Bushwick Apartment — photo by jorgeq
I Rest MY Case: The Brooklyn DA reports 1535 “guns” were sold to the cops in the Bushwick and Williamsburg buy back last week. Impressive number, huh? Well, 126 were BB guns, and 506 were rifles or unsawed-off shotguns — not exactly popular implements of gang warfare. The most interesting part is the funding for the program, which came from the proceeds seized from “criminal transactions.” So, we have gang warfare as an unintended consequence of drug prohibition, and then the alleged solution to a fraction of this violence is funded by the police’s profits from the enforcement of drug prohibition. Mkay.
Malatesta on Montrose: The first waves of Italian immigrants to the US were heavily represented in the anarchist movement. So it makes sense that in one of the areas Italians settled, we’d find significant bits of that history. The Galileo Temple on Montrose was once a meeting place for local anarchists. Somewhat ironically, the other side of the block was seized and bulldozed by the government and is now public housing.
Slideshow Freaks: Who tf are the Trachtenburgs and why are they having their young daughter write idiotic letters to the mayor? 14-yr-old Rachel says that Bloomie’s policies got the musical family priced out of their East Village apartment and they had to move to Bushwick, where their “friends have been mugged at gunpoint.” A minute of research shows that Rachel is enrolled in school in SEATTLE — which means her family’s apartment in New York is at best a business necessity and at worst a luxury or status item, even if it is now in Bushwick. Boo. Hoo.
Bushwick Is (Sometimes) Burning: Why does Bushwick burn so much? A lot of reasons, young photographer, both social and environmental. I mean that last bit literally — these buildings are frickin’ tinderboxes.
Another Crane Collapse: A crane collapse on Evergreen scares the crap out of the neighbors but thankfully, no one is hurt.
Alberto October 20th, 2008 at 12:15 pm
On Malatesta blog:
The Lindsay Houses are not fully government housing.
will October 20th, 2008 at 1:42 pm
Jeez who got up on the wrong side of the bed this morning? You really showed that 14 year old girl!
And I’m sure there’s at least one kid won’t put his eye out with one of those BB guns that have been harvested.
“Smile it only hurts a little”
Jimmy Legs October 20th, 2008 at 2:47 pm
Jeremy’s bed has no ‘right’ side.
on the gun buyback thing, even if all the guns were glocks the spooky thing to consider is just how small a fraction this is of the total number of illegal guns out there. I’ve said it before, but i suspect my house is the only one on my block without firearms. whoops, forget i said that!
Dresden October 20th, 2008 at 8:03 pm
Jeremy, I understand the lavender side of your personality, and how society has discriminated, but hey man –
gun exchange programs? You’re dissing gun exchange programs?
For fuck’s sake bro. I biked past a dead 18-year old this summer.
Jeremy Sapienza October 20th, 2008 at 10:46 pm
What in the fuck are you even talking about.
Jimmy Legs October 21st, 2008 at 12:07 pm
i believe what’s at issue here is whether or not any of the bought-back guns were likely used in crimes, not to mention actually killing anybody. but every gun off the street is one less than might end up in the wrong hands i guess.
and Omar uses a full-length shotgun on “The Wire.” are you telling me the show is inaccurate?!
Dresden October 21st, 2008 at 2:57 pm
Lavender is a reference to sexuality.
Jeremy Sapienza October 21st, 2008 at 4:58 pm
What does it mean to “understand” the “lavender side” of my personality? And what does “how society has discriminated” have to do with it? And WHAT does any of that have to do with gun buy backs? Or was this just an opportunity to call me a faggot and then tell us AGAIN that you saw someone dead from a gunshot wound?
Bushwick Dill October 21st, 2008 at 10:03 pm
That is some pretty terrible writing even for a 14 year old. They ought stop dragging that kid around to shows and send her to a proper school. And she makes the same stupid complaint about being forced to move to Bushwick. If you really don’t have any money you can live right by the ferry stop in Staten Island for next to nothing.
As for the gun buy back program, I think it is a pretty silly idea, as a handgun is worth far more than $200 to a criminal You can rob one store with a gun and get more than that. They also know that being a criminal they are dealing with some shady characters who will probably try to shoot them, meaning it makes good sense for them to have a gun themselves to try to protect themselves. Any serious criminal or gang member who does not carry a gun in their line of work is an idiot. The people who will turn in their guns are already the ones who have said they will not use them in crimes, because if they are willing to use them in crimes it is far more valuable than what the police give them for it.
Also, couldn’t anyone carrying an illegal gun simply say to the police he was on his way to the precinct to turn it in. Just a thought for all of us who love our illegal fire arms.
Dresden October 21st, 2008 at 11:20 pm
Jeremy, it was me saying gun buy-back programs, even if one-third of the firearms collected aren’t relevant to street violence, are okay things – I’m not saying great things, just that they are all right and even if it’s pork barrel spending, can’t you give your criticism a break?
As far as calling you names that aren’t used by me, ever, for one, and completely unlike me – I was actually trying for some human solidarity. I guess I failed.
Take care. I’m taking a break from this.
Jeremy Sapienza October 22nd, 2008 at 12:27 am
Wow, thank you Dill, for doing it so I don’t have to. Basic economic analysis: you don’t have to be fucking Mises to see that to those who use guns to make a living, they are worth far more than the $200 pittance the cops were giving for them.
Dresden, you need to work on your communication. Your “try for human solidarity” didn’t come across and confused and annoyed me instead. Make your point and let that be it, don’t pair it with creepy non sequiturs.
jeremy is a fuckhead October 29th, 2008 at 11:24 pm
maybe the people selling their guns to the cops need the extra cash, and does that not mean that maybe said guns can no longer be stolen from their homes and used in a robbery…
you limp-wristed dim-witted shithead.
b. November 16th, 2008 at 9:57 am
that’s still 900 guns that are potentially crime related.
b. November 16th, 2008 at 10:04 am
also, do a little research and see how often the Trachtenbergs are in New York to perform. Maybe the Seattle school registration is a legal formality and she does a lot of homeschooling on the road and in New York. Maybe there is a lot you don’t know about the situation, any of these situations. Also, what kind of letters to the mayor were you writing when you were 14?