Some things manage to press a button that goes directly to one’s reserves of anger. So it is with this tale on writer Felicia Sullivan’s blog, which is ostensibly about why someone is fed up with Park Slope (yes, taking off on the theme of that New York Times article again), but is really about a vile person. As issue issue is the sad murder of Kyung Sook-Woo in Windsor Terrace. We’ll let the writer explain the rest:
I stand in front of the shop, mute, surrounded by women with bags in little carts, toddlers in expensive strollers, and at eight in the morning we all lament about how cruel this all is. And when I turn to head home, a woman with a stroller whines, pushing aside the piles of flowers that have been left in respect: But my cleaning is in there! my clothes! When will we get our clothes?! And I consider killing this woman, just a little bit.
We could go on at length about the evil things we wish would befall this smug, self-centered person, but it would be wrong. Her words and actions speak loudly for themselves. We hope her cleaning languishes in police evidence hell until about 2038.
(UPDATE: The photo here is NOT of the person in question in this post. It is a wonderful picture that a reader sent of a resident adding something to the memorial for Kyung-Sook Woo. To see it in its original context, click here. It powerfully shows the sadness that many feel, which is why we used it as a counterpoint to the situation discussed in Ms. Sullivan’s post.)
17 responses so far ↓
1 Red Hook // May 20, 2008 at 1:56 pm
This is my least favorite part of Gowanus Lounge… There is a fine line between talking about issues and rewarding people for inappropriate behavior and rudeness.
2 DW // May 20, 2008 at 3:11 pm
We thought The Most Loathsome Woman in Brooklyn was found here:
http://onlytheblogknowsbrooklyn.typepad.com/
3 kyle // May 20, 2008 at 5:59 pm
Amen, 1st comment.
4 JIM // May 20, 2008 at 6:21 pm
I am really sorry about her death, trust me.. but all my shirts are in there too.. All the lady and I had in common was the business relationship. Sadly she has left us, with my shirts and the neighborhood’s dry cleaning clothing inside as well.. When would i get my shirts..
Is it wrong for asking a simple question.. How would you feel if you were in our shoes?
att: a neighbor
5 Toast // May 20, 2008 at 7:08 pm
Is the woman in the picture the one who made the offending comment?
I realize it’s probably not but putting her photo next to this story implies that she made the comment. Not a very nice thing to do to someone who was probably just paying her respects to Ms. Woo.
Also, Ms. Sullivan’s account of what happened reeks of hyperbole.
6 Ethan // May 20, 2008 at 7:20 pm
Seriously. I dig much of this site, but coverage of my post about a really really cool story (Flatbush Food Co-op tripling in size) got a hurried four-line “mention” while senseless murder and the obscene reaction gets all kindsa play. Shit even ‘Breezy With Rain’ got more attention from GL “correspondents”. Wtf? I could care less about the traffic to my blog, it just strikes me as odd.
7 The Phantom // May 20, 2008 at 8:17 pm
If this story is even 1% true, then I have to give tactical air support to Gowanus Lounge. I’d have reacted in much the same way.
It’s a visceral reaction, and it’s not wrong. Lighten up, guys.
8 Next on the WT // May 20, 2008 at 8:54 pm
I cannot imagine that woman is the one mentioned in the article. I have seen her leaving flowers and paying respects at least twice.
I think the picture should be changed or removed to avoid any false connections.
9 JIM // May 20, 2008 at 9:32 pm
JIM again.. i see everyone is more concern about the picture here than the real issue. Let me remind you all. The dry cleaners is closed.. which means .. noone can get their clothes. What about mt shirts????
10 lynn // May 20, 2008 at 9:43 pm
I took the picture and no, the woman in the picture is not the one mentioned on that writer’s blog (I say this because she was attaching a memorial or something to the gate, plus there was no one else around with strollers, carts or anything). I would speculate that GL used the picture again because it was they used it on an earlier posting about the death.
If any of you have walked by that corner in the past few days, you too would feel the deep sadness that lingers there. Not trying to be corny and of course, people need their dry cleaning back, but there are ways to address your practical need (for the return of your clothes) without being disrespectful to the victim’s memory.
11 Nokilissa // May 20, 2008 at 10:22 pm
How ridiculous that people are getting hung up on this picture, and the notion that there could possibly be some misunderstanding that this old, stoop shouldered, hat bedecked, gray-haired lady, attaching flowers or something to the gate, could be the stroller mother from hell being discussed in the
blog. Are you people serious?
12 Red Hook // May 21, 2008 at 3:02 am
Spoken like someone who would be apopletic if she was in a picture attached to another story.
Always the people who dismiss other people’s problems who go batshit crazy when something directly effects them. Everytime.
13 Anonymous // May 21, 2008 at 7:38 am
Yes, your clothes are in there. All you whining hypocrites need to do is , #1 go to the precinct who caught the perp or who originally came to the scene and inquire on the reopening of the cleaners. #2, give the owner/ owners family time to grieve. What you think the gates will be shut forever and your fake polo shirts will rot on the hangars? Everyone needs to relax. Just GO TO THE PRECINCT.
14 Jim // May 21, 2008 at 11:34 am
JIM again.. Anonymous, thanks for your reply.. it does make sense… Funny my Fiance asked a cop and he said.. call 311, but going to the precinct makes more sense.. Funny my brother is a cop too and i called him and asked him.. i am still awaiting for his reply.. go to love my brother,,,
15 resa // May 21, 2008 at 3:21 pm
Ms. Sullivans post dissed an entire neighborhood (Park Slope) based on one woman’s behavior in Windsor Terrace. Meanwhile, people in both neighborhoods are mourning and by gosh, actually trying to do something about it besides whine about Park Slope.
16 Georgia // May 23, 2008 at 3:54 pm
I don’t see why this woman’s words are so wrong?! People die, but life goes on and we still need our clothes. Somehow I doubt that she plowed through the flowers with her stroller. That was a natural and normal response and whoever thinks that she was “vile” should reasses their thinking. Relax already!
17 JIM // May 27, 2008 at 3:36 pm
I got my shirts back yeeeeeee! thank you Eden Cleaners.. word is they still are going to maintain the business open.. good for them.. i really love this place.. and i am going to miss Mrs. Woo