6 responses so far ↓

• 1 ccgh // Jan 22, 2009 at 10:59 am

  While the community has every right to protest these sex shop and clubs if they so choose (I agree with them) they ought to think before they leap as it pertains to attacking local politicians and Community Boards…for the record, CB7 voted no to the liquor license for the Play Pen on 39th and 2nd Ave. I guess that did not leave the press, The Eagle and Fox 5, much to report on.

  Now hopefully the efforts of the protesters can return to working to get rid of the businesses and working with their local govt. rather than using it as a potential scape goat.

• 2 Jose // Jan 22, 2009 at 6:34 pm

  If these shops were next to ccgh’s home, I am sure they would protest these shops just as vigorously. The fact remains that a CB 7 committee was nearly unanimous in recommending that this place get a liquor license until local clergy and the media arrived. There was no protest, no attacks on pols … there was merely something that CB 7 and local pols are clearly not accustomed to … accountability. If MLK had merely left it to his local gov’t, African Americans would still be riding in the back of the bus.

• 3 SPAN // Jan 22, 2009 at 9:26 pm

  In the interest of clarity, the board’s very own public safety committee, including the board vice chair, voted to recommend a liquor license for the sex shop on the 39th and Third. It was only after several Latino clergy leaders (including one who has a sex shop right next to his church) from the area and several members of the media showed up at the full CB 7 meeting, that CB 7 voted against the committee’s recommendation.

  It seems a little odd to me that CCGH, who rallied and protested so that a statue in a cemetery could see her sister statue in NY harbor, would take issue with local Latino clergy and families doing the same in order to protect their families and neighbors from sex predators and others who don’t add any value to the Sunset Park community.

  Additionally, if CB 7 really wants to be seen as an agent of inclusiveness and progress, it should lobby to include Third Ave and 8th Avenue in the rezoning plan for Sunset Park.

  By the way, there was no criticism of the board or elected officials, what the clergy and the media merely provoked was an accountability session, something that makes some on the board apparently very uncomfortable. That’s too bad for them, but real good for democracy.

  I sincerely hope these comments are included in this exchange and not deleted. Thank you.

• 4 Vecina // Jan 22, 2009 at 11:20 pm

  I have been to some CB7 meetings and they don’t seem to resemble the diversity of community. I wouldn’t trust them to represent me. They are all appointed anyway.

• 5 Ivette Cabrera // Jan 23, 2009 at 2:03 am

  Firstly I would like to disclose that I am a member of SPAN, that I was ill and unable to attend the march and the CB meeting, that I helped organize the march and that I am a lifelong resident of Sunset Park.
  As, CCGW (Concerned Citizen of Greenwood Heights) said, it is within our right to protest; I daresay, according to our President, not only my right, but my responsiblity to protest injustice, inequities and incomprehensible lapse of judgment concerning my community. Leadership from the Community Board once attempted to dismiss SPAN’s attempt to hold the CB accountable by calling SPAN members “so-called activists” (not unlike our democratically elected President). And now I ask, are we not allowed to question you? Your accronym gives you away…you don’t live here, right? You might agree, but you won’t do the work nor take the heat. CCGH, are you to be the lone voice in what goes on in my neighborhood? Give me a breakdown and tell me how many members of the CB live between 25th St. and 64th St. between 1st and 8th Ave. How many are non-white? What is the racial breakdown? What is the neighbohood population ratio? What has been done to actively recruit the Latino and Asian communities that were not so long ago (and perhpas even presently) shunned? My voice has been silenced enough! I will not allow you nor anyone else to tell me, my community and my community’s clergy that we do not have a right to call out, bring attention to and hold our ELECTED offficials and those that are appointed accountable! The issues concerning our community are the proliferation of sex shops, the increased number of brothels since the sex shops have spread in our community and the danger our children are in. It is sad that you have chosen to avoid the real issues.
  If you can’t take the heat, I suggest you step off the Community Board.

• 6 kismet // May 2, 2009 at 1:01 pm

  Sex shops and strip joints must fill some human need. They are a fact of urban human life and have to be dealt with from this position, there is no “getting rid” of them. Subjugation of sexuality leads to greater crime against vulnerable children (priesthood and pedofilia) more so than the appearance of sex shops and strip joints. Children should be educated about this facet of life. These shops and strip joints ARE utilized, or else they would go out of business. Kids and young adults under 18 should stay away from them until they can make mature decisions, but eradicating them is denying that the serve some sexual need for the community. I suggest small “red light” districts in communities so that sex shops don’t spring up next to churches or stores and businesses that children frequent. Corral the businesses together and control their geographic footprint.