St. Johns Hook-up and Cook-up, August 21st

I sure as heck HOPE not. Niner, please tell me that you are calling Tish James's office tomorrow.

Call 911 early and often. Just sayin'.

So far nothing on the "esteemed" Mike Jones' myspace page either.

http://www.myspace.com/originalmj

....so I'm optimistic that this will simply be a block party, organized by the block association, for block residents.

Mamacita wrote: Is DJ I-Shot-a-Kid going to headline this one again?

Hopefully he's booked doing other child safety events. (sarcasm)

Hopefully their won't be a sound system at all, here's what Tish James wrote one of us last year:

"Thank you for writing. Pleased be assured that a sound permit will not be issued for this block for any time to come. It was because of the events that transpired Saturday that a permit had not been issued for two years. I do not know whether the police were aware of the advertisement on myspace. I certainly was not, and received notice that it was a children's event. I was not planning to have a community meeting regarding these events since the investigation is still ongoing. Upon completion of investigation, I would be willing to meet with block association, if one exists. I visited the block yesterday and it appears that the victims were not from the neighborhood. That is the extent of my information. If block association is interested in follow up meeting, please let me know. Letitia James"

As many of us remember, the DJ Battle event (DJ shottakid vs DJ Lance) wasn't merely promoted on Myspace, but on flyers that were passed out throughout Brooklyn, etc.

---such advertising usually leaves trails. The only thing we've seen so far this year is a Cookup and Hookup flyer (as described by the OP).

Eatin' BBQ AND getting laid? Damn, what could be better?

I will admit, this thread did get me to check up on a site I had not visited in a while: http://www.myspace.com/GETMADLADIES

....those in need of an event similar to last year's may benefit from visiting as well.

What did the flyer say?

You could always act like you are the world's best neighbor and are looking forward to a huge party like last year, and see if they disclose their plans... 8) :twisted:

....then give the heads up to NYPD and 'Tish.

:-'

novanglus wrote: My sister-in-law and her family (including two young children) are in town this weekend. Maybe we can work this into our neighborhood tour:

"Over there are the Botanical Gardens and Brooklyn Museum. As we turn off on Washington, the second street on the left is known as Crazy Lane, and you can see why."

I think (and hope) they'll be disappointed.

Depending upon what part of the country they are from, these events might be able to give them the world enlarging entertainment they seek: http://www.myspace.com/GETMADLADIES

....I agree, go to one of the events straight from the Gardens or the Museum for maximum effect.

mike jones myspace has "ST JOHNS PLACE BLOCK PARTY" listed now.. anyone have access to the details?

Niner wrote: [quote=nyluke]mike jones myspace has "ST JOHNS PLACE BLOCK PARTY" listed now.. anyone have access to the details?

Fab-u-fucking-lous. This had the potential to be a non-eventful evening, but if he has anything to do with it...

So, what time do the helicopters arrive?

Carnivore wrote: [quote=novanglus][quote=Niner][quote=nyluke]mike jones myspace has "ST JOHNS PLACE BLOCK PARTY" listed now.. anyone have access to the details?

Fab-u-fucking-lous. This had the potential to be a non-eventful evening, but if he has anything to do with it...

So, what time do the helicopters arrive?
Right after the murder.

But before the last DJ act is finished?

Niner wrote: [quote=nyluke]mike jones myspace has "ST JOHNS PLACE BLOCK PARTY" listed now.. anyone have access to the details?

Fab-u-fucking-lous. This had the potential to be a non-eventful evening, but if he has anything to do with it...

Actually, as the Block Association President, I expected him to be the BBQ's organizer. I don't think the potential for this event to be a calm block party has changed.

If he is acting in an unresponsible manner, like he did last year, then that's a different story.

....he is aware of this message board, so he may be aware we are monitoring the internet for signs of impending chaos.

But the only way I could think of getting a large number of people to an event like this without using the net in a visible way would be to distribute flyers, or use listservs/email blasts.

....we may have to wait and see. There will likely already be police in the neighborhood as a result of the Washington Avenue Merchants fair (happening on the same day), so law enforcement may be more accessible than usual.

Often, the trick is to have such events end by sundown.

Like many organizations, block associations are rarely democratic. ...and often fail to represent the entire constituency.

This isn't about trust. The existence of a self appointed leader does not represent "trust" on behalf the block.

....this about ensuring that any event remains under control, and ends by sundown.

P.S. Dependng on tomorrow's outcome, it might be time to form a new, competing block association.

Community Board 8 hasn't issued a block closing permit for the 21st for St. Johns pl. and the 77th precinct has suspended all noise permits for block parties this year - as a direct result of the number of homicides associated with block parties last year.

Mike is still block association president and, as far as I understand, has organized the event for tomorrow. Judging by the flyers that are up its aiming to be a low-key bbq.

Following last years shooting I actively participated in all the of block association meetings that were announced through their list serve. By January they'd been discontinued and when I caught up with Mike in person in mid-June about the plans for this summer he mentioned a bbq sort of deal - but didn't have a date yet. The block association is basically a group of friends who run it with little or no support and roll out the party once a year.

I was as surprised as Niner to see the flyers up this week, presuming that my active interest in the block association qualified me as a member - and because I'd expressed interest in helping numerous times (the plea for building participation on the flyer was particularly vexing to read 4 days before the party - too late to mobilize or participate with plans already made.)

I will express my concerns about this personally to Mike when I see him but this last minute effort to have the block partiy is - I'm hoping - the result of everyone having jobs and families and living busy lives. That having been said, my query on June 1 about the block party is still up, unanswered, on the Bock Ass. yahoo group - and there was no announcement to members of that group about the party.

In a public manner I think Krowonhill's query about issues of safety is a fair one to post to Mike here: Mike, what have you done in terms of public safety for tomorrow's event? Please respond to this thread.

Lest we forget the importance of this question there is a make-shift memorial across from the Laundromat to Delk and Vance.

WE DO NOT LIVE IN PARK SLOPE and those of us who have lived here when Parl Slopers wouldnt cross the circle to come here do not want to be compared to the other side of the circle

jmd wrote: WE DO NOT LIVE IN PARK SLOPE and those of us who have lived here when Parl Slopers wouldnt cross the circle to come here do not want to be compared to the other side of the circle

JMD - . I posted that link because it presents a potential model of what a neighborhood can do collectively. We don't have a language around the block association or our shared neighborhood (beyond the block party) that in anyway compares to what that site presents. Sorry that it being the slope rubs you the wrong way but they have their act together.