Open Thread Wednesday: June 20, 2012

By on June 20, 2012 9:05 am in Brooklyn Heights

With scorching temps in the 90s today, it’s a perfect opportunity to heat up Wednesday’s Open Thread. What’s on your mind? Comment away! (Photo: Chuck Taylor)

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  • Jorale-man

    Nice to see a pretty civil Open Thread this week, especially after all the nastiness on the BB Park post.

    Out of curiosity, has anyone ever studied the temperature difference between the Heights and Manhattan? I noticed tonight that it felt a lot more tolerable getting off the subway at High Street than when I got on in Soho. I assume it’s just a question of less concrete, more trees and perhaps the harbor breezes. Could be a good selling point in the face of climate change.

  • BH’er

    Its interesting:
    Generator spewing exhaust over a playground selling ice cream = ok
    New hot dog stand = not ok

    Bossert Hotel = ok
    New hotel downstairs (where NO ONE lives, btw) = not ok

    This just doesn’t make sense – anyone wonder how the Heights got to be known as ‘stodgy’??

    We need more people living around here – younger people. The only businesses open past 11pm are Montague Bagels and Happy Days Diner.

    We need growth in a young, active, outgoing population – otherwise, the nabe will continue to dwindle deeper into what Reggie Watts calls ‘uninspiring’ and with good reason

    We need some change around here and I hope it comes in the form of lots of new development, new revenues, and new businesses (even a new velodrome!) that stir things up

    The Brooklyn waterfront in 10 years is going to look like the Jersey City side, so start making plans…. more ferry terminals, low slung buildings, including residential, more activity, sports fields, pools – life will be better for it around here

  • Saa419

    I know we live in a free country, but I am getting more and more upset with the amount of beggars on the street.

    I was approached yesterday by 4 different people…the usual annoying beggars on Montague, but yesterday I was approached by a young woman begging for money for her and her baby, and a senior citizen about 85 asking for money.

    It’s getting very upsetting to hear and see this. Everyday I give money to someone. I know some would say not to give any money…they would go away. But these people are not cats…and I just can’t seem to walk passed and do nothing.

    Am I the only one who finds herself dodging the beggars?

  • WillowSt.Neighbor

    Saa419,
    No, you are not alone. Sometimes I walk down Clinton to Atlantic instead of taking Court St. Several times I gave $2 to a man asking for money for coffee only to find out that he actually lives at 55 Pierrepont Street and is not homeless.
    What really disturbed me was the stabbing at the Brooklyn Heights Library a few weeks ago. Several days later we took a trip to the small New England town that we will be moving to early next year and we were delighted to see a library where the staff was friendly and accommodating and that there was a “quiet” reading room for adults.
    I used to think my husband was heartless for not giving to every person who was begging and now I feel the same.
    At my age it will be a welcome relief to live in a safer, quieter community.
    Do you know that there are NO scooters in small town New England???? Now that’s a big plus!

  • sonny

    Saa – so sorry that you have to face the harsh reality of these bad economic times on your daily walks. How disrespectful of these “beggars” to interrupt you like that. Nobody’s forcing you to give to everyone, but you don’t have to complain about others who are less fortunate than you.

    And WillowStNeighbor – don’t let the door hit you on the way out.
    One less crabby person on this blog.

  • Court Street

    “Anybody have ten cents or a quarter please? Thank you!”. That guy will drive you crazy!!

  • knitwit

    The “god bless” guy must have returned from his winter home in Florida. I have to stare ahead and walk pass. Yes, there are also new pan handlers. Always a part of New York life so between the “clip board” people and our regular street people, I just have to zig zag across the street.

  • Elmer Fudd

    Something to think about.

    A parking ticket around here costs around $45 or $65. What is the fine cost for not picking up after your dog?

    I’m thinking there are more bad dog owners around here than bad car owners. And an illegally parked car doesn’t soil your shoes, or cause disease like dog poop can.

    Why aren’t city workers ticketing dog owners?

    Let’s deputize street beggars to ticket dog owners who don’t pick-up poop.

    The beggars can wear little camcorders on their lapels to settle disputes in Ca-Ca court.

    The city could sell districts to the beggars – like they do for City Sheriffs. The beggars could keep a piece of the action, and pay City Taxes (unlike some of the real estate developers do around here).

    Something to think about.

  • GHB

    You have a choice to give or not. Just keep in mind how desperate some of these people are to be begging on the streets and subways. Truly sad…

  • Wrennie

    Jorale-man, YES! It’s science. It’s year-round, too. Less bitter in the winter, less oppressive in the summer.

