DEGENERATE LICENTIOUSNESS I must admit that I find an in issue ...
ICENTIOUSNESS
I must admit that I find an in issue devoted to Brooklyn laughable and a bit sad. [The Brooklyn Issue, Jan. 18] That is because Brooklyn barely exists any longer. Just read the census; look at demographics. There are more artists than firefighters; more designers than cops. That's great, and I hope that the new people like it, but...
As a native who lived through the degenerate licentiousness of the '70's, '80's and '90's I can say that most of the hipsters that I see in Bushwick or Crown Heights would've gotten their heads handed to them in 1988.Those of us who stayed put and became provincial and leery of outsiders in places like Bensonhurst, Bay Ridge, South Brooklyn (that's BoCoCa or whatever they call it now), Windsor Terrace (North Slope now) etc. should be given medals for not letting the place turn into Newark. Instead, we get priced out by jerks from Pawtucket and Akron who laugh at our accents, sneer at our local ways and hold us in contempt. The church where my grandparents were married and 12 aunts and uncles baptized has been turned into condos, and the newcomers don't recognize why old-timers resentthem. Whenever I hear of some clown getting their car broken into, or mugged, or burglarized whilst living inwhat was a ghetto until 1998, I laugh. That's what living in an "upcoming" neighborhood will get you. The world is not the lame midwestern suburb that you're from. Brooklynites are not here for anthropological amusement. The very thing that they are coming to taste is being whitewashed away...
Bart Daudelin, Brooklyn
A LOVELY BIT OF VERSE
Imagine what could happen if the kings weren't able to father.
Now there wouldn't be anyone to rule the world.
And the civilization would have died many centuries ago.
Maybe they used herbs that are enclosed in Spermamax and thus had no problems with fertility function.
Maybe this can be a way out for you too
Imagine what could happen if the kings weren't able to father.
Randy Garbs, via email
BUT DID HE REALLY READ IT?
I just read the Jan 18. number of New York Press, and this is my last issue. ["The Brooklyn Issue"]. As a semi-regular reader, I've gathered that you've recently undergone format and management changes. Apparently, the editors now believe that the Village Voice's leftist views need a foil, or the Times' tree needs pruning. Unfortunately, the diverse and unrepresented NYer needs not yet another stance from their local press. The newsworthy reality of our times deserves more than simply a counterpoint. The purported rebirth of New York Press, in my view, seems to have occurred in the bitter shadow of the double-wide next door. Don't worry so much about them neighbors; instead, worry about the plights and concerns of your readers.
Rick Seppa, via email
In the 18-year history of New York Press, we are the editors by far least concerned with the Voice, the Times or the press in general. There are certainly grounds on which to criticize the paper; these seem odd ones.-The Eds.
LAUGHABLE AND WEAK
Is this for real? [Susan Crain Bakos, "A White Woman Explains Why She Prefers Black Men," Dec. 7] So the racist double standard rears its ugly head. Does this white skank care to share her psychosexual dementias about the other races of mankind? Is there a world outside of white whores and insecure marauding blacks that she knows of, or does this define human existence for her? Laughable and weak. As for her adoration of black flesh, the purest of black flesh still resides in Africa. Perhaps the editor could export her whoring ways to the heartland rather than foul the air with the scent of her whored ass here in a country founded on white values and ethics.
Jim Moselhy, via email
Although I enjoyed reading Nicole Davis' article about my neighborhood of Fort Greene [Fort Greene, Jan. 18], I was surprised by the author's assertion that "There is still no decent sushi, Thai, or Chinese take-out." As a Fort Greene resident and a huge fan and consumer ofJapanese and Thai foods, I'd like to point out that Sushi D on Dekalb Ave. and One Greene on Fulton St. are both excellent sushi options, while Thai 101 and Myrtle Thai, both on Myrtle Ave., offer great Thai food. And the culinary options don't stop there. Neighborhood restaurants offer so many types of food that even picky New Yorkers would be impressed, including Cambodian (Cambodian Cuisine), Italian (Scopello, Graziella's), French (Chez Oscar, Loulou), Mediterranean (Olea, Vellis), Senegalese (A Bistro), South African (I Shebeen Madiba), Caribbean (Mo-Bay), Indian (Amin), Middle Eastern (Black Star and Zaytounes), Mexican (Pequena), American (Gia, June, Liquors),and the list goes on.
Thanks & bon appetit!
Vanessa Hradsky, Brooklyn
DAMMIT
Just thought I'd let you know-Dee Dee's closed down a little over a month ago. [Jim Knipfel, "Park Slope," Jan. 18] :( There's a new gyro place there now.
Kimberly Elliott, Brooklyn
BORN AND RAISED
Nice article by Jim Knipfel about The Slope. But just for the record, the neighborhood wasn't "rough around the edges" in 1979-80. That was in 1969-70. By '79-'80, the blooming of the neighborhood was a done deal. All you had to do was wait for all the flowers to open.
In the neighborhood since 1970. Born and raised in Williamsburg. Married to a woman who was born and raised in Bensonhurst. Loves Brooklyn. Likes The Slope.
Herbert Mann, Brooklyn
YOU'RE LYING, MAN.
After seeing that Armond White preferred Hostel to Match Point, ["January Spawned A Monster," Jan. 11] I will never again bother to read a single sentence written by this sub-moronic idiot.
J.P. Porter, Hyde Park, NY