Let's Talk About the Rushkoffs, Dammit
Since we’re about the only publication in town who hasn’t written about writer Douglas Rushkoff’s Christmas eve mugging outside his Park Slope apartment and subsequent decision to leave (and, along with his wife, to write about leaving) Brooklyn, we might as well throw it out there. His wife now famously wrote that she felt safer…
Since we’re about the only publication in town who hasn’t written about writer Douglas Rushkoff’s Christmas eve mugging outside his Park Slope apartment and subsequent decision to leave (and, along with his wife, to write about leaving) Brooklyn, we might as well throw it out there. His wife now famously wrote that she felt safer in the East Village in the 1980s that she does in Park Slope today, which sounded kind of silly until her hubby clarified that this was only because they knew the drug dealers in the East Village. We got a call from a reporter a couple of days ago asking whether we thought the incident would have a negative effect on real estate prices. In short? No. In long? No, no, no. The Rushkoffs decision to leave was an emotional, albeit understandable, one. Unless the entire city enters a 1970s-like downward spiral, we’re pretty sure Park Slope will be just fine.
Do You Care If the Rushkoffs Leave Brooklyn? [New York Magazine]
On Leaving Brooklyn [Steven Berlin Johnson]
The Rushkoffs’ original blog posts are no longer available online.
I’m sorry this guy was mugged, but he’s one of so many people who’ve been mugged in Park Slope. So he’s leaving. Big deal. It’s not the start of a trend, it most certainly will not affect real estate. It’s just a guy with a lot of avenues to publicity moving out of Brooklyn. Whatever.
He is promoting this to get publicity. There are 000’s of muggings each year in NYC. This was a publicity opportunity, and apparently, they have taken full advantage.
I’m sorry this guy was mugged, but he’s one of so many people who’ve been mugged in Park Slope. So he’s leaving. Big deal. It’s not the start of a trend, it most certainly will not affect real estate. It’s just a guy with a lot of avenues to publicity moving out of Brooklyn. Whatever.
Their reaction is based on hysteria. I was mugged years ago and did not leave Brooklyn. Crime can and does happen in the East Village. Besides, I’d rather have tranquil Park Slope streets than the loud, drunken college students who have invaded the East Village.
10:38, was just thinking the same thing.
I get it, your mugged and you no longer feel safe – but all this societal, economic, and class based psudo-intellectual babble about a single incident is beyond ridiculous.
If you want to move ok fine, but making sweeping statements about a huge neighborhood, gigantic boro or meg sized city based on your personal experience is the height of narcassism.
and BTW how many people ever heard of this guy before the mugging? – I predict that Rushkoff will make more $ out of this incident (new book, magazine articles, etc…) then he has ever made in his life x2.
I completely agree with ‘june 10:23’. Also, I’ve visited Brownstoner many times to see the bashing of Bed-Stuy when it comes to property values and it’s relation to its perceived crime and ‘elements’. The majority of comments have been borderline racist and it just strikes me funny how passive the comments have been on this topic as it relates to Park Slope.
Wake up folks. Crime is almost everywhere in NYC – pick up any of the local papers and read the Police Blogger section, you’re in for a treat.
I’m with anon 9:48. Plenty of people ready to take their empty spot.
its true – living in the projects doesn’t make you degenerate per se, but you can be rest assured that he wasn’t mugged by someone living in a brownstone down the street. get real.