"Today our community's heart is breaking. My thoughts and prayers are with those affected by this tragedy. I am working closely with emergency services, my colleagues in government and with community leaders to respond to this horrible event. I thank the people of New York for the outpouring of concern and support. We pray for the victims and their families."
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I can't even imagine the loss of life and of lives ruined. It must be because of tragedies like this that people invented religion.
ReplyDeletePlease let us know if there is any way we can help. I called Red Cross and they are not yet looking for volunteers.
ReplyDeleteSome of my happiest days were living in the EV during the mid 1990s. Please let us know how to help. JoAnnSF
ReplyDeleteThis one really hurts. At least three buildings are gone, and many peoples homes with them. We pray they are all safe and are given help so they can move on with their lives. For most of us its/' the shops below that we will remember, and the great times we had there.
ReplyDelete119 2nd Avenue was where Love Saves The Day sold memories, old toys and vintage clothing until it was pushed out by high rent, now the whole building is gone. So many great memories of buying gifts and finding childhood treasures of long forgotten childhood treasures. I still have the full collection of Wacky Pack stickers I bought there long ago.
121 2nd Ave. housed Sushi Park, always packed full of festive groups enjoying sushi and miso soup on a cold night.
123 2nd Avenue was where some many enjoyed Pomme Frites amazing sauces, sat at the little wooden tables in the back with the holes cut out where you put your paper cone of sizzling hot frites. I was just there for the last time 2 weeks ago, but passed it by last week when the line on a Friday night stretched down the block. They always gave you extra frites, free jalapeños, a thank you and a smile. We just lost Mitali, another all time favorite, now this.
Bad things happen. Some may give up and run away. But now it's time to rebuild. Win or lose, this is still our city. Lets help these people any way we can.
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DeleteI hope this doesn't come up as some landlord scam to demolish the buildings and get rid of longtime tenants. That corner always looked so cozy with those old buildings there. The developers are tearing up the LES to make way for money like the upper east side. It's a scary thought but the giant fire and loss of dollars is going to overshadow the loss of life and community identity. There will be a giant, NYU funded glass and steel tower rising from the sad ashes. Mark my words
ReplyDeleteDear Rosie, A disaster was bound to happen sooner or later with all this Micky Mouse construction and contracting going on on every block --- it's like you need a hard hard just to walk down the sidewalk. There isn't a person reading this in the neighborhood who hasn't experienced a near miss with some contractor. It includes everything from structural collapse, electrified sidewalk bridges, baby carriages overturned, thousands of pounds of minimally secured building materials hoisted over pedestrians heads -- you name it. It's time for the city council to enact immediate and emergency regulations over these contractors and redevelopers who are intent on pricing all of us out of the city we once called our home.
ReplyDeleteMike Diaz said...
ReplyDeleteI hope this doesn't come up as some landlord scam to demolish the buildings and get rid of longtime tenants. That corner always looked so cozy with those old buildings there. The developers are tearing up the LES to make way for money like the upper east side. It's a scary thought but the giant fire and loss of dollars is going to overshadow the loss of life and community identity. There will be a giant, NYU funded glass and steel tower rising from the sad ashes. Mark my words
Sadly, my comment to the New York Times was pretty much along these lines; the developers are salivating and rubbing their hands together at the prospect of virgin buildable land in such a prime community.
A friend of mine at a cocktail party years ago overheard a rich woman remark nonchalantly about arson: "It's the best way to clear the slums." [Mind you, I'm not implying that this incident was necessarily a case of arson, although you never know.]
Hello! I live at E 41 7th, and we are displaced and awaiting news. If anyone is interested in volunteering anything, you can contact the Red Cross...or take things to 169 Avenue A. They already have lots of things. But as a displaced person who will most likely be in long term shelter for a while, a few things that needed (and got elsewhere! Yay!), but others may need are: ear plugs and eye masks (for sleeping in shared housing), slippers, pajamas, mittens/gloves/hates/scarves (I had a coat, but didn't need gloves on Thursday when I left, but needed them today). New underwear & simple socks. Laundry detergent, even small containers of it, shower caps, bathrobes, travel things, small individual instant coffee things, simple cups/mugs, plates & cutlery (I'm in shelter and got food, but don't have a cup for coffee). I hope we can all get through this! I love my corner!
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