5.30.07

213 was off the hook: eight, maybe a dozen people, more than half of them unfamiliar looking, a/k/a from Red Hook here for a deal or a dame, standing around drinking from open containers and passing reefer.

The NYPD responded quick, and effectively--one of the offenders was summonsed, while the others dispersed. Unfortunately, the ones who live around here weren't ticketed ... so therefore the problem will probably continue ... and they just went down the block to 236 for the rest of the night into the morning.

5.29.07

The three hoodrats - D, D's sister and the other, lives around the block - were on the steps of 227 (none of them live there), passing a blunt back and forth from about 5 pm till about 8 pm. Not moving when the people who did live, and pay rent, there came home.

5.26.07

Memorial Day Weekend started as expected, with two guys, unfamiliar-looking, strolling down Sackett while openly rolling a joint. Even saw the green buds of the marijuana. To top it off, they were followed by a woman pushing a baby. Then, K and D smoked joint after joint at 2xx, before disperssing.

5.22.07

It was like old times out on Sackett Street last night, at least for a while.

The night started quiet and calm, then next thing you know there were 12, maybe more, loiterers on at least three residences with people drinking open containers in brown bags and others who haven't been around, suggesting possibly a shipment of some kind had come in, as marijuana cigarettes were passed back and forth.

5.21.07

Monday evening, the usual crew hanging out at the usual location passing around a blunt. Later, residents return home, even toting a toddler, but the offenders do not move.

5.20.07

Once again, rampant open-container violations. Three hours later, the party breaks up.

5.19.07

As in the good ol' days, the usual crew in the usual location smoking joint, while families come in. Cars come up and pull aside, double-parked, and transactions are transacted. The party lasts till 4 a.m., possibly longer.

5.18.07

After a long week, came home, and within moments the usual crew's on our stoop; we politely ask them to move, they do, but glare at us for the next week every time we pass by.

5.17.07

This morning, bright and early, wake to the screams and sounds of ... the only thing that came to mind was someone killing someone else. That's how bad it was. About to call it in when it stops.

Later, leaving, see four cop cars double-parked down the block. Wonder what happened. Haven't heard anything.

5.15.07

The usual crew at the usual location; smells of marijuana. Two hours they're out there, no response from the 76.

Weekend Update - 5.12.07

Sunday night, old-style craziness ensues over at 2xx, yet again. 13 people drinking, including all the local drug dealers... and cars stopping quite a bit, suggesting a new shipment arrived.

Calls to the 76 were swiftly answered, but nobody moved so we had to call again ... and again ... and finally the cop car waited there while the fiesta dispersed. Called again to ask why the officers didn't leave the car to issue summonses, not only because of apparent marijuana smoke but also open drinking. Was told it was at the officers' discretion and even if drinking was seen it wouldn't warrant a summons. (What!?!?!?) This, it seems, will be going on all summer.

Only in Crooklyn....

5.9.07

Came home, after a long, long day, to find the usual crew hanging out while motorcylces rev and rev (cycles, by the way, which are never ticketed on alt-side parking days) gawking at what was going on across the street: a van double-parked and two humongous undercover cops, looking straight out of "The Shield," bullet-proof flack jackets and everything, going in and out of a building across the street. When they come out, the usual crew kind of walk away and pretend they're talking on their cell phones and whatnot, then when the Shield cops go back in they're right back at it, gawking and dealing.

Weekend Update! 5/4/07 - 5/6/07

Relatively, a quiet weekend, though Saturday morning, bright and early, marijuana smoke wafted into the apartment from the kids rolling two-plus joints out in the open, kids walking by and everything. Decided not to call, as odds were nothing would happen and they were gone within the hour.

Didn't sit on our stoop, but they were out down the block. Snickers and snarks as we passed by, but I doubt their brain cells were still functioning after the major reefage earlier in the morning.

Sat on our own stoop a bit every day, so maybe that sets a precedent. Then again, maybe they were terrorizing someone else's block ... or saving up for next weekend.

4.30.07

The usual crew hanging out on our front stoop. Looks like deals are made.