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.
“somewhere kids can bike around freely from age five”
A myth. Kids can’t do that anywhere anymore. Why? Scary teenage drivers! My family lives in Arizona, and kids there sit at home and watch tv all day.
“If you’re looking for a real community where neighbors actually look after each other though, I think you’ll find Brooklyn particularly inviting.
As for Rushkoff, I am so sick and tired of self-absorbed “writers” who treat everything that befalls them– good or bad– as a career move. Sorry you got mugged but quit your whiny navel-gazing and get lost.”
Gee, if THAT’S an example of caring “neighbors looking after each other” I think I’ll drive ol’ Mork to the airport myself.
AND SIT NEXT TO HIM ON THE PLANE TOO!.
Mork,
Good luck to you in So Cal. You could get hit by a car there and not only will people leave you for dead but they’ll happily run over your body for good measure. If you’re looking for a real community where neighbors actually look after each other though, I think you’ll find Brooklyn particularly inviting.
As for Rushkoff, I am so sick and tired of self-absorbed “writers” who treat everything that befalls them– good or bad– as a career move. Sorry you got mugged but quit your whiny navel-gazing and get lost.
Ben Dover – “If you’re paying over a freakin’ MILLION dollars to live in a neighborhood it SHOULD BE SAFE”
Safe from what??? Crime, Terrorism, Accidents
I accept that my kids might not be as safe from street crime in Brooklyn as in the suburbs of LI, Westchester, NJ but I also know that in those suburbs they will be much more unsafe from the dangers of teen driving/DWI.
And your analysis of being rich surrounded by poorer people is just frankly wrong – besides the fact that it describes EVERYWHERE in NYC – poor people EVERYWHERE are far, far, far more likely to be the victim of crime (property, violent or otherwise) then rich people – even rich people living in neighborhoods surrounded by poor people. Unfortunatly for poor people living in many poor neighborhoods, having next to nothing is little security from those among them that are of criminal minded.
Someone’s already written a book about the incident. Click on http://www.lulu.com/content/622455
Please show Mork the way to airport.
Sounds self-involved hedonistic bore.
“I’d much rather raise a family somewhere kids can bike around freely from age five, I can exercise outside comfortably year-round, and the beach and mountains is only a few minutes drive away.”
Sounds like you’re quite ready to move to Southern Cali already!.
🙂
I love Brooklyn. If I wanted to have kids, act middle aged, and live in NYC my entire life, I’d probably become one of your neighbors.
But I live in NYC mainly for the action (restaurants, bars, shows, etc,) not just because I love brownstones, cement, and tall buildings. When I’m ready for “that stage in life,” I’m moving to Southern California.
I’d much rather raise a family somewhere kids can bike around freely from age five, I can exercise outside comfortably year-round, and the beach and mountains is only a few minutes drive away.
If you’re paying over a freakin’ MILLION dollars to live in a neighborhood it SHOULD BE SAFE. It should also be clean and well patrolled.
But if you’re paying over a MILLION dollars to live in a little ‘bubble’ of a rich neighborhood that is in effect SURROUNDED by poor people and crime then the only thing you’re doing is acting like a MAGNET that will attract low-lifes and scum seeking to “steal from the rich to give to the poor”.
Namely, themselves.