This past Monday evening a Tzedaka function was held in the Marine Park section of Flatbush – outside a well-known kosher restaurant. To accommodate the large crowd expected, a big tent was placed at the end of residential street, with ample seating for everyone.
Residents of the block immediately began calling the NYPD, Local Community Board and the local politicians complaining about the tent being placed on the corner of their street.
Despite the fact that the tent was placed adjacent to the restaurant and directly across the street from a public school [thereby not blocking any private driveways, or property], the residents repeatedly called 911 and 311 demanding that the tent be removed immediately.
Despite the fact that the residents were told that the tent would only be there for a few hours, and that this was a charitable function, the complaints continued – forcing the police to request that the tent be dismantled.
YWN spoke exclusively with organizers of the event and charity who said that despite fears that the tent being removed would ruin the event, Boruch Hashem it was not so – and the community turned out in large numbers; supporting the Tzedakah both in numbers, and funds. Initial figures indicate that the event raised at least $10,000 more than previous years.
Organizers expressed their appreciation to NYPD Brooklyn South Chief Fox, Lieutenant Scott Belford, Lieutenant Jim Woods, (and their staff), as well as Inspector Cangiarella of the 63rd precinct and his officers for working with the organizers to ensure that the event was disrupted as minimally as possible.
Much thanks must be given to Lieutenant Scott Belford and Lieutenant Woods and 63 Precinct Community Affairs Division – for remaining on the scene throughout the event to ensure that there were no further disruptions. Additionally, it should be noted that Chief Fox went above & beyond the call of duty – as he came down to the event prior and after to personally assure that the disruptions were as minimal as possible. The chief & his Lieutenant’s were at the location until close to midnight.
Additionally, people attending the event expressed their disappointment with a local State Senator – who demanded that the tent be removed, instead of taking the opportunity to try and mediate a compromise between organizers and local residents. YWN attempted to contact the senators press secretary, but was unsuccessful.
(Moshe Altusky – YWN)
Join the official YWN WhatsApp status
14 Responses
It is not until the 4th paragraph that you see the key element in the story.
I’m glad you left out the tzedakas name to avoid lashon hora.
Also, as this happened locally, why didn’t this “news” appear on teusday or wednesday?
tzedaka event or not once again people think that they can just do whatever they want. this would NEVER had occured had someone took the time to get the permits and the rights to put up the tent. the neighbors had every right to have it taken down. if there had been another religious group doing this you better believe that the yidden would have done the same thing.
I doubt the yidden would have done the same, the yidden don’t give a hoot.
Is it Lashon Hora to say the state senator’s name?!?!
Besides that most goim have nothing better to do than to complain, this really reaks of anti-semitism as well. Those that consistently comment that “… you have to comply with the law…” and “people think that they can just do whatever they want…” oh how self-hating you are! Klal Yisroel is the most beatufil nation there is (that is not my opinion, it is RSO’s)and 99.99% of us are law-abiding morally upstanding people and this medina is VERY blessed to have us — that is why it prospered. If you slice off all of your liberal political correctness you know that is the EMES!! STOP JUMPING TO CONCLUSIONS IN EVERY STORY AND ATTACKING YOUR PEOPLE!!!
Shame on neighbors. Granted they may not have had a permit (and I dont condone that!) but if it was only for a few hours and a charity nuchdertzee, the neighbors should have dropped it.
I agree with yachtzel on this one. The yidden would not have said anything had the tables been turned.
It is so easy to criticize without having the correct information and immediately jumping to the conclusion that people just do what they want.Please think carefully before you hurt good people.
Facts-
The precinct was on the scene and provided appropriate coverage. While in many cases that would have been more than enough to cover a 3 hour event,the block residents had zero tolerance and flooded the politicians with complaints.Although the prestigious restaurant has certainly beautified the block and added a certain level of class to the neighborhood, the complaining callers could not contain their displeasure with this charitable event occurring on “their” small side street.
What should be noted is the responsible and dignified way the participants and organizers calmly worked to rectify the issue in a quiet non- confrontational way. We are all used to seeing riots and other forms of civil disobedience when people feel that they are being mistreated. Quite the contrary here, an innocent honest mistake was made by not obtaining the “official” NYC permit. In 99% of all cases (Hachnosas Sefer Torahs etc…)the local precincts can well manage these types of events and do so with great sensitivity and success.Here, immediate action to fix the problem was put in place to resolve it. Praised are those, who understand that acting like wild animals is not befitting such a worthy Tzedokah or the participants. Klal Yisroel is a lot better than that-Give us some benefit of the doubt. Be Don L’kav Z’chus.
I spoke to the organizers and this is what I got. Official Permits for closing City Street like this, are rarely, if ever,issued by the City of New York anymore, unless a previous permit had been issued for the same event in previous years. The process by which permission was obtained is the same process anyone goes through to have a block party or something similar. Appropriate notification was given and arranged with the authorities. The event was planned quite some time in the past. Do you think for a moment that everything was planned on a risk of the tent being taken down? There was a lot of planning that went into the event and the “permit” and permissions were the first things to be obtained. It seems that the number of complaints and political involement elevated the issue to the point that they were ordered to take it down anyway to alleviate the pressure. It didn’t matter anyway and everyone lost out because the street was closed off the same amount of time as originally planned-except it was because workers were busy removing the tent. No one won and for no reason.
Street closings for street fairs are issued constantly, and many of the street fairs are not requested by residents but by straw organisations who are shills for professional hucksters. Every Sunday in Manhattan the same dreary rug peddlers, cheap sock merchants, and broilers of treif burgers get to clog the city’s main arteries. But suddenly, when a charity needs a street closed for 3 hours the lazy humbugs of City Hall cannot help. And the elected officials who have their mugshots displayed with every holy rabbi under the sun, suddenly cannot do anything.
A law is a law. what about dina demalchusa dina?
if the organization wanted to get a permit, they just had to ask!!!! for political reasons, the government would most likely want to give one! and if they wouldn’t give it, then you can start screaming “anti semitism”. But first do everything legally.
How’s about it someone give up the local politians name….
Maitiv – Gut gezogt!! Who is the state senator. Don’t we have a right to know so that we can remember comes election time?
To find out who your state Senator is, go to:
http://directory.usayfoundation.org/NY.html
I’m constantly bumbing into streets that are closed for Goyische “street fairs” and “carnivals.”–especially in the summertime.
I never complain, because I recognize that it’s hot, and people need to have an outlet–some simcha in their lives, even if things get a bit loud. It’s only temporary, and you have to have SavLoNus.
Who are these selfish and mean-spirited neighbors, who couldn’t tolerate a 3-hour function. Shame on them!
Who is this State Senator who has no SeiChel?