Even Sidewalks are NOT Safe - Longing for More Sunday Drivers

I mean, come on. How many of these insane stories do we need to hear before people take responsibility for driving a two ton machine around town? (And yes, I drive a two ton vehicle around town on occasion.) Even if you have the "right of way," even if you MUST make the turn with the yellow light, even if you bumped the car behind you while parking and you want to get away real fast - you are wielding an instrument that can cause serious and deadly damage.

Yesterday, a Brooklyn eight-year-old lost his leg while sitting on a stoop with his mom; a person attempting to parallel park forgot which pedal was the brake and which was the gas. This morning, another accident occurred when an apparent heart attack rendered the driver incapable of controlling his vehicle. It also hopped the curb and slammed into a building.

Add these very recent Brooklyn stories to tales of police chases ending in pile-ups, but not before killing a pedestrian, children on a library outing being killed, inebriated men driving into women who ignored their advances. Then consider older tales of drunk and exhausted off-duty cops killing families and trucks making turns with no disregard for the WALK sign, and we're living in the midst of a cycle of violence that is routinely down-played (it was an accident, he was drunk, the brakes failed) and excused. Cars don't kill people - unless they are wielded by people who don't respect the power of thousands of pounds of metal and rubber.

That's not to say that there aren't accidents. We can't help when heart attacks happen. Pedestrians are also insane at times. Brakes fail (although I seriously doubt the brakes fail as much as people claim.). Nevertheless, sitting on a stoop or waiting on a sidewalk ought to be safer than crossing against traffic. Take responsibility for driving a car before something happens, so you don't have to regret what might happen later.

Stay safe out there.

Son Went Missing on Father's Day - help sought

This poster appeared up and down 5th Avenue (and probably in other areas) this morning. Being the suspicious person that I am, I always wonder if this sort of thing could be a prank. However, this one seems sincere. The poster basically says that a 20 year-old son has been missing since last Sunday. No name or physical description is given. Any information about his whereabouts would be appreciated by the family: 1 718 998 3152

Website Available to Help Organize Babysitting Coops (waffle recipe included)

Another enterprising Sunset Park parent has developed a website to assist babysitting coops with scheduling, doling out of "points," and organization. The description from the developer follows:

"Babysitting coops allow parents to swap babysitting services with other parents who live nearby. Vegetable Waffle facilitates coops by organizing information and providing a forum for requesting and offering babysitting. Members can find a babysitter using the master schedule and exchange points for babysitting services."

To check out the website, to read about "How to Get Started," or to see the recipe for a Vegetable Waffle, visit the site here.

Free Condoms from Trojan Today (and any day from NYC and Lifestyles)

Okay, so this isn't a Sunset Park issue in particular, but as a high school teacher, it's something close to my heart. When I taught Human Sexuality, it became abundantly clear that condoms were considered uncool, at least that was the public opinion. But you know what's even more uncool? Having to explain sores and smelly discharge and other fun developments to your intimate associate(s) - or worse, having to explain why your intimate associate (or more) now has said developments. When girls, in particular, asked me questions privately, it seemed like they wanted to use condoms, but they allowed the boys to convince them that they "knew what they were doing" and that they "were clean." So gullible, so trusting, so unsure. And it's not limited to teenage girls either. Get over it, people! If you want to play, use the right toys. And use them correctly. Maybe it's time for a Prophylactic Workshop at the Rec Center.

With the opening of Babeland in Brooklyn (lots of choices there for all sensations), and with the recent report about New York City's Herpes Problem, there's no reason not to take advantage of the free (and affordable) options. Here is a free one: NYC gives them out. And just for today, here's another free option from Trojan:

Friday, June 13: 7:00 AM – 10:00 AM
Atlantic Terminal (Brooklyn)
Friday, June 13: 11:30AM – 3:00
Borough Hall (Brooklyn)

Trojan will also send a free sample, if you wish.

Gothamist has full information about today here.

Woody Guthrie Lived in Coney Island for a While

Bet you never thought Mr. Dust-Bowl-Folk-Singer lived in Brooklyn, right? Well, he did. And it's where Arlo was born. For those of us who have explored more of Coney Island than the Wonder Wheel, the boardwalk, and Totonno's, the lyrics to "Mermaid's Avenue" will seem just a tad outdated. I don't know how much lox you'll find meeting up with bagels right around there. You might have some luck in one of the nursing homes located down past the Brooklyn Cyclones' stadium.

Some things he mentions are definitely still similar. Sea Gate is still, well, gated. And if you're lucky, you'll find evidence (imprint of physical) of activities under the boardwalk. Either way, it's great to re-live how Coney Island was seen through Guthrie's eyes, especially now that it's changing so radically once again. After reading the lyrics over, I have a craving for halvah.

Hey! Did you also know that Joyva, the largest US manufacturer of halvah is also in Brooklyn? Yes! I think I heard that first on a Food Network show. I get mine at Sahadi's, but I'm sure it's around much closer.

