It’s A Bloody Shame…But THAT’S What’s Going On!

Images of bloodied bodies on the ground...Lives taken by heartless and ruthless tyrants who used meat cleavers to butcher the innocent. Images of the bloody meat cleaver – and blood smeared on the floor – flash before your eyes.

This isn't a scene from one of the Canarsie Courier's front pages…and this isn't the description of a murder that took place in our small, “quaint” community. These are the images shown by The Daily News following the horrific attack in a Jerusalem synagogue after Palestinian terrorists attacked four rabbis and a police officer. Three of the rabbis were Amercians.

If you haven't seen the crimson images of religious books swimming in puddles of blood or lifeless bodies lying in the synagogue after the attack, you might want to shield your eyes – THIS is what's going on in the world!

We've gotten a lot of slack recently for featuring bloody photos and dead bodies on our front page. Whether you choose to not buy the paper or you want to put on rose-colored glasses and deny that violence exists in our community, think about the fact that the media has a job to do – deliver the truth!

Some want to cover up the violence and say, “This doesn't happen in my community.” They don't want to accept that the images we publish are proof that irrational people with weapons (even their car can be considered a weapon) takes so many lives. On the flip side, when the Canarsie Courier doesn’t publish updates on certain crimes, we get complaints that there’s “nothing in the paper” about what happened right on their block!

How about the rabbis in Jerusalem? We know that terrorist attacks often take place in this region... We know that the violence will never end because there are “irrational” terrorists who don’t care about anything but their religious mission. Our community, in many ways, is just like theirs – riddled with the same irrational people who feel shooting or killing someone is justified due to a vendetta. What separates local incidents from violence that takes place in other countries is that religious violence and terrorism is often aimed at a group of people and their beliefs – whereas as a shooting here in Canarsie is a so-called “personal” battle that thugs take into their own hands.

Let’s get real! No matter what community you're living in, no matter what country you live in, images of violence will follow you! Not everything in life is about sunshine, trees and award ceremonies. There's something about a gruesome scene – there's something about the moment right after a brutal murder took place – that piques people's interest!

Okay…You can NOT look at the news and stay in the closet for the rest of your life. You can turn off the TV or pop a copy of “The Sound Of Music” into your DVD player.

But you're never going to escape reality.

The frightening images that were published after the 9/11 attacks were more than gruesome. I'm not just talking about photos or videos of the buildings coming down. I'm referring to photos of city workers covered in blood from the attacks….The graphic photos of bodies being pulled from the rubble…Don’t look!

Did you shield your eyes when they published photos of the victims from the Boston Marathon bombing? That town is someone's “small, quiet community” which was marred by violence – and if you saw photos of runners' limbs blown off, the blood bath that followed was probably one of the most goory scenes displayed by the media in recent years.

The Daily News didn't hesitate to put the blood and guts of both acts of violence on their front pages. This is their job – to show the public what's out there and to show us the cruel world we're living in, big city or small town.

Another reason violence needs to be published is because it changes how our city responds to tragedy. For example, outrage at the attacks in Jerusalem reached New York City a few hours after the slayings. Jewish houses of worship were placed under tight security and the attack provoked even more protests among spiritual leaders.

Want to know the most disturbing part of covering local violence? When a murder takes place in our community and we're “outraged” – what do we do? Do you see herds (and I mean hundreds of residents) taking the streets on THE SAME DAY? When a car accident happens at a corner and it's splattered on our front page, who's standing at that street or road picketing and protesting for better traffic enforcement? NO ONE!

If you’re outraged at the violence – like many communities are when someone “innocent” is killed – why not organize an epic social movement? What are you afraid of?

In our community, the 69th Precinct Clergy Council shows its presence at least once a month where crimes have occurred – and the number of participants who come out to show their support and outrage are dwindling. Where are the people who don’t like to see violence? They make all this noise, but, when push comes to shove, they’re nowhere to be seen…

I'll be honest, I couldn't take my eyes off of those Daily News images – riddled with gore, dead bodies and senselessness. But I accepted that violence is part of every community, in every country. Logging off the computer and not seeing the photos would be a lot easier. However, I'd rather be a realist than live in a fantasy world where everything is perfect.