  • WillowSt.Neighbor

    Sonny,
    You might think me a crabby person but I have a vested interest in BH as I actually own property here unlike some others on this board who, I believe, don’t live here at all.
    This crabby person has a right to be concerned when there is a stabbing in the local library.If that stabbing had occured when someone’s precious child was in attendance, I cannot begin to imagine the outcry.

  • Andrew Porter

    Beggars: The one who sits on the stoop on the west side of Henry Street midway between Clark and Pierrepont whipped out a cell-phone that’s a lot more expensive than the one I own…

    Young kids with clipboards: lately they’re with Planned Parenthood, the ACLU, Greenpeace. Somehow my standard, “Are there no prisons, no poorhouses?” is starting to sound a little lame.

    As someone pointed out, what’s with the noise of the drums coming from a building on Montague?

    I was in Sydney, Australia in 2010, and the Circular Quay area is thick with hotels, water taxies, tourists. I can see a hotel and apartments upland of Pier 1 being totally full of people taking the water taxi into Manhattan, enjoying the view of Wall Street. Not what we want here in BH, but there’s definitely an unfilled need.

  • Mr. Crusty

    Sonny said, “Saa – so sorry that you have to face the harsh reality of these bad economic times on your daily walks. How disrespectful of these “beggars” to interrupt you like that”

    That seems a little harsh sonny. NYC has many social services for those in need. Homeless shelters, free food kitchens, etc. I willingly pay my taxes to enable NYC to have a robust safety net. I’d even be willing to pay more but I will not give money to those on the street begging every single day. This is not Calcutta where someone has to beg in order to get food. Quite frankly some of those that i see asking for money do not look like they missed many a meal. And as a another commenter remarked, I have seen some of the “regulars” talking on their cell phones.

    So it might make you feel morally superior sonny to criticize the comments of saa but don’t be so naive to think that everyone begging is necessarily doing so because of some dire necessity.

  • WillowSt.Neighbor

    Mr Crusty,
    I finally agree with you on something!
    I gave money to a woman standing at a bus stop on Court St. who told me that it was her birthday and she just wanted to get bus money so that she could get home. I gave her enough money for the bus fare. Funny thing is I am quite certain that I have seen her numerous times on that very same corner probably telling others that it’s her birthday and that she needs to get home.
    I have other examples but they are too numerous to go into.
    Your point is well made that not everyone who is begging is doing so out of dire necessity.

  • Mr. Crusty

    When I worked in Dumbo there was this one guy, I would say in his late 20s, looked very physically fit, always begging in front of a popular deli on Washington Street. I frequently observed him talking on his cell phone so I knew he wasn’t in any desperate financial condition.

    Once he had the audacity to say in a loud sarcastic voice when I walked passed him without acknowledging his presence, “thanks for your generosity”. Needless to say I didn’t just walk on like many would have but I turned around and gave him a tongue lashing that I am sure he did not expect. I’ll be damned if I am going to be intimidated, made to feel guilty or otherwise pressured to give anyone a handout. He certainly didn’t need it and I resented his even asking quite frankly.

    That is not to say that there aren’t those truly in need. But rather than beg on the street they should find out what social services are available for them. Giving money does nothing to help their situation.

  • Ellie

    Hello Shenley House residents on Hicks Street! Look up and down the street and what do you notice? A little clue….garbage cans!

  • David on Middagh

    I used to read Ambrose Bierce. An apropos fable?

    The Beggar

    A man with a salary was returning to his office when he was intercepted by a man with dirty shoes and a cigarette dangling from his mouth.

    “Spare some change, Sir?” asked the latter man, exhaling alcoholically.

    “I used to give ten dollars at a time, but I became convinced that half my donation bought cigarettes and alcohol,” said the salaried one dryly.

    “Maybe today you should give twenty dollars,” said the dirty one.

    “Perhaps, but apparently I am accustomed to supporting only five dollars worth of the essentials,” said the salaried one, proffering such a note.

    “Thank you very much, Sir,” nodded the dirty one. “The essentials it shall be.”

