Open Thread Wednesday

What’s on your mind (besides six to eight inches of snow tomorrow)? Comment away!

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  • AndyHeights

    I’ve been noticing a police car usually with it’s blue lights flashing on the corner of Henry Street & Joralemon Street, 24/7, (I think) for the last week or so. Anyone know why it’s always there?

  • Andrew Porter

    Didn’t you post this same question on last week’s Open Thread? (And, fwiw, this poster isn’t Me.)

  • Andrew Porter

    Here’s this week’s old postcard, showing the Brooklyn Eagle Building on Washington Street, now Cadman Plaza East. The site of the building is now the planted area at Johnson Street and Cadman Plaza East, where the NY Supreme Court building is.

    On the left, you can see the edge of the old courthouse building, which is still there:

    https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/eb4d2d69b54a19983c521a7dc032f423f5476d4dff7e21c697215f393bdfd221.jpg

  • Reggie

    Sheesh. Mr. I-Have-A-Comment-On-Everything-Including-What-I-Had-For-Breakfast has no time for a repeated question. He also apparently has never called the precinct, which has a voicemail system out of the 90s and even if a caller does get through, the desk staff almost invariably doesn’t know the answer to the question. Andy, the officers in the car are probably bored to tears, having already read the Post, the Daily News, and their Facebook feed. You could try just asking them, although they might not answer out of fear of saying too much, as in anything. The 84th Precinct Community Council will hold its monthly meeting at 7:00 pm on Tuesday, February 21, at Borough Hall, not far from the site in question. I am sure you could pose your question to the commanding or executive officer.

  • ColumbiaHeightster

    Lay off, guy. He didn’t get an answer last week, and is hoping to get one this week. Why do you care? FWIW, I’m still curious. It was there this morning.

  • Cranberry Beret

    Can anyone recommend a plumber/heating company to service a residential gas boiler? My usual plumber is AWOL.

  • StudioBrooklyn

    I saw one parked like that on Columbia Heights at Pierrepont, maybe two or three days ago. It’s all I can do to keep my imagination from inventing reasons why they’re doing this. I’m curious to know.

  • neighboronhicks

    i don’t have an answer, but i LOVE your Disqus handle.

  • DIBS

    Maybe just eating donuts.

  • Jorale-man

    Ready for the snowstorm? 6-12 inches predicted, then temperatures in the teens Thursday night. Enjoy the 60-degree warmth today.

  • You know who this is….

    I love driving in the snow for two reasons, first I have enough engine to do “out of control” looking full circles spins to scare yuppies and secondly I imagine myself in a tank attacking Stalingrad….Hey, snow is great!

  • Anonymous

    Interesting comment, don’t care much for the second part
    Enjoy the snow!

  • cranberry

    John Hlad plumbing and heating 718-768-0689
    prompt, honest, pleasant and very competent Several of us on Cranberry use him.

  • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UlsiLOnWCoI Arch Stanton

    I imagine you in that tank rolling over an antitank mine…

  • AndyHeights

    Actually this is the first time I asked the question. I’ve lived on Henry Street for many years and do not recall ever seeing this before, especially 24/7, and so I wanted to ask my neighbors if they had any understanding as to why the need for a 24 hour police car on the corner. Not really a biggie, or worth calling the precinct or anything over. Just curious.

  • Andrew Porter

    When Ken Fisher, then in the NY City Council, lived at 60 Pineapple Street, there was a police car stationed in front of the building around the clock.

  • Andrew Porter

    I have often called the 84th Precinct. I don’t get lost in voice mail. I think the answer is to ask for Community Affairs.

  • Andrew Porter

    Here’s a photo I took on Hicks Street during the Big Blizzard of 1983, in the days before City Hall decided to plow every street, ruining things for snow-loving dogs everywhere:

    https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/15e6c7435bcac9b32dfd5b9e8f6d1825a0804c01ce4b57eab28f9ed2b46f50eb.jpg

  • StudioBrooklyn

    Do cops still eat donuts? I imagine that truism being shelved next to the one where they all have Irish accents. A couple weekends ago I was having dinner at Yemen Cafe and four cops came in and had a long meal together. It was really nice to see.

  • StudioBrooklyn

    Losing control of your vehicle, in any weather conditions, doesn’t “scare yuppies” so much as endanger the lives of other people and yourself.

    If you’re going to go off your meds do us all a favor and stay off the internet, too. And don’t drive, either.

  • AndyHeights

    Thanks for the reply, It does make sense that perhaps a politician or a diplomat is living on the block and getting protection. I hadn’t thought of that. That’s why I asked the question to get some input from my neighbors. Thank you!

  • regularmike

    Wow, what a provocative question (apparently)!

  • cool

    I sometimes fantasize that Gristedes is replaced with a grocer like West Side Market. I’m sure this will never be reality, but does anyone know if Gristedes’ landlord has considered other tenants?

  • StudioBrooklyn

    West Side Market is sort of like a Garden of Eden, right? Because we ostensibly have one of those. I’d like to see Gristedes replaced by an art gallery, or a bowling alley, or a very large woodworking studio, or anything really would be of more use to our community than a Gristedes, except for a nail salon.

  • Andrew Porter

    That 33-story-high building going up on Jay Street has topped out. Lots of photos and article here:

    http://tinyurl.com/h6k9pdt

  • AEB

    I think Gougestedes serves a certain function for north Heights residents. When in need of items that Peas and Pickles (yes, I know it has a “new” name) doesn’t stock, one can always go there.

    But it IS a vast wasteland of, mostly, over-priced dreck, for which one pays dearly. I’m always surprised that it’s a busy as it is.

    My own choice for a replacement would be a large miniature golf course; I don’t, however, see that arriving soon.

  • Jorale-man

    A plug for a new coffee shop on the lower reaches of Atlantic Avenue, Espresso Me. Nice, cozy ambiance, much quieter than the always-crowded Swallow Cafe up the line.

  • DIBS

    Where else would one be able to get Table Talk pies??? :-(

  • StudioBrooklyn

    After noticing they mark up their beer prices by as much as 50% over Key Foods I realized they’re probably serving the dorms across the street, where the kiddos are too intimidated by the oversized bodega feel of “P&P” and don’t really value fresh produce or imported Asian brands anyway.

  • Paul

    My wife asked the officers who were sitting in the patrol car why they were there and they told her they are there in response to an increase in motorcycle thefts in the neighborhood. I don’t believe that is the real reason they are there as it makes no sense to sit in an idle vehicle and try to deter potential motorcycle theives. I’m sure they are there to provide someone with extra security.