To clarify:

I don't know what is in the spray bottle but it has a very strong smell. The fluid is bright yellow and it is in a large, industrial size bottle. Someone else told me their clothing had been ruined. When I was sprayed the dog took the brunt of it. I'm not sure what it is, but it is some cleaning chemical and very definitely not water.

I did not realize there was so much anti-dog feeling. I have lived on the same block as this fellow for almost 9 years and have had poop to clean up exactly one time. I do know there are irresponsible dog owners, but didn't realize that I should expect to defend myself as a matter of course. For the record that I DO curb my dog... always, every time. I even will pick up stray poop if it's near where my dog goes. I am aware that not everyone loves dogs and keep mine at a respectful distance from people, property and the business patrons at 3 of the 4 corners on my block. It can be a difficult gauntlet to run even without the spray bottle guy.

I appreciate the YouTube suggestion.

I will also look in to the signs on the block, although I'm not sure where it would be legal to post them -- or convinced that signs would have an effect.

Posted by: Swell City at July 4, 2008 1:37 PM in response to Neighbor thinks he owns the sidewalk

I have not called the police, only see the police cars than answer calls. HE screams that he will call the police and that his son is on the force -- otherwise I would not know. (Actually I don't even know if it is true.) The first time he sprayed me and my dogs I reacted badly... I think you might too. Later I did try to speak to him calmly, without my dog.
Since I am unable to reach him on my own I am looking for another avenue.
I think that if someone prevents you from simply walking down the sidewalk and insists that you have to take to the street to avoid his displeasure that that person is a bully. I don't think that expecting to walk on the sidewalk reveals in inflated sense of entitlement.

Posted by: Swell City at July 4, 2008 12:23 PM in response to Neighbor thinks he owns the sidewalk

Steve, I guess you answered my question while I was posting. You're obviously a more generous spirit than I am. This guy is a bully who's way less likely to go after my husband (or another man) than he is me. I find it infuriating.

Posted by: Swell City at July 4, 2008 12:11 PM in response to Neighbor thinks he owns the sidewalk

I too live on the street and have the same clean up responsibilities as any other home owner. I agree it can be onerous and the ticketing seems unfair.
I DON'T want to fight with the guy -- which is why I'm looking for some other reasonable and responsible course of action.
Would YOU be willing to walk in the street every time you left YOUR house?

Posted by: Swell City at July 4, 2008 11:59 AM in response to Neighbor thinks he owns the sidewalk

Try contacting Damon Strub at Nomad Architecture. (nomadarchiture.com)

Posted by: Swell City at July 4, 2008 10:18 AM in response to Earth Berm Home

Can anyone recommend an ironworker / welder to re-attach a gate? Thanks.

Posted by: Swell City at June 23, 2008 12:43 PM in response to Gate Thief Strikes Twice in Broad Daylight

The best place for appliances is Drimmers on Coney Island Avenue. I use them personally and professionally.

The only appliance I own that I didn't get there was a Staber washing machine. It's not the swankest, but it is way more energy efficient than anything else out there and 100% user serviceable (if and when that day comes.

Posted by: Swell City at May 29, 2008 11:35 AM in response to All about kitchen !!

When you have a "flat" roof like many of us in Brooklyn then you need a hatch / skylight that is specifically made to accommodate -- so be a little careful as you search.
We installed one from Insula-Dome which has worked beautifully for several years now. We ordered it through Brooklyn Window & Door on McDonald Avenue and had it installed by a local guy.
The light makes a huge difference in our hallway, you'll be glad you did it.

Posted by: Swell City at September 19, 2007 8:33 AM in response to Roof hatch as a skylight

What's really interesting to me is the level of hostility brought against the posters like Steve and Van Buren who are basically saying what your mothers should have told all of you:

*That it's a waste of time to fight with a crazy person.

*That you should pick your battles.

*That you can actively take care of yourself instead of fretting about what other people do to you.

*That being right doesn't matter very much.

What's so yogi-freud-new agey about this? It sounds like basic common sense to me.

Posted by: guest at July 6, 2008 5:34 PM in response to Neighbor thinks he owns the sidewalk

No 4:53, and I presume 4:26 and 11:36. If the guy were to take a swing at me, yes, I'd call the cops, but not before I decked him, nice a legal like.

Short of that, it's just not worth the angst and adrenaline to sweat the petty stuff.

Posted by: Steve at July 6, 2008 5:42 PM in response to Neighbor thinks he owns the sidewalk

Interesting thread- from where I sit I think it has nothing to do with good advice and everything to do with how you give it. Steve and vanburenproud, and quite a few other posters seemed pretty hostile to the original poster- some of them not in a nasty way, but in a condescending, I know better than you way.

It's great to offer common sense and at no time did OP reject it or say anything against it yet those posters seemed to have made some wild assumptions about OP's personality with absolutely no evidence- She's as much a problem as the bully, she's taunting him, she's this, she's that. The piss poor attempts at psychoanalyzing her, her self-perceptions as a victim- It's a little hard to find the good advice in all the psycho-garbage. And when you're put on the defensive, it's even harder.

