Closing Bell: Brooklyn Celebrates National Night Out

Residents, public officials and members of the law enforcement community celebrated the National Night Out Against Crime last night with street-party celebrations (like this one in Windsor Terrace) all over the borough. (Too bad anti-crime had to be combined with pro-cholesterol-and-sugar though. Don't kids get enough of that from their school cafeterias?) We stopped by the Fort Greene event at the corner of Dekalb and Washington Park. How was the Night Out in your nabe?
Photo by Krista Fogle

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Comments

The event at Brower Park in the Crown Heights Historic District was quite well attended. While I'm not exactly sure how the "Night Out" will impact the unfortunate criminal activity that at times affects our neighborhood, I'm sure it can't hurt. Otherwise, it was great to see kids, parents and the neighborhood's diverse populace coming together to enjoy the day peacefully.

Posted by: East New York at August 6, 2008 4:12 PM

When this event was started, it was about taking back the streets. The 84th Precinct had its event in front of Borough Hall (where the worst crime has been shilling for Atlantic Yards) and the 88th Precinct kept the southeast corner of Fort Greene Park safe on a sunny afternoon. Someone told me that Tish James encouraged the "eight-eight" to have its Night Out at Grand and Putnam and I think she has a point. If cops want to have a barbeque and rides, great. But in downtown at least, this event has lost touch with its roots.

Posted by: altervoce at August 6, 2008 4:22 PM

Speaking of roots, what's the deal with kids and mohawks? Is this a trend started by the Beckhams? And judging by the average weight of the adults in the picture, I think they should have been passing out carrot sticks and apples. It's a nice community event, but does any sane person actual think this will actually stop even one crime from taking place?

Posted by: Biff Champion at August 6, 2008 4:25 PM

i'm gonna get some mullets on my kids next week now that everyone has mohawks.

Posted by: dittoburg at August 6, 2008 4:30 PM

Well, last night I did connect with the Captain on the 81st pct., the president of my block association, and a recent crime victim from the area as we ate hamburgers compliments of RibCage. We discussed how to get stake-holders from the area more involved in anti-crime activities and agreed to meet to discuss it at the next block assocation meeting. I'm wondering what models have worked in other areas like this one? This is new to me, so if there are any ideas or information to share, I'd like to hear from you. One simple thing that came up was how stopping block parties a 8PM and keeping the corners clear would cut down crime. Frankly that alone would have stopped 25% of the crime from happening here.

Posted by: MacD at August 6, 2008 5:11 PM

Kids have worn mohawks since the late 1970's and early 1980's. I had one when I was 12 in 1987. I'm sure that kids' parents either had one back in the day, or wished they did and now they've approved of junior getting one.

Posted by: Shahn Andersen at August 6, 2008 5:15 PM

MacD, interesting insight, but it begs the question: how did the RibCage hamburgers compare to Diner in Williamsburg? Perhaps it should be the next Restaurant of the Day? Hamburgers, "stake-holders", "agreed to meet", you're making me hungry even though I ate at Wolfgang's a mere four hours ago.

Seriously, are there that many block parties in your hood? I haven't seen any in Brooklyn Heights, probably because 85% of the residents are out of town or in bed by 8pm.

Posted by: Biff Champion at August 6, 2008 5:20 PM

the day cops stop knocking kids off bikes during critical mass is the day I support them.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rwkVMT6m7zg

Posted by: CobbleHilller at August 6, 2008 6:06 PM

MacD, sounds like you had a reasonably productive evening. Glad to hear it. I hope you can stick with it and it pays dividends.

As for mohawks, gave myself one kind of unintentionally before going home for Christmas. I think it was 1980. My regular barber had closed his shop for the holiday and gone hunting and my own skills were, hm, not up to the task. When I got back to campus, the barber stopped me on the street and asked me to make it clear to people that he wasn't responsible.

Posted by: altervoce at August 6, 2008 6:13 PM

altervoce, that's very funny. I don't think it's odd when tweens and above want to do it to themselves, but always wonder what's the deal when adults do it to their 3 and 4 year-olds. I mean, do they even know what a mohawk is at that age? Are the parents just trying to instill some hipster vibe during their kids' formative years? The rat-tail thing on children is also bizarre to me and seems a tad trailer park trash-ish even though it seems to me it's the mid- to upper class mommies and daddies in New York who do this.

Posted by: Biff Champion at August 6, 2008 6:22 PM

A tad! It's quintessential trailer park.

