You
think you know local news? I'm sure you do! I'm also sure all of you
who read my column know that I can't stand when something happens in the
community and residents act surprised – especially older residents who
have been on this earth longer than I have. Last year wasn't that much
different than other years in Canarsie
– although we've had horrific incidents happen decades ago that were
truly out of this world (we're talking about decayed bodies found in
cars and headless bodies found in the park and drug rings and political
nightmares that make this week's newspaper look like a children's book).
I don't think 2014 will bring anything shocking – but civic leaders
and residents here will have you thinking that whatever does happen was
the worst thing EVER! Personally, unless another natural disaster like
Hurricane Sandy happens, I think everyone should put a sock in their
mouth when they see something like a car accident on our front page. On
that note – here is my mini list of local predictions for 2014. I bet
you guessed the first one:
Car accidents.
YES! As long as there are people driving cars, there are going to be
car accidents. And as long as there are drivers trying to beat the
light, cut off another vehicle or make a wrong turn, there's going to be
a shot on our front page of someone being taken away on a stretcher.
Can we prevent this prediction from happening? Sure! Stop driving like a
lunatic!!! I can also bet that there will be at least 10 casualties in Canarsie
alone from a motorcycle accident and five accidents involving a
pedestrian who won't survive their injuries. Please, just don't act
surprised and don't act like car accidents are truly “bad” news –
they're now serving as lessons to other drivers of what NOT to do while
on the road. These smash-ups are wake up calls - especially when you're
traveling on a street that's known for accidents. Deny it all you want,
but when you see our front page and there's a photo of a car overturned,
you just can't tear away from the scene. There will be plenty more of
these to come, unfortunately.
Group homes. Welcome home! Or
not...So you don't want a city or state agency to set up a home for the
disabled next to your house. You read about it in our paper weeks in
advance and then when it comes to your block, you make all of this noise
as if you've never gotten the warning. I predict that at least 20 group
homes – comprised of handicapped and disabled persons – will be placed
in the community. And how many incidents will occur in which crime is
reported at these group homes? I predict ZERO! I predict that the group
homes set up in private houses in our community will be approved by the
Community Board because there's no proof that the unfortunately disabled
residents are a danger to society. I predict that those who ARE a
danger to our community will keep lurking in the depths of stolen cars
or house parties where they're waiting to open fire. Which brings me to
my next prediction...
More shootings, but less casualties.
I predict that there will be random shootings – people will get into
altercations over drugs, money, relationships, property and multiple
shots will ring out even though they'll hit their target once in the
torso. I estimate about five casualties out of over 30 deadly shootings
next year. How can I predict this? Because the young kids who can get
ahold of a weapon aren't changing and adults are doing a horrible job of
knowing what their child is up to on any given night. Most shootings
involve males in their late teens and early twenties. Instead of not
wanting to be another statistic, and instead of dealing with
altercations in a mature manner, violence will stain another year. And I
predict that someone from our community will be on the local news and
say something naïve, like “This is a quiet community, things like this
never happen here.” Right...
Beautification that goes unrecognized.
Yes – I have a positive prediction with a negative outcome. I predict
that there will be numerous projects that will help our community look
cleaner, brighter and better than before. I predict more ribbon cutting
ceremonies and improvements at our parks and I predict that local
elected officials will put more money into our schools to improve their
appearance. The bad news? Most of these efforts won't be highlighted as
much as that hideous pothole that someone calls us to report on. While
there's little graffiti in our community and there will be an increasing
number of Greenstreets, Canarsiens will still come to meetings and
complain about something that doesn't meet their visual needs. You just
can't please everyone!
There will be plenty run-of-the-mill going ons in Canarsie
next year – and if you look back our issues from the past few years,
you shoudn’t be shocked by whatever makes our front page. Just make sure
you’re not contributing to the “bad” news! Happy New Year!
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