Readers Report
As a young rookie policeman in 1984 I made my first arrest inside 1010 President St. while assigned to a training unit in the 71 Precinct. Since then I was later assigned to several other commands in "Brooklyn South" but I have heard that address countless times on the radio and still responded to numerous Emergency Calls in that hell hole . This was definitely the most hazardous location in the confines of the 71 Pct. throughout the 1980s and early 90s.
I now turn out of an office in Queens but on a recent visit to the 71 I was informed that the entire precinct is "walk in the park" with the citywide crime drop and I assume that 1010 President also must be somewhat tamer today.
2 July 1997
Hi, Brooklyn was the cradle of my youth, not that 50 is old, but well, always fond memories of times that have since changed. Thanks for sharing.
3 July 1997
My Brooklyn is Brighton Beach. Hanging out at the Shorefront "Y" (Teen Nite and all-night skating in the gym), Brighton Beach Pizza and buying comic books at the 40 Thieves candy store at the corner of Brighton Beach Ave. and Coney Island Ave. (right next to Seagull's). Hanging around with some of the greatest friends you would have for a life time. Hang out all day, rush home ("smelling the gutta") to eat just so you could rush out again at night to hang around some more (but it was nighttime hanging around). Always looking for excitement and adventure and never realizing you were living the greatest adventure. Everything was right in your own "back yard" but it was so commonplace we never noticed. From the greatest amusement parks (Coney Island, Steeplechase), fantastic Broadway shows, TV broadcast shows, first run movies (for 25 cents back then), museums that cannot be matched anywhere (and on almost any subject you can think of), to all the people that use to sit outside on the stoop or in open doorways sitting on milk boxes actually talking to their friends and neighbors that we knew by name. Irv the seltzer man who use to deliver more gossip than seltzer (I also bought my first pair of roller skates from Irv for a $1, needed a skate key and ripped up more soles . . . ). Knowing and respecting each other's holidays as a community. Having lunch from any part of the world you desired just by picking a restaurant (or a friend's home). I could go to Pat the Barber on Coney Island Ave. for a hair cut (Dad told him crew cuts only) or to Tannenbaum's Grocery store and pick up L&M cigarettes for my mother, and my dad would be in later to pay them. Walking with a date on the boardwalk. Where else in the world can you go from the mad ulcer making World Controlling place like Wall Street and be minutes away from just sitting on the boardwalk at night listening to the waves when you just needed to think things over. Where else on one block can you have a Mayor, a soon to be world famous singer (Neil Diamond for one) enough people with number tattoos on their arms that we never realized the importance. From the chinese laundry, to the Italian butcher, to the "facochta" German fruit guy and I worked as a delivery boy for Izzy the Russian Taylor for $6 a week (plus tips). There is no place like Brooklyn other than Brooklyn. My parents always spoke of someday living in Miami Beach. My senior year of high school they made it. Moved the family here in 1970. Although I have lived here for 27 years (this month) Brooklyn will always be home.
To all my friends from P.S. 253, P.S. 225, Brighton Beach Yeshiva, James J. Reynolds 43, Lincoln H.S., Shorefront YM-YWHA, to the greatest friends anybody could have wished for—Bonnie and Laurie Russo, Bruce and Barry Schwartz, Yvette Jacobson, Sabrina Hildebrand, Paula Wechter, Dean Graynor, Paula (with two uvula's and I can't remember your last name) and whole bunch more that I can't use up space to list, though I may not know where you are today, I miss you all and thank you for the times forever in my memory. (As a matter of fact, if anybody knows the whereabouts of the "hoodlums" please let me know at aerstein@co.broward.fl.us). I also thank the wonderful person that created this site to allow to visit home again and see that I'm not alone. Above all, I thank Brooklyn for making me who I am today.
9 July 1997
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