Morningside Abused Over the 4th?
The New York Sun has a hard, biting article today on the treatment of Morningside Park by Harlem residents over the Fourth of July. Cheryl and I were out of town over the long weekend, and I have not been to the park since we returned, so I cannot say if the article's description of the park's abuse is accurate or not.
Why does Morningside Park the morning after the Fourth of July cook-outs look like a pig sty? Why does the woman who set up a spot for her family barbecue in the middle of a recently planted garden refuse to move when repeatedly approached by a park employee? Why can people not put garbage into garbage cans? Is it a "class thing," as one park employee said? Is it a lack of education, or a lack of law enforcement? The rules and great ideas for everyone to enjoy the park are in place, why are they not being enforced properly?It is great to see that so many local residents use the park, and that New York City allows for barbecuing in some areas. But why do children get chased away in Central Park when they play soccer outside "designated areas," but absolutely nothing is done to stop people from abusing Morning side Park? Unfinished dinners, empty beer and hard liquor bottles, and enough Styrofoam plates to serve the whole of New York are everywhere except in the provided garbage cans Nothing gives the impression that civilized people were celebrating, enjoying, and respecting the park.
The sad thing is that police officers seem afraid to act. For the past six years we talked to the 26th precinct, which is responsible for Morningside Park, and for the past six years we have gotten the same answers: "How long have you been living in Harlem?" As if to suggest that a person who lived in Harlem for just a short time has no right to certain quality of life complaints? The best excuse I ever received was from a police officer at the 26th precinct who said, "We will not write any tickets, because we are afraid of a riot."
Cheryl and I had a long Fourth of July weekend with another couple in the Finger Lakes region. We had a much-needed few days in a great cabin with all the comforts of home, sans all of the irritants. The cabin had electricity, air conditioning, running water, two bathrooms, and a two story stone fireplace, but there was no television, phone, or Internet. Luckily, none of our cell phones had reception.
Comments
-Having lived here in Harlem for six years, I have also noticed the apathy concerning littering. Every Monday (especially in the summer) the street and parks are littered with garbage of all types. If it wasn't for the businiesses and NYCHA personnel, we would be buried in filth in a matter of weeks. I think its a matter of education and a respect for property (along with a sense of self-respect) that creates this problem. Just the other day, I saw a gaggle of teenage girls walk by my building, and casually drop a potato-chip bag on the sidewalk as they passed by (not 20ft from a garbage can). I thought about saying something, but just the Cop that was quoted in the Sun article, I wondered if the response I would have got was worth the trouble.
-Maybe next time I will say something. Nothing will change unless someone does..
Posted by: Opacus | July 10, 2006 11:46 AM
I was talking with a friend recently who had spent a lot of time in Guatemala. I was talking about my neighborhood in the Bronx, and how trashy it was everywhere. She said that Guatemala was like that, too, that people would just throw things on the ground and not think about putting stuff into any sort of receptacle. I don't really know where this comes from. I don't really know how to help solve it. It's a sticky, tricky issue, methinks.
Posted by: Elderta | July 12, 2006 08:43 AM
Hi Fur, I'm loving your site!
The mystery crapper might be the very same homeless guy I witnessed crapping behind the bear statue in Morningside Park last month. Could it be we share a local crapper? (I got the hell away, and fast, so didn't get his name!)
Speaking of the park, I live near it and use it almost every day. I didn't see the park after the 4th but can assure you that I am saddened every time I see more trash.
Keep up the great blog.
Posted by: Millionaire Artist | July 18, 2006 05:02 PM
This is interesting. I lived in Harlem for 15 years (114th & 7th), until about 6 years ago, when I moved back to the Bronx, where I grew up. People didn't really use Morningside Park, as there were more PAL streets, which were blocked off. Those folks who did use the park kept it clean.
I hang out in Harlem at least twice a week, and I notice after gentrification, THERE ARE NEXT TO NO PAL streets, so everyone is in the park. Add to the fact that many of the low-income Black residents are NOT native Harlemites––coming from various shelters––they are transients, who do not see it as their neighborhood (yeah, I said it). AND, there are not enough cans. This doesn't happen in St. Nicholas Park uptown, AT ALL, where there are far more native harlem residents than down in your end.
MY neighborhood in the Bronx is not trashy. The immigrants residing there have had a prescedent group living here, who have taught them the rules.
There is apathy in New York City regarding littering, not just Harlem. I know it's hard to take, 'cause you live there. Years ago when I LOBBIED through the community board, to get garbage receptacles for my area, sanitation told me that black neighborhoods are lucky to have what little they have. Those teenage girls didn't grow up learning not to litter, trust me. But say something to them anyway. You won't start a riot. That cop was full of BS.
Policing in Black neighborhoods has historically been bad. In fact, they don't understand why you live in Harlem, anyway. Their sons and daughters would stay in Long Island.
Posted by: sahara | August 15, 2006 07:49 PM