Quality of Life--Or Lack Thereof
We’re sure we’ll get accused of being a heartless elitist and some wise-ass will tell us to move to the suburbs, but there are some quality of life issues that can make you question whether living in the big city is really worth it. In our temporary perch in South Williamsburg, for example, noise is…
We’re sure we’ll get accused of being a heartless elitist and some wise-ass will tell us to move to the suburbs, but there are some quality of life issues that can make you question whether living in the big city is really worth it. In our temporary perch in South Williamsburg, for example, noise is the biggest problem for sure. The one-in-the-morning commercial garbage pick-ups outside our bedroom window three nights a week, the next door neighbor with the mufferless motorcycle and the constant drilling and banging from neighboring construction sites are enough to drive anyone crazy. Even though we’re not living in the Clinton Hill house yet, homelessness has been by far the biggest problem there: During the past several months, we’ve had to dislodge three different people who decided our stoop was an ideal spot to sleep, eat, shoot up and relieve themselves–without even the decency to clean up after any of those activities. When asked to move on by us, initially quite non-confrontationally, we were often met with an indignant sense of entitlement, as though they had a right to be there. It’s mighty hard not to let one’s liberal values lapse when your 2-year-old has to navigate her way through crack pipes and pools of urine to make it in your front door.
But enough about us. Here are the top five complaints of Brooklynites from the recent straw poll conducted by Citizens for NYC and Baruch College and reported in today’s NY Post:
1. Dirty Streets
2. Potholes
3. Drug Dealing
4. Vandalism/Graffiti
5. Dangerous Intersections
Top City Gripes [NY Post]
“It is a question of common decency and criminal behavior, not class.”
Aw, lighten up. 1. THESE ARE HOMELESS AND/OR CRAZED PERSONS ON THE STOOP. They have different priorities. 2. Eating, relieving oneself, smoking, on the stoop … NOT CRIMINAL BEHAVIOR.
They’ll move on when bstoner moves in. Have a heart.
Anyone conteplating where to settle down, and trying to decide between “up and coming” areas like Clinton Hill vs. further out/less-hip areas further south or in Queens should read this thread carefully.
RE cranky sanitation workers: we’ve found that ours (nice guys, all) will pretty much accept anything if we wait outside in the morning and help them throw it in the truck. We’ve disposed of many dumpsters-worth of non-reg debris this way. For some reason, theres no greater DIY satisfaction than seeing your own demo waste drive away down the street…
True enough Archer. I decided to overlook that little slight in favor of supporting the overall concept of non-passivity. Anyhow, you know how the native-NYers can get – can you blame them for the pride thing.
But, I too, not from NY and I don’t look the other way or take crap from jerks.
I understand what David is saying too — what I don’t understand is why in his opinion you have to have grown up in New York to “understand” — I’m not “from” New York. I moved here from Ohio 13 years ago and yet David, surprise, I get it.
I know exactly what David is saying. Not to rehash my life story (from yesterday’s class warfare thread), but I too do not grok the passive liberal thing (and I’m fairly progressive in my politics). It survives in epidemic proportions in Park Slope. Though I enjoy living in PS and appreciate many qualities of my neighbors, the live-and-let-live (no matter how outrageous the offense) attitude simply does not compute for me. No room for passivity. I have great sympathy for those who are down and out – but I simply cannot humor a-holes, no matter the excuse.
It makes me aware that if you allow crimes like drug dealing (yes – even marijuana) and craps games on your street, then you will soon have shootings, fights and more violent crimes like robberies.
Re: Linus’ question about deflecting dog doo from one’s property: We’ve found the best remedy is to sprinkle powdered cayenne pepper on the sidewalk and the area inside the gate. A little goes a long way, and a lot of our neighbors do the same. You have to re-sprinkle after a rainfall; and make sure you don’t put it down on a windy day or it can blow back in your eyes and that really smarts. But once it’s down, canines take a whiff and move on real quick.
On a separate note, I’ve heard that the reason marijuana dealing is relatively easy and out in the open on Fulton around Washington is that the cops who patrol the area are paid off. Anyone else from the neighborhood hear that?