(Unpublished as of 11-19-2014)

It’s Gonna Be A Slow Road To Preventing Accidents In The City

Motorists who didn’t bother adhering to the old 30 mph speed limit are probably laughing at city officials. “I’ll go however fast I need to go – what’s lowering the speed by a few numbers gonna do?”

Those who read my column earlier this year know that I refer to Mayor Bill de Blasio’s initiative as “Zero Vision” rather than “Vision Zero” because a lot of residents won’t follow rules of the road no matter what “vision” is put in front of us.

Okay – maybe we should give this new speed limit thing a try. It’s only been in effect for a few weeks – sometimes it takes a while for people to follow rules and become accustomed to a new law or regulation, right? Maybe drivers who clearly went way over the speed limit to begin with will notice these 25 mph signs all over the city and think about the preventative measures officials are trying to take to save their lives, right?

NOT LIKEY!

We can’t lie about all the car accidents we’ve seen in the community. Drivers trying to beat the light and blowing through stop signs…Pedestrians walking into the middle of the street while traffic is zooming by…Drivers cutting each other off or jumping the curb because they were “swerving to avoid another car"….

Let’s get real! There are plenty of accidents and casualties that aren’t a result of speeding.  Careless drivers and pedestrians who don’t follow the rules of the road are two factors the city has no control over. Hence, officials have “Zero Vision” for the city, in my opinion.

Another reason I don’t think lowering the speed limit will work – ever – is because the city has so many residents and visitors from different walks of life who practice different driving habits. You’ve got drivers from New Jersey who can make a right turn on a red light – something that’s illegal in New York. You’ve got new residents from the Caribbean, and other islands, who are first learning the rules of the road in the city. Then, of course, you’ve got drivers who just don't care and attempt that illegal U-turn when oncoming traffic is clearly approaching too closely – or that motorcyclist who speeds up on  Remsen Avenue or Rockaway Parkway – trying to beat a driver making a turn onto another avenue.

I don’t think de Blasio and Company truly investigated the causes of most accidents in the city that weren’t a result of speeding. Sure, there’s an entire report on what “Zero Vision” plans to address – including stronger enforcement and driver and pedestrian education. The city’s also going to “implement safety engineering improvements”…Wow, sounds like a complicated term – and a lot of work!

If you’ve read about the reported difference in the survival rate of accident victims– in light of decreasing the speed limit – it seems silly to realistically think that you have a better chance of surviving in the event that ANY moving object plows into you. I’ve been to communities all over the city where pedestrians and drivers are practicing bad road rules – or NO rules at all!

It’s not going to “take time” for residents to get used to and adhere to the new speed limit. And I don’t think, in time, that we’ll see fewer accidents as a result of “Zero Vision” being implemented. In the past few weeks there were numerous fatalities and injuries that were simply a result of drivers not following basic road rules.

On November 13th, six people were reportedly injured after a car – traveling in the wrong direction on the FDR Drive – slammed into two other cars. Going in the wrong direction??? The Daily News reported that the car was heading south on the northbound side of the freeway. WHY? Didn’t this driver account for the fact that they were going the wrong way? Isn’t following traffic – in the designated lane – going in the RIGHT direction – a fundamental driving concept? 
What's great about some careless drivers is that they often get away with illegal moves without a causing an accident. Dangerous drivers take a chance that no one's going to get hurt or killed. Sadly, that one time they thought they could pull off that vehicular "stunt" they've ended their life or someone else's.

It’s not about getting people used to new rules – or enforcing rules that are probably obvious to anyone with common sense, which isn’t so common! “Zero Vision” will only work if everyone living and visiting the city MAKES it work by being conscious of how their driving habits can end or ruin others' lives! 

Just keep track of how many accidents take place within the next few months – and your mind will be racing, like those speeding cars, for a better solution.

(Unpublished as of 11/13/14)

Schools Ain’t What They Used To Be

When I was assigned to cover the story of Public School 114 being in danger of closing, I was taken back even though I didn’t attend the elementary school. If there’s not something seriously wrong with the oldest school in Canarsie closing, I don’t know what is!

