Brian Lehrer on Inwood Hill Park

This segment from Wednesday's Brian Lehrer Show is mostly about the Harlem drumming controversy, but at the 11 minute mark, CB 12 Chair Manny Velazquez comes on to talk about the current flare-up over ongoing problems with trash, noise and barbecuing at our own Inwood Hill Park.

Maybe we're mistaken, but it seems that Velazquez thinks the conflict over barbecuing and littering in the park (both of which are illegal) is a culture clash between more established neighborhood families and more well-to-do newcomers. For many reasons, this sounds like a dangerous and misguided assumption.

To our knowledge, a lot of the problems in the park are brought in from other neighborhoods by people who drive to IHP, trash the place, then drive home, leaving locals with the mess. To foster an us-vs.-them mentality among neighbors won't help when it comes to taking care of the park, and it certainly won't do anything for overall intra-Inwoodite relations.

But again, maybe that isn't what's being said here. Thoughts?

Comments

[West of Bway]

Velazquez is not wrong. The vast, vast majority of Inwood is fairly low income and these are the users of IHP who have been breaking the rules for decades. I think the idea of blaming mysterious outsiders is a face-saving measure to avoid dealing with the war of cultures that is going on here. Some people are not fortunate enough to come from a privileged background where authorities were to be trusted and rules were to be followed. Throwing trash on the ground and defacing property is simply acceptable in the socio-economic group that dominates Inwood. The abuse of the park is no different than the massive graffiti on buildings east of Broadway or the litter that lines those streets.

Parks needs to upgrade their expectations and provide a supportive environment (i.e. put a lot more garbage cans out and some more explicit rules) but make no mistake, it's a war. The good news is that if the park is kept clean and free of loud music then everyone wins in at least some respect.

[SD]

To be honest, I think if there is a racial component, it might be that we white people are quicker to pick up the phone and complain or call 911 about quality of life issues. When I call 911 about motorcycles racing on my street at 3 am, I'm not just doing it for myself, I'm doing it for the nice old Dominicans in my building who have given up and stopped trying to do anything about it. Other than that, I don't think it's about race or class. People who throw trash on the ground in the park are not of any certain race or class, they're of a certain character.

[zaida aka saidy]

i agree with you 100%, and was so glad to hear the caller hold him accountable for the no picnicking policy. it should be "NO BBQs" only in this area of the park. why in the world would they redirect everyone to the peninsula when there are PLENTY of BBQ pits and picnic tables at Dyckman Fields (which is part of IHP and has tons of parking)? people with blankets and sandwiches were being told they couldn't have lunch in the park. isn't that a bit extreme? i am thrilled about the strong, more noticeable presence of rangers and police, and rules should be enforced (no parties or tables without permits, no obnoxiously loud music, etc.

they are not thinking long-term solutions, and destroying not only the very wonderful and special peninsula, but also potentially creating unnecessary tension in our already less-than-ideal neighbor relationships.

[SD]

Zaida, I'm glad you mentioned Dyckman Fields. I took my 2 year old down there a couple of Mondays ago, and, as I'm walking there, I'm thinking: why don't we go here all the time? It's right on the river, lots of space to run around, quiet. Then we got there. The ground was covered, and I mean covered, in trash. Trash cans overflowed, and there were chicken bones, broken bottles, food and flies all over the place. It was about 11 am on a Monday. I couldn't let my son loose, because he was running through it.

This is one of the most beautiful spaces in Manhattan, and it belongs to all of us. Anyone who throws trash on the ground should be given a big, fat summons, for over $100. Then it would stop.

To assert or even suggest, as some people are, that poor people live this way is demeaning to poor people. I know plenty of poor people, but I don't know anyone who would throw food and trash on the ground in a public space and walk away.

[manhattanman]

I live on Indian Road, opposite the park. It is a fact, as Brad mentioned, that [most] people who picnic and bbq illegally drive to the park. And today I saw numerous cars drive right into the park to bbq and party.

If there are sufficient bbq spots by the ball fields on Dyckman and there are, I see no reason why Parks and other officials caved in and destroyed a portion of the park so outsiders can party, leave a mess behind and leave.

No picnics or bbqs should be allowed any where in Inwood Hill Park.

[zaida aka saidy]

the peninsula is NOT a designated BBQ area according to the nyc.gov, so why the change the rules at whim?

http://www.nycgovparks.org/sub_things_to_do/events/ev_bbq_areas.html

Designated Barbecuing Areas

• Barbecuing is allowed in designated areas ONLY.
• No barbecuing allowed under trees.
• All coals & litter must be disposed in trash receptacles.

Manhattan
Inwood Hill Park - Dyckman Ballfields at Dyckman Street & Hudson River

what part of no flames "under trees" is hard to understand?

[The Gay Recluse]

I just don't see how it matters where you're from, or how long you've lived here, or whether you say, like to sleep with men with lots of facial hair; the bottom line is that the rules should be enforced without regard to class or race or anything else, which in this context (keeping the parks clean and quiet) are self-serving and divisive distractions. Also, I say let's nominate Zaida to be our next mayor!

[DT]

I bike through Dyckman Fields all the time, and it is unbelievably bad over there in terms of litter. Guys urinating into the river, almost no trash cans, makeshift vendors cooking up food, you name it. If there has to be a sacrificial zone here (and there has to be, given the numbers of people), then that would be it.

However, it's too far away to be practical bait for the jerks who like to take over the park so I really don't mind the new policy on the peninsula. The Parks center/office is on the peninsula, so any mess left behind will be in their face until they clean it up. They need to have something nearby in order to better enforce Indian Rd, where the true conflict between residential and park user lies.

Speaking of, Parks seems to have been lax this past weekend. On Sunday eve there was a lot of litter on the slopes and I saw a minivan with its door open blasting music for the benefit of a large group set up with a dominoes table at W218 and Indian Rd. Pathetic - where was the enforcement? What good is risking the peninsula if no one is protecting the rest?

As to where that minivan came from, I'm not so sure it wasn't Inwood. You are all correct that many of the problem people drive to the park, but how do you know they didn't drive over from Post Ave or Nagle? Inwood is a big place.

[Brooklynista]

Brian Lehrer lives in Inwood with his family. Sounds like he might be suffering too.

Re: vehicles parked and blasting music - are they illegally parked? If so, who do we call? How about if we take photos of illegally parked vehicles showing their license plates? Only where should we send photos/reports?

[10034]

My neighbor has been in my building for more years than I am alive. She is the tenant leader and works for a local politician.

If she advises me all the party people are from the Bronx I believe her.

And for the Parks Dept to cave in and dig up the Peninsula so a few selfish, greedy outsiders can destroy what is my front or back yard, is ridiculous. This would never be sanctioned in Central or Prospect Park.

It is economic racism to cater to the whims of a few outsiders because most people up here are not wealthy. It is racism based on lack of money, not racism based on background as many people here of ALL backgrounds are struggling.