Re-Thinking Crown Heights' Image

Subject: Re-Thinking Crown Heights' Image

We posted this piece yesterday and it got linked on Brownstoner. We were wondering to hear what other folks had to say about ways of tackling the area's image. Do we need a Bookeresque pol fighting wayward comedians by day and walking the streets by night?

http://www.nostrandpark.com/home/2009/10/21/re-thinking-crown-heights-image.html

Excerpt:
Sure, a feud with Conan O'Brien will not bring jobs, better schools or safer streets, but Booker's actions bring to mind something that we are often battering around over here at NP, image matters and we have to be as deliberate as projecting positive images of our neighborhoods as others are willing to be compliant in projecting the more unsavory aspects. Booker's crusade is a reminder that a joke is a joke until it's not.

The unsavory aspects of CH are some of the defining traits of CH. If the image of CH is to be realistic, it has to include that.

Personally, I'm no fan of drugs + crime, but CH is dangerous enough to keep rent reasonable, and at the same time safe enough that if you live here long enough you'll realize things aren't that bad. If you're happy living in Crown Heights, who cares what other people think of it?

Subject: "Authentic" Crown Heights Image?

Images Are Always In Flux CoolTK.

Crown heights was once and firstly had the image of a model community that many aspired to live in.

I don't believe the "real", "authentic" Crown Heights is defined by the last half of the 20th century slow demise into a urban sewer.

Crown Heights of the moment seems to be on the up swing with slighter better services and less crime than the last half of the 20th century saw. That is a changing Image and reality I am all for.

My point was the image is much less important than the reality. People can dump on CH all they want... doesn't affect my quality of life here.