Posted by: guest at July 6, 2008 5:52 PM in response to Neighbor thinks he owns the sidewalk

Guess what, 4:26? I'm 1:38 and 3:57, and I'm a WOMAN! (I guess YOUR skills at Vulcan mind-meld need some polishing, too.) OP was clear as day when she wrote: "...This guy is a bully who's way less likely to go after my husband (or another man) than he is me. I find it infuriating."

OP won't cross the street because she's "infuriated"...infuriated enough to post on Brownstoner, but not quite infuriated enough to call the police herself. OP portrays this as about public access and reasonable solutions; about neighbors who go after defenseless women but not their husbands. But more than one reader recognizes that it's about people who are addicted to conflict and who claim that only one party--the other party, of course--are the source of all conflict. Once they've painted the other party as the ogre, they're able to rationalize and justify all their actions and reactions, and minimize the influence of their own limited "generous spirit." The other guy made me do it, rather than this is what happened, and this is how I *chose* to respond. Wow! What power you've just given the other person--he controls the sidewalks and now he controls your responses too. High road? No way! Not when it's possible to collect more miles via endless conflict, to pretend that YOUR choices are the sole responsibility of the offending party, and to pretend that your motivation is defense of the interests of others.

OP is tangled up in a conflict she could easily walk away from...but then she'd actually have to thank others for their sound advice (which is what she came for, isn't it?), and actually have to find something else to be infuriated about (some loud-mouthed kids, some blasting music, someone who didn't park their car close enough to the curb?). OP is neither the "victim" of the neighbor, nor the "victim" of the posts. If she can easily walk away, yet chooses to feud with her neighbor, she is as much a common denominator to the equation as he is.

Posted by: guest at July 6, 2008 5:57 PM in response to Neighbor thinks he owns the sidewalk

I didn't know decking was legal like but I agree with you assessment :-). But I'm sure you can also understand how afraid a woman can be made to feel by a bully. And how frustrating it is to feel powerless to do anything about it. frankly the fact that she didn't set her dog on him and even went back to try to reason with him, without the dog, says quite a lot about her- good things. so I just don't see where all this stuff about the imagined shortcomings of her personality came into this.

Posted by: guest at July 6, 2008 6:05 PM in response to Neighbor thinks he owns the sidewalk

But she can take care of herself, 6:05. Any human can be made to feel bad because of a bully, but every single human has a choice to make about how to respond. She's frustrated, yes. Lots of things are frustrating. In this city, I am frustrated maybe even once a day. We all are.

She does not have to keep this conflict alive. I don't think anyone's imagining shortcomings of her personality. I think there are people who are simply following this thread and wondering why she doesn't just cross the street for awhile.

Posted by: guest at July 6, 2008 6:28 PM in response to Neighbor thinks he owns the sidewalk

Sorry, I meant to include in that post that Steve is getting kind of close to imagining that this poster is a bad person... he's getting frustrated himself and should maybe step away from the keyboard!

But I don't think that anyone else is doing more than asserting that this person has a choice to make about walking in front of this man's house in the first place.

Posted by: guest at July 6, 2008 6:31 PM in response to Neighbor thinks he owns the sidewalk

5"57- and just because she says she's infuriated, where does she say she refuses to walk in the street? Some people- probably not you- can be angry and still not provoke a confrontation. You're claiming she won't cross the street- "This guy is a bully who's way less likely to go after my husband (or another man) than he is me. I find it infuriating."- where did you read her saying I refuse to cross the street and I am going to no matter what? No where. You're doing exactly what they did- you're projecting. she certainly has a right to be infuriated. what she does about it is entirely another thing and your assumption is exactly the problem. You don't know anything about this woman and you're taking sentences and rewriting them in your own mind. Good luck with that- if you really thought she was crystal clear, you certainly didn't get her point.

Have a seat with the armchair psychologists, ma'am. My vulcan mind meld skills were not the issue- your reading comprehension is.

Posted by: guest at July 6, 2008 6:32 PM in response to Neighbor thinks he owns the sidewalk

When someone is calling you an armchair psychologist *and* accusing you of projecting at the same time, look for the nearest exit.

--Therapist's Kid

Posted by: guest at July 6, 2008 6:39 PM in response to Neighbor thinks he owns the sidewalk

Honestly my basic point is not that she shouldn't cross the street- it's the assumption that she won't- and she herself has said nothing to indicate she is trying to keep anything alive or do anything than ASK for advice on ways to handle the situation.

No one even bothered to find out if she would simply take their advice or not- it is just assumed she won't and that she is actively provoking the guy and quite a few posters piled on to add to it. steve was not the one who started it. 12:13 started it off with accusing her of being the one who set the guy off and not being understanding or respectful enough.

Posted by: guest at July 6, 2008 6:47 PM in response to Neighbor thinks he owns the sidewalk