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August 17, 2007
Individuals sitting on our stoop
I just purchase a 2 family brownstone in Bedfordstuyvesant. I am having problems keeping a certain set a individuals who hang out daily off my stoop. I have ask them nicely to not sit on my stoop. Two days ago a child throw rocks at our windows. Any suggestions?
Comments
I have the same problem in Lefferts Manor. There isn't really anything to do except for putting a gate in front of the stoop--which is what I did this summer. The offending people have moved to the neighbors stoop now. Which isn't that much better. Good luck.
Posted by: guest at August 17, 2007 1:37 PM
Call the cops.
Posted by: guest at August 17, 2007 1:49 PM
similar posts - barbeques on the sidewalk oustide of house - have suggested quietly asserting yourself, such as sitting outside with a drink and "joining" them. I had repeat unwanted loiterers and when they were there I "did the gardening" (which I did need to do) including watering plants and hosing down the steps and sidewalk. Just said, excuse me fellas, but I need to clean up, do you mind? Wet stairs kept people off for a while afterwards, After a while they didn't return.
To be clear, this is NOT suggesting for you to turn a hose on 'em!
Posted by: guest at August 17, 2007 1:53 PM
Put your little radio outside or in the window and play some opera or chant music, they will vanish....
Posted by: guest at August 17, 2007 1:57 PM
That last post will probably work. Put some opera on and tell them to go sit on someone else's property, preferably where they actually live, not yours. If they are kids, find out where they are from (ask your neighbors if they won't tell you). Talk to their parents.
Then, if that doesn't work, call the cops.
Posted by: guest at August 17, 2007 2:30 PM
Maybe an obvious question, but do you have a fence? The kids on my block tend to hang out in any space that seems "unclaimed", whether it's vacant or just un-used. Hang out on your stoop. Have a popsicle. The kids will pass your stoop for an empty one, and you'll get to meet your other neighbors as they walk by.
Posted by: guest at August 17, 2007 2:32 PM
How about going and sitting with them and getting to know them a little? What are their names? They are your neighbors, after all. They just might end up being the ones to help you out or watch out for you in the future.
Posted by: guest at August 17, 2007 2:36 PM
Stoop sitting is a Brooklyn Institution. Feeling free to sit on other people's stoop is a Brooklyn Institution. Asking, however politely, to move will in cases get you rocks aimed at the window. Claim the space by sitting out there yourself, they will move on.
Posted by: guest at August 17, 2007 2:47 PM
2:47, that is the dumbest line of reasoning I think I've ever heard on this board. Trespassing is not a brooklyn institution.
Posted by: new2hood at August 17, 2007 2:52 PM
pee in a cup, toss cup of pee onto stoop. see if anyone wants to sit there. hose off. repeat until not longer needed.
Posted by: guest at August 17, 2007 3:05 PM
new2hood - wow, you really are new 2 hood.
Posted by: guest at August 17, 2007 3:22 PM
I think the best advice is to go stoopsit when you see them on your stoop...and bring out your pitbull with you.
Posted by: guest at August 17, 2007 3:56 PM
Used to have this happen all the time with high school students at a house I had in Jersey City. They would just sit and sit and then leave all their snack wrappers all over the steps. When we said that this was our house and to get off the stairs to two young ladies they just ignored us. They didn't even move aside to let us easily walk down our own stairs. So we followed up with interval afterschool dog walks with our Pit/Lab mix. Word go around and we never saw anyone else sit there.
Posted by: guest at August 17, 2007 4:28 PM
I like the pee in a cup idea. If that don't work you could always take a dump in a plate and leave it there.
Posted by: guest at August 17, 2007 8:23 PM
You dont need to play opera. Put on family radio or a christian music station and you will then see people flee.Also throw some ammonia or bleach by the garbage cans then wash down the stairs.If all else fails, go outside with a bible in your hand,sit on the step and start reading aloud a few passages, preferably the ten commandments or a few chapters from Revelations all the while shouting halleleujah periodically.You will have the block to yourself.
Posted by: guest at August 18, 2007 12:46 AM
The opera idea is a great one. If that doesn't work, before having a permanent iron gate installed, try a simple chain barrier approach. You should be able to pick something up at the local hardware store.
A more drastic option is to purchase a Smellslikecraptor 1000 online, aim it at the offenders discreetly from the nearest front windows, and flip the switch. I suggest using setting four "rotten milk" or setting seven "decaying rat innards."
Good luck!
Posted by: guest at August 18, 2007 7:06 AM
This is an old problem most of us have had. It's a new experience to you because you're a new home owner. Some of the above posters have some over the top ideas, like pee in and cup or opera. You're taking a big chance if you go that route. You could be inviting a game ( or war ) of sorts. I think those ideas are fun fantasy but you're better off calling 311 or the Police. Be upfront with the people hanging out on your stoop. Be nice and tell them that your stoop is not public space. We had the same trouble when we first moved in. Often in the morning I would find beer bottles left in front of our house. I guess they considered my stoop a public party space. Originally most row houses didn't have fences or gates. Over time people added gates and fences, so now the houses that are open to the sidewalks have become invitations for a stop. Older people stop to catch their breath and kids just like to hang out and meet up with their friends..( Some of these kids can be 19 and up! ) The small kids just love to hang out on other peoples stoop too, I can understand it, It's like playing ball in the street is different than in the park. This is what city life is about. We all live around & on top of each other, it's natural that there will be some spill over into your space. Once we put a gate in, people would move to the closest stoop that didn't have one.
Posted by: Rick at August 18, 2007 7:29 AM
it's interesting. i'm white and sit on others people's stoops all the time. mostly i get hellos and smiles from their respective owners.
i can't for the life of me figure out why this particular situation would be any different.
hmmm....let me think on it.
Posted by: guest at August 18, 2007 11:04 AM
A baseball bat slung over your shoulder may get their attention.
Posted by: guest at August 18, 2007 12:37 PM
Well whad'ya know, bring on your opera, I'm a stoop-sitting thug who loves classical opera. A drive-by is not a drive-by unless you have Sir Colin and ma London Symphony crew riding shotgun wich'ya!
Pop-up, pop-up ....Westsaiiide, Ruuuuff, Ruuuuff!!!!!
Posted by: guest at August 18, 2007 12:41 PM
I'm green and I find that people with purple houses don't mind if I sit on their stoops while people with yellow houses get pissed and spray me with elephant snot.
Posted by: guest at August 18, 2007 2:24 PM
12:41 - that was too cute!!
Posted by: guest at August 18, 2007 3:54 PM
I came home the other day to find two guys sitting on my stoop, so I (female) said hi, sat down next to them and took out my Blackberry to do some work. They moved to my neighbor's stoop.
Posted by: guest at August 18, 2007 10:47 PM
I remember sitting on stoops back in my younger days so I try to be nice and tell them they can stay so longs as they don't leave a mess (garbage, cigarette butts.... ). No issues.
Posted by: guest at August 18, 2007 10:49 PM
We had that problem with our next door neighbors who sell items next door and always have a throng of people congregating (kids and adults) around. After repeated conversations to the neighbors that our place is left dirty or vandalized my the congreagants, we finally put a 5 foot fence around our small front yard (as we see has been done in most of the houses in the neighborhood. The change has been dramatic. There was just a block party and not even a gum wrapper was left in our yard for the first time.
Posted by: jazzmister at September 24, 2007 3:14 PM
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