Locally, I attended public schools 276 and 115, then Isaac Bildersee Intermediate School 68. It’s ironic that while attending these fine Canarsie schools, I don’t recall politicians or anyone else ever contributing money to reconstruct a new library, gymnasium, computer room or other creative learning resource in those buildings. So it surprised me even more to realize that P.S. 114, a school which had just received a newly renovated computer lab and library in the past four years, is in danger of closing. 

How could it be that these schools weren’t in danger of closing when I was young when there were NO resources?

Our computer classes were repetitious, low-quality lessons on how to use the home keys (which I never do now, anyway) and play games on floppy disks. In P.S. 276 and P.S. 115, the librarian would throw 10 books at a table of 6 students and we’d attack the pile like piranhas who haven’t eaten in a week. Even though Bildersee Junior High School used to have separate boys and girls’ locker rooms so we could put our things away, ten classes piled into the gym and we stood around doing nothing for 40 minutes. Girls walked around and gossiped and boys might have played basketball or chased each other around. There was no order and we all got the same grade based on doing nothing. And the teachers did nothing as well.

Yet, a fine school like P.S. 114, whose staff at some point in time developed meaningful curriculum and programs which made students work and learn, is crumbling. While politicians now put a lot of money into local schools to make them look more modern and better than when I attended, the schools seem to be doing worse than ever.

For example, every local school now has Multi- Cultural week celebrations where students cook, dance and incorporate different countries into their studies.

The closest we had to multi-cultural acknowledgement 15 years ago was taking a foreign language by force, not choice. We sat at our desks just learning words without stepping outside the classroom to actually research the language or background of what we were speaking. Students did exceptionally well all the time– and why shouldn’t they have, they were doing the minimal of sitting there repeating verbs and nouns in Spanish, Italian and French.

Yes, the demographics and dedicated school staves have changed in Canarsie and perhaps the language barrier is often a problem for some students who can’t, for whatever reason, succeed with the new technology and resources. It seems unfair that students are having their educational values threatened by the Department of Education, as well as unqualified principals and teachers, when they have so much more than some of us did when I attended local schools. 

http://www.canarsiecourier.com/news/2010-12-02/Guest_Column/Schools_Aint_What_They_Used_To_Be.html 

Some Not Taking Advantage Of FREE Health Screenings

For the first time in a long time, a recent story I reported on for the Canarsie Courier hit home in more ways than one.

A faithful advertiser, First MedCare Inc., is offering – with no strings attached – free breast, cervical and colon cancer screenings for those 40 and over who are uninsured, underinsured and even those who are undocumented.

You would think hundreds are lining up or calling the facility to get tested – the screenings are FREE and people usually don’t respond to anything unless it’s for something free. But when I interviewed the staff at First MedCare Inc., I was saddened to find out that, for whatever reason, my fellow Canarsiens are not taking advantage of this important program.  

When my father passed away last year of esophageal cancer and I learned that my grandmother passed away of stomach cancer, I panicked – and wished that I had health insurance to get screened for a variety of cancers. I also overhear people in Canarsie speaking about an acquaintance or family member who has succumbed to cancer.

Yes, some Canarsiens still seem to either fear finding out something may be wrong, they simply don’t want to know, or there may be some religious reason for choosing not to be screened. If you’re one of the many who refuse to make an appointment – maybe because you “don’t have time” or you’re going to leave it to fate and find out about your health when it’s too late, you’re only slighting yourself and not thinking of the hundreds of residents who fit the criteria and want to be screened, but they’re too young.

While screening is highly recommended for those over 40 and 50 because of the increased health risk factors later in life, younger people, such as myself, who are uninsured or underinsured, aren’t typically eligible for the program. Fortunately, I was told that I am eligible since cancer runs in my family and I was relieved to know that I can make an appointment to get screened based on being a high-risk case.

It was suggested by one of the First MedCare Inc. staff that a program like this would probably flourish in another community. I question why that is, if we’re an active community that can complain about various quality of life issues – why aren’t we as equally concerned about our own health and wellbeing?