  • PromGal

     I think Custom House is yet another ill thought out venture. Restaurateurs look at the demographics and see a potential gold mine but it never materializes. 
     IMHO Custom House has very ordinary food served by amateurs in a totally unimpressive setting. 
     For a charming country tavern ambiance with very good food, we like Jack the Horse. 
     There is a reason that almost everything in BH closes early… there is little street traffic or business after 10 pm. 
     Some posters have called BH “stodgy”, but most of us have families and/serious jobs, and work long hours, get up early, go to bed early, and dine out occasionally. Lots of us go away on weekends. 
     BH has for a very long time been a residential, family neighborhood. It isn’t hip or cool, and hopefully never will be. For those seeking that lifestyle, there are many other places to choose from in Brooklyn or Manhattan.
     People have invested heavily in Brooklyn Heights, financially, socially, community wise, and are here for the long term. 
     People come to BH for exactly those reasons that some of the whiners decry- stability, peace and quiet, tree lined streets with historic houses, wonderful historic places of worship, excellent schools.
     I’ve never though of Montague Street as anything but one commercial street in an otherwise residential neighborhood. 
     A nice addition has been Le Pain Quotidien which serves very good food, especially their salads and sandwiches, in a clean pleasant setting with good, polite service. I’m loving their gazpacho, smoked salmon tartine, and roasted peach and mozzarella salad these hot summery days. Iced tea made from tea bags, not mix, with free refills is a plus. Highly recommended for breakfast, brunch, lunch, or early dinner (they close at 8:30). They also have a nice children’s menu, which is also a coloring book with crayons. Children seem to respond to the setting and are quiet and well behaved for the most part. 
     Sorry if you whiners aren’t happy here. Maybe you should think of changing your location rather than constantly trying to change this unique historic neighborhood so many of us love into something we, the property owners who pay the real estate taxes don’t really want. 

     
      

  • WillowSt.Neighbor

    PromGal,
    Well said.

  • A math major

    Ditto.

  • Mr. Crusty

    PromGal you make all good points but if I have to quibble with one thing and it revolves around this line, “Maybe you should think of changing your location rather than constantly trying to change this unique historic neighborhood”

    I’m not so sure it is people wanting to change the neighborhood necessarily (with one notable exception) but to shape the inevitable change that is sure to come. Nothing stays static as much as we would wish it so. BH will evolve as it has always evolved. Change will happen and like a fork in the road there often are two (or more) paths that can be taken. A lot of the debate that you see on the BHB, some of it heated, is on which path is best. Reasonable and good intentioned people can (and do) disagree on that. No one has a crystal ball after all.

    For example take the Bossert Hotel. Change is going to happen whether you like it or not. JW will no longer be using the building. It will be sold. So there are a couple of paths that change can take place… a upscale hotel like is presently being proposed albeit with additional traffic and noise …. a dormitory type of residence (see St George Hotel)…. social services facilities …. and who knows what else. The relative merits of each can be debated but what can not be debated is that it will not stay the same as it was in the past. Change, whether you like it or not.

    Another example is BRP. There are no longer Port Authority Piers and dilapidated warehouses. That is changing big time. And the debate has to revolve around which path, that is realistically attainable, is best. Some might argue that we just want a beautiful green park without any private development. But that is not realistic. That is not doable. Choices. Life is always about choices and sometimes compromising.

    So, to me, the debate is not whether Brooklyn Heights should change or not as I don’t think anyone has any control over that, but rather what form that change should take. For example preventing the Bossert from being converted to hotel will not result in maintaining the status quo, but perhaps unintentionally lead to something far less desirable.

  • ColumbiaHeightster

    ^ Well said, well thought out.

  • David on Middagh

    “But that is not realistic. That is not doable. Choices. Life is always about choices and sometimes compromising. ”

    I think some folks who have said their piece on other threads and who have become condescendingly long-winded might consider launching their own blog, Mr. Crusty!

  • David on Middagh

    …a blog where we all can go. A blog which we all can read. Life is about visiting blogs, and the choices one makes about which blogs to visit. Sometimes we have to compromise, because there isn’t time to read all the blogs. But that’s life.

  • David on Middagh

    …and life isn’t always the way we want it to be.

  • David on Middagh

    …because of change, which is inevitable. Unless you’re a beggar.

  • hicks st guy

    @Prom Gal, agreed with a lot of your statements, but you undermine your arguments with the “whiners” and “property owners” comments. if one has any criticism, they are “whiners”?
    and if one rents, their opinion is worthless? I own a place here in BH, love it, but consider those who pay the exorbitant rents qualified to have an opinion. surprisingly off-putting comments.

  • T.K. Small

    Sheets of rain falling
    thunder and lightning arrive
    exploding fury

  • Mr. Crusty

    yeah.. that was a wild few minutes….

  • ColumbiaHeightster

    @PromGal “we, the property owners who pay the real estate taxes…”

    WOW. That is disgusting. So renters don’t have a stake in the community? Their opinion is somewhat less valid? You’re an elitist jerk.

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