Posted by: dittoburg at August 6, 2008 6:39 PM

Biff, it's a very differet culture here in Bed Stuy than in Brookyn Heights (shocked, I know). There are SERIOUS block parties here, and they vary in nature depending on which block it's on. I've seen people having a great time with BBQ, kits, music, beer, etc at theirs, while others have ended in tragedy with gun fire and death (Gates Ave block party, I believe, this summer). I'll be a bit of an oddball at mine this summer, I'm sure, when I serve Mimosa's on my front yard while playing Jazz vinyl's at mine. But it's my neighborhood too, damn it and I can play Coltrane if I want to! Regarding burgers at RibCage vs. Diner, I have eaten them at both. I was really impressed with the burger I had last night (it had a nice smokey flavor with a hint of BBQ sauce integrated into the meat). But I do so enjoy how Diner's burgers dribble down my chin. There's no reason we can't have a bonafide burger taste-off with 5 or more burgers before the end of the summer, unless Chowhound already beat us to it.

Posted by: MacD at August 6, 2008 7:43 PM

My neighbors ("west" Bed-Stuy) speak of great enthusiasm and participation at our block parties. However, I gather that an after-dark shooting was a very unfortunate ending a few years ago, and it's been difficult to organize support since--which is sad. Especially because the real fun is for youngsters who thrill at riding bikes, skateboards, roller blades down the middle of the street, throwing footballs, and grilling hot dogs and burgers all afternoon. An 8pm closing for block parties sounds like a good idea.

Posted by: tamt at August 6, 2008 8:22 PM

There are plenty of summer block parties near me in Old Mill Basin and the Marine Park area but they keep the kids busy by renting small rides, karaoke machines etc. And the parents keep an eye on their kids because the street is blocked off both sides with cars and a cop car for good measure. No problems.

Posted by: pattunia at August 7, 2008 4:26 AM

Thanks MacD (and other too) for the insight. Yes, it's quite a different world between the nabes. The block parties sound like they have the potential to be amazingly fun and instill such a sense of pride and feeling of community. If there could be some way to maintain all the positive aspects while curbing the negative ones, it would be wonderful.

And I apologize for my initial flip comment regarding the National Night Out Against Crime having no impact on anything. You've shown me it was an ignorant statement and I should know better than to denigrate any protest / event / gathering that is done with the intention to improve a community.

Posted by: Biff Champion at August 7, 2008 11:15 AM

I've been pondering this for a while, (what can I say, I have the time, sad as it is), and I'm not sure bringing the type of food served at this function into the discussion is exactly productive. It actually just seems to feed the divisiveness within the community. I really hate the way the class system in Brooklyn gets boiled down to whether or not you're too precious to let your kids eat Utz brand chips or not.

Posted by: Heather at August 7, 2008 1:55 PM

Huh? Heather, how does talking about poor eating habits feed the divisiveness within the community and relate to the class system? Nobody was implying only certain racial / ethnic groups had poor eating habits; just that kids of every color should be eating healthier. Wow, I'm lost. I think you're over-thinking this! I did see a mom feed a one-year old or so Pringles this morning for breakfast. I think there's something wrong with that.

Posted by: Biff Champion at August 7, 2008 2:33 PM

Maybe I am, but here's an article about communities uniting against crime and you and Mr. B. are pointing out the snack choices and making snarky comments about weight.

It just seems in poor taste.

That, and I am getting so sick of the locovores. It's commendable to say that everyone should have access to good food and the time and means to prepare it, but when that same sentiment gets turned against people who bothered to provide snacks for an event... (and did either of you?)... eh, I am overthinking it.

But I did find it slightly tasteless, unlike the flavorsome bite of Utz food products and Pringles. (Although I prefer Herr's, natch.)

Posted by: Heather at August 7, 2008 3:55 PM

Yes, you're right in your first paragraph. That's why I apologized for my initial comments, which were overly cynical, ignorant and unfair - although I stand by my mohawk comments :-)

Yep, and I see your point about the snacks and people providing for the event. Mea culpa. I shouldn't have joked about it.

Je suis désolé

Posted by: Biff Champion at August 7, 2008 4:21 PM

Alors, mais ou est le stylo de ma tante? Et pourquoi permittez les citizens a manger les gateaux?

Posted by: Heather at August 7, 2008 5:25 PM

:0)

Posted by: Biff Champion at August 8, 2008 7:52 AM