Free screenings, which don’t seem to be highly attended, are also offered year-round by elected officials. The survival of cancer screening programs depends on Canarsiens’ participation. It just doesn’t seem logical that something good and FREE is not being taken advantage of. It’s as simple as one visit and can save your life. 

http://www.canarsiecourier.com/news/2011-05-05/Guest_Column/Some_Not_Taking_Advantage_Of_FREE_Health_Screening.html 

Rezoning And Overdevelopment Aren’t Always Good For A Community

I don’t take the same route to work every day. However, when I pass the same block a few days in a row, I see the same empty lot where a one-family house once stood and a boarded-up vacant property screams: “Here comes a four-family home!”
Thanks to City Councilman Lew Fidler, Canarsie is presently undergoing the city’s largest rezoning project to preserve the character of our community. Huge, multiple family dwellings cannot be built on property previously zoned for one- and two-family houses. Rezoning will hopefully deter developers from turning our “small-town” into an overcrowded place where everyone is literally on top of each other.

However, when you look in the classified sections of local newspapers, hundreds of residents are trying to rent rooms and illegal basement apartments. This is normally a positive thing for most neighborhoods, but not when zoning laws are overlooked.
If you recently purchased a two-family house in Canarsie and the basement was never renovated or furnished, the house was most likely always occupied by just two families. But when you decide to turn that basement into a habitable, though illegal, apartment and you rent it, it’s then occupied by three families! And if one of those three families rents a room or two in a new apartment — the residence becomes a four family home.
You can rezone, reconstruct and reorganize Canarsie however you’d like — but those who already live here in one- and two-family homes are bringing more people into the community and into their homes — illegally — and we don’t even suspect it’s taking place.


I agree that some of those gigantic condominiums look obtrusive and out of place in the middle of a block lined with the cute bungalows that have existed in our community for over a century.
My question to those objecting to more housing in Canarsie is: Would you rather the bungalow be bought by an absentee landlord, who illegally rents the rooms and a basement to a “family?” If each of the illegal occupants in that bungalow has a car, they are, in turn, crowding our streets, producing additional garbage and possibly endangering their neighbors with fire hazards.
There was a legal six-story house in The Bronx that caught fire on July 17, 2008, in which three children were injured. The incident left more than 200 people homeless and officials claimed the house was apparently not suited for so many residents.

Who’s to say that this can’t happen in a small twofamily home in Canarsie where all the rooms are unknowingly occupied/rented by people using portable heaters, air conditioners and other potentially hazardous devices? Will those landlords and homeowners ever obtain a Certificate of Occupancy from the Fire Department?

Yes, we’ve successfully fought for rezoning while many empty pits of land remain surrounded by planks of wood. But the next time you walk down a street in Canarsie — ask yourself how many people really live in that century-old single-family home.
Who knows, one day you might pass by a house and see an excessive number of people exiting like clowns emerging from a tiny car in a circus.
Those are the people who are a potential danger to you, your neighbors and our community.

http://www.canarsiecourier.com/news/2011-01-13/Letters|Opinion/OpEd.html

Who Really Loses If Walmart Is Banned In Brooklyn?

When I was 18 years old, a student at Brooklyn College and living in Canarsie, I got a job in Manhattan, working in a small “Mom and Pop” stationery store. It was annoying to have to get up early on weekends to travel outside my community for minimum wage job — it was $5.50 an hour then — that didn’t provide any benefits. We were only allowed a half hour lunch break and on the holidays we got no breaks at all.

For four years I worked at this “sweatshop”-like retail store, wishing there were more big businesses in and around Canarsie, so I wouldn’t have to commute for a job with a company that offered little to its employees. But, in order to finance my education and pursue a journalism career, I endured the hours and years of underappreciated labor.

Thinking back, it would have been great if Gateway Mall had existed in 1999 — I could have worked at one of those stores, which would have made things so much easier. It would have given me options for a decent part-time job that was, at least, closer to home.

When I read about the possibility of a Wal-Mart opening in a new Gateway shopping center, I realized that people have a right to object to the superstore — which may take away business from other area businesses.

Objections to a Walmart in Brooklyn, and other boroughs, has also stemmed from the company’s lack of care, treatment and benefits for workers.