Sorry, I digress. Here are the lyrics, which I'm counting as my April 10th contribution to National Poetry Month.

from "Mermaid's Avenue"

Mermaid Avenue that’s the street
Where the lox and bagels meet,
Where the hot dog meets the mustard
Where the sour meets the sweet;
Where the beer flows to the ocean
(Where the halvah meets the pickle)
Where the wine runs to the sea;
Why they call it Mermaid Avenue
That’s more than I can see.

Mermaid Avenue that’s the street
Where the saint and sinners meet;
Where the grey hair meets the wave curls
Where the cops don’t ever sleep;
Where they pay some cops to stop you
When you hit that Sea Gate gate;
Where them bulls along that wire fence
Scare the mermaids all away

Mermaid Avenue that’s the street
Where the sun and storm clouds meet;
Where the ocean meets that rockwall
Where the boardwalk meets the beach;
Where the prettiest of the maidulas
Leave their legprints in that sand
Just beneath our lovesoaked boardwalk
With the bravest of our lads.

A Poem that Mentions Brooklyn by an Author Previously Unknown to Me

It's fun when your child naps for longer than you expect so there is time to tool around on the electronic highway in search of something new (to you). That's how I came across Tina Chang and "Duality."

I like this poem because the narrator displays such a brashness and vulnerability within the scenes portrayed. The person she wants to be, and is to some, and the person she is are truly separated. We all have a little of that in ourselves, don't we? We imagine ourselves to be much more brave and outspoken and magnificent and romantic (in the true sense of the word) than we turn out to be when confronted with real life situations. Maybe it's just me. The imagined conversations I have pre- and post-event always come across much more eloquent and dauntless than they turn out to be. Anyway, I am glad to have found the poem.

Tina Chang has her own website. Very hip. Here's the link to her brief bio.


from "Duality"

In daylight, I'll tip my sunglasses forward,
buy a cup of tea and think of the good
I've done for the world, how satisfying
it feels to give a man something to contemplate.
The heart is a whittled twig. No, that is not
the right image, so I drop the heart in a pile
of wood and light that massive test on fire.

I walk the streets of Brooklyn looking
at this storefront and that, buy a pair of shoes
I can't afford, pumps from London, pointed
at the tip and heartbreakingly high, hera
my new heels clicking, crushing the legs
of my shadow. The woman who wears
these shoes will be a warrior, will not think
about how wrong she is, how her calculations
look like the face of a clock with hands
ticking with each terrorizing minute.

Kimiko Hahn. A Brooklyn Poet!

Kimiko Hahn's collection The Artist's Daughter is readable, easy to relate to, and punctuated by images that cause slight discomfort.

You can read about Kimiko Hahn in the brief bio here.  

I chose a piece of a poem called "In Childhood" from 
The Artist's Daughter.  It makes allusions to several fairy tales,
which is one of my favorite tactics. I also like this excerpt because
it reminds me of another poem about childhood,
"His Speed and Strength" by fellow Brooklynite, Alicia Ostriker. 

from "In Childhood"  

Where do the gone things go 
when the child is old enough 
to walk herself to school, 
her playmates already
pumping so high the swing hiccups?    

The Artist's Daughter is published by W.W. Norton, and is available
on Amazon, but visiting your library or local bookstore is so much nicer.

I really want a Stop Sign on my block.

Last spring, local groups (Sunset Park Alliance of Neighbors and Friends of Sunset Park) began gathering signatures for traffic calming around Sunset Park itself. The areas of concern include 41st and 44th Streets between 5th Avenue and 7th Avenue. Cars and trucks use these streets as short cuts to and from New Utrecht and Fort Hamilton, and they gather speed as they go up the hill. It is treacherous for those crossing towards the park as the parked cars (and idling ice cream trucks!) often block a reasonable line of sight.

Almost 18 months ago Community Board 7 requested traffic calming measures, but they were denied. From what I understand, CB7 plans on re-submitting this request.

Late 2007, I wrote to the Mayor's Office. After many letters, I was informed that someone came to assess the situation. This person decided there was no speeding on the blocks, so no signage or speed bump was necessary. I wish they would come when I see all these cars racing up the hill!

Recently, I wrote to Marty Markowitz about this thorn in my side. I figured he might appreciate a photo opportunity in a community like Sunset Park. What better than opening the park season with Marty brandishing a new stop sign and providing safe passage for children, the elderly, dogs, and anyone else visiting the Best View in Brooklyn? Sadly, I was told that I'd have to wait for CB7 to get going on it again.

Maybe I should have pointed out that people who drive through Sunset Park don't watch for pedestrians. We're notorious for hit-and-run incidents! Grrrrr.

To supplement the SPAN and FoSP paper petitions, I've started a petition on-line. Please consider signing it!

Stop Sign Petition