pacific. I'm curious about what you are expecting to change. Are you talking about the retail prospects on Kingston, or just the general flavor of your residential area?

Unfortunately, on the retail end, they say it takes 15 years for commercial businesses to catch up with residential needs, as most merchants do not want to be the newbies on the block catering to a different crowd. Too much money involved, too much to lose, unless it's a sure thing. I wish that was different, and I wish I could afford to be that first pioneer, but I just don't have the capital. I'm always interested in talking to anyone who wants to pool resources, or at least entertain some ideas. What's good for the neighborhood can be very good for us.

Short of that, someday, someone will, and I guess just we just have to wait. If you want changes from the people on the block, that's another story. Nothing comes without getting involved. You may have to be the one who starts or revives a block association. Join the folks at CHNA (Crown Heights North Association), find like minded neighbors, and start with small changes, like a monthy block sweepdown on a Saturday, or something like that.

You live on a beautiful block. If you truly feel its worth fighting for, you are going to have to fight. I think this is true for almost anywhere you choose to live.