If this is the case, why wasn’t the “Mom and Pop” shop I worked in for four grueling years brought down and protested against? We never picketed when we worked eight straight hours without a break during the busy seasons. I recently also learned that high school students, who say they are just grateful to have a job, work for my previous employer.

Of the few small, privately owned businesses still in existence in our community, I’m sure there are companies and retail stores that don’t treat their employees fairly. Some might not offer health care and only pay the new minimum wage.

Why don’t politicians start attacking those small businesses — like our beloved 99 cents stores and mini-marts — where workers sweep or shovel outside in all weather conditions, stock shelves and lift heavy parcels just to make a small salary so they can survive in this rocky economy? Employees obviously took those jobs accepting their responsibilities and work conditions.

It seems that small businesses manage to remain open because the demand is still here— and I don’t think the existence of a big box store like Walmart will change reality: if you just want a roll of toilet paper, a carton of milk, or a loaf of bread at 8 o’clock at night, you’re NOT going to travel all the way to Walmart at Gateway — you’ll probably head to one of the stores on Flatlands Avenue, Avenue L or Rockaway Parkway!

In addition, there isn’t as much retail competition in Canarsie now as there was years ago. Stores like Telco and Sona’s Gift Shop closed when their leases expired and rents were raised too high for the owners, who decided not to renew them even though residents still loved their convenience.

I’m sure there will be plenty more negative attention drawn to the issue of Walmart in Brooklyn. But with the lack of so many retail shops to work in and shop locally, who is really losing out on this modernday big box store proposal? 

http://www.canarsiecourier.com/news/2011-02-17/Guest_Column/Who_Really_Loses_If_Walmart_Is_Banned_In_Brooklyn.html 

Admitting When You’re Scared Of An Epidemic Doesn’t Make You Sick!

Oh please Facebook! I can help "stop" it by NOT going overseas!!!

It was only a matter of time before I sat down and mapped out a column on how I feel about how our country – and city – is handling the Ebola scare. Ha! If you ask a large majority of the people out there if they ARE scared, they’ll say no! It seems like every broadcast and interview I’ve seen features citizens who aren’t scared or concerned about contracting the Ebola virus – and they’re not really worried about their health if they’ve been in the same environment as someone who’s contracted the Ebola virus.

Of course not! Why should anyone worry! According to health officials it’s not “contagious until it’s symptomatic!” There are people who will say, what’s there to worry about – our government is doing all that they can to keep the epidemic under control – and that most of the people who had Ebola are now back in good health or are on their way to getting their health back.

Call me ignorant and naïve….or whatever – I AM SCARED!

It’s hypocritical for our government to say Ebola “isn’t as easy to contract as you think.” Really? So, how, in all honesty, did Doctor Craig Spencer contract the disease if he was following protocol – and was suited up with hazmat gear like he was heading to a nuclear danger zone?

Even though I’m part of the media, I have a feeling many media outlets aren’t showing the truth – that there is a population of people out there who are scared of Ebola spreading more easily at SOME point in the future.

The Health Department recently issued this statement: “…As of Wednesday, November 5th, 357 individuals are being actively monitored by the Health Department. The vast majority of these individuals are travelers arriving in New York City within the past 21 days from the three Ebola-affected countries who are being monitored post-arrival, as well as Bellevue Hospital staff caring for Dr. Spencer. The list also includes FDNY EMS staff who transported Dr. Spencer to Bellevue and the lab workers who conducted Dr. Spencer’s blood test. All of these individuals are being monitored out of an abundance of caution, and none are showing any symptoms. The number of individuals who will be actively monitored will continue to fluctuate as people arrive or depart New York City, we learn more about people’s exposures, and 21 days of monitoring has passed.”

I’m probably not the only one who thinks this – but why allow ANY doctors who treated Ebola-stricken patients overseas back into the U.S.? It's ironic that we’re sending doctors to other countries to “stop the spread” and “provide a cure” to the infected population, yet they’ll fly infected Americans back home to get treatment? Soooo…I’m guessing the treatment we’re providing to sick patients overseas isn’t all that effective? If the treatment was working, couldn’t American doctors who contract Ebola overseas be treated overseas too?

So? We have the BEST technology, medicine and antibiotics here in the states to treat the Ebola virus…What – are American doctors giving infected patients in Africa Fruit Loops and a make believe time machine to backtrack how things got this bad?

It’s still scary to think and know that doctors are coming home – knowing they were exposed to the illness, to whatever extent – and we have to wait nearly a month to find out if they’re Ebola-stricken. It’s 2014 and we’re quarantining and monitoring hundreds of people as if they were exposed to a deadly amount of radon or nuclear chemicals. We’re clearing out areas and “testing” for…God knows what.

When I heard that Dr. Spencer traveled on the ‘L’ train, it hit home for me in a lot of ways. If you can contract Ebola through bodily fluids, what if there’s sweat or blood left behind somewhere on the railings or poles? Oh, right…it’s not that easy to contract until the person is symptomatic – which he was less than 24 hours after riding the rails. This ‘hero’ wasn’t completely honest when it came to telling officials about his whereabouts – so what else was he lying about? The media revealed that people who lived and interacted with this doctor – or other infected doctors – weren’t afraid. They didn’t seem concerned – in the LEAST – about their own health.

I’m sure there were a handful of people who actually said, “Yeah, I’m scared as hell!” or “Of course, I’m concerned – who knows what can happen now that this guy came home with the Ebola virus!!” None of these interviewees made it to the broadcast. If anything, they’ll air folks who will say, “Yeah, I’m concerned, but, hey, you can’t let it stop you from living your day-to-day life!”

Let’s get real! No one wants to create a panic and no one wants to stir feelings of fear even though it’s obvious how vulnerable we really are. However, if we can’t get a handle on a disease that was discovered over 30 years ago, we mind as well bring back measles, mumps and rubella – and let’s get some of that classic malaria over here too! Besides, it won’t be too much of a concern to anyone!

(Unpublished as of 11/7/14)

Who Needs Proof That A Lot Of Men Are Just Plain Disrespectful!

Another sociological study was performed a couple of weeks ago when “street harassment” was recorded by actress Shoshana B. Roberts.  Forget about spending “10 Hours Walking As A Woman in NYC…” – women have been dealing with catcalls since the beginning of time! Don’t you just love how someone comes along and “recaptures” an obvious social or public scenario – but nothing is done to change or address it?

I’ve already written a column on how I don’t feel safe walking the community when dozens of potentially dangerous men want to simply “say hello,” to a pretty woman (“When Courteousness Is Mistaken For A Dangerous Encounter,” 12/8/2011). 

The idea brought on by Roberts’ disturbing experience – which was captured by a man who strapped a hidden camera to his back and walked in front of the attractive subject– is that women are constantly being harassed in the streets.

Questions about whether catcalls are all that “innocent” are being raised…

Questions on whether these complimentary sentiments are potentially “dangerous” were raised…

Questions about crossing the line between flirting and being a clear and present danger to a woman were also entertained.

How about the fact that some men are just plain RUDE and DISRESPECTFUL? How about the fact that most men DON’T know how to approach a woman in the first place – and this pathetic attempt at getting someone’s attention is proof that a lot of men weren’t taught the right way to speak to a woman – without coming off as an arrogant idiot with no manners!

It wasn’t just disrespectful – it was downright DANGEROUS that one of the men walking next to Roberts was following her as he was talking! What woman wants to be followed and nagged for attention? If you’re a man in the community who thinks senselessly hollering at a woman will get her to date you – then you’re pretty pathetic! Shouting at a woman and talking to a woman is two different things. Also, just because a woman is attractive and crosses your path, doesn’t mean you have to react! You don't know what her situation is and you don’t know what she’s going through in her life. When you’re walking the city streets – trying to get to work, school or to an important appointment – that's definitely NOT the place or time to start a conversation!

Let’s get real!  These days, it seems, even if a man has ample time to hold a conversation, he can’t even compliment a woman in a reputable manner. Instead of saying, “Miss, that’s a nice jacket you’re wearing,” or “How are you today?” some hoodlum decides to sidle up to a woman and snap at her – saying,  “Yo Ma, lemme git your number!” or “Sup, girl….You don’t wanna say hi?...Fine be like that b***h!”

So you don’t have the decency to say something…decent…and YOU decide to call a woman a derogatory name? We don’t know – and most of us don’t want to know – where the conversation’s going to lead. If we start responding to these douchebag men, we know it’ll provoke more unwanted conversation. How much of a gentleman can you be if you walk up to random women spewing horrible words you think will get you a date…or more!

Why should we respond? In a city where women are the ones who have to be careful and protect themselves, it’s only natural to ignore a man who uses sexist pet names and crude language to get our attention. If all a man can do is throw aimless flirts at a woman, how classy and proper would he be if he actually got a chance to have a date wit her?

A man’s choice of words – and how he makes his first impression – sets the stage for how a woman sees his personality and character. Do you really see a serious relationship coming from someone who yells, “Lookin’ good shorty!”? How polite can a man be to you and your your family if he invades your personal space and talks trash the second he gets one look at you? What’s more – if you dated this creep, would you seriously marry and have kids with someone who hollered at you on the street? Let’s take it a step further – would you want this loser, with their street talk and sloppiness, raising your children to talk with same disgusting vocabulary?

Whether you enjoy being a creep…a loser…a douchebag…or if you just don’t care that your “flirty” and “innocent” words can lead to a woman feeling like her sense of privacy has been violated, it doesn’t take new video footage from a small time actress to tell us what we all know: Seeing some mens’ horrible manners and hearing their tacky pick-up lines is like seeing garbage tossed all over the street – and that’s where I think these guys belong!

(Unpublished as of 11/6/14)

Why Aren’t Our Civic Groups Working With Each Other?

Seeing the same faces at community meetings is often a welcome sign when I have an assignment. While I attend basically the same three or four meetings a month, I usually try to generate something new and interesting from each session that helps people in the community stay informed.

The only thing I don’t quite understand is why, although everyone wants to believe we are a “tightknit” community, not all civic organizations work together or attend critical meetings of other organizations to keep themselves informed!

I’ve gone to countless meetings on the situation at P.S. 114. Even though I couldn’t attend every meeting since the issue arose in November, I’ve never seen any of our civic leaders, other than politicians, at these rallies. Understandably, teachers and parents spearheaded the move towards saving the school. Maybe none of our civic leaders even went to P.S. 114: so does that mean they shouldn’t bother fighting with the rest of the community?

Strangely, all the civic leaders spoke about P.S. 114 at their respective meetings each month and voiced their opinions when they’d never been to any of the Department of Education hearings at the school.

Is it fair to say that if you’re “active” in your community, you should make time not only to host your own meeting, but to join others whose goal is to make Canarsie a thriving neighborhood?

When I covered the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) meeting last week at the Hebrew Educational Society, only 20 to 30 residents were there. It seemed like the only reason they were there was to get answers about their higher water bills. I didn’t see any of our civic leaders (only elected officials or their representatives) at this meeting, during which the commissioner informed everyone about the Paerdegat Basin Project and how critical it is to cleaning out our water system.

Everyone wants to complain to and about city agencies and their lack of appearance in Canarsie – but when agencies finally host an elaborate and well-thought-out session about how projects impact us, the civic leaders are nowhere to be found!

Are civic leaders in contact with each other about when other meetings are held? The Canarsie Courier’s Community Guide isn’t just a listing of events in black and white to acknowledge and pass by. It’s meant to spread the word to your friends and neighbors, as well as civics, so attendance at the events would be even higher. Did anyone even know about the DEP meeting? Why didn’t all the civics get together and attend so that they could bring these important issues back to their members at their next meeting?

Whether it’s bad timing for your schedule or you just “don’t care” anymore, is not my business. But if we’re truly going to return to the “tight-knit” community we were over 10 years ago, I suggest more civics get involved – with each other and take advantage when an agency avails itself to us.

If your only concerns are issues within your own group, then you might as well have your head in the sand!

 http://www.canarsiecourier.com/news/2011-03-31/Letters|Opinion/Why_Arent_Our_Civic_Groups_Working_With_Each_Other.html