An unidentified man smashed the front window at Azaleas on Second Avenue with a bike lock yesterday morning.
"This was just a senseless random act," said Cindy Hahn, who owns the 18-year-old boutique selling lingerie and swimwear between Ninth Street and St. Mark's Place. "I think he was in some heated argument in front of Veselka and just threw a big old bike lock into my window out of anger."
Hahn commended her neighbors, who quickly came to her aid. The folks at Fresco Cafe a few storefronts away stopped by to make sure that she was OK and used some spare plywood to cover the broken glass. The staff at Veselka flagged down the NYPD.
The vandalism is another example of the uptick in crime and quality-of-life issues in recent months, especially along parts of Second Avenue, that residents and business owners have previously noted.
"The police were helpful but it was too hard to look for the guy as he could have gone anywhere," Hahn said. "I’m still a little shook as it was such a loud bang I thought it was a [gun shot]. Doesn’t sound so out of question from all I’ve been seeing in news. This was 10:54 a.m. on Second Avenue. What is happening?"
Azaleas, which moved to this storefront in 2012 after 10 years on 10th Street, had only just reopened for in-store shopping following the COVID-19 PAUSE. The broken door just adds to the stress Hahn has felt as a small business owner these past few months.
"Might be the last straw for me," she said.
This Crime Wave has been brought to you by Mayor D'Assio and Chirlaine. We promise to bring you more (and better!) when Chirlaine becomes Brooklyn Borough President.
ReplyDeleteDisgusting behavior. Who wants to live with this madness? It's time to admit we need an increased police presence in our city AND a plan to eliminate police brutality. Sadly we also need a mayor who can manage these things instead of the fickle, ineffective man-child we currently have.
ReplyDeleteAbsolutely correct. More police, zero brutality. If that can't go hand in hand, better move to a real free country.
DeleteYesterday afternoon around 1:30 two guys got into a fight in the bodega at 528 East 11th Street; one of them pulled a gun, fired, and thankfully, missed. The cops came almost immediately, closed off the street at both ends, and instituted a search, but I don't know if they found the shooter. In my 42 years on this block, this is the first time since a double homicide on July 4, 1981 (two drug dealers sitting in a car in front of 507 were in a dispute, both pulled guns and shot at each other, neither missed) that I can remember a gun being fired. Strange days...
ReplyDeleteWTF is wrong with people? The stupid jerk who did this should be fined and/or arrested or at the very least responsible for the replacement of the door. He also needs to get a life and take anger management classes. Grow up man. Why can't we all respect one another? This woman is struggling to maintain her livelihood in these uncertain, financial times amidst a creeping pandemic with no vaccination in sight. We need as many businesses such as hers to subsist while endless retail merchants and chains are fleeing NYC, and lastly, since these very places are what make our neighborhoods special and unique. My best to her.
ReplyDeletefined? arrested? what are you talking about? this is the no bail, closing rikers, criminal justice reform NYC. All these actions have real world consequences. If he got arrested he would get an appearance ticket and be on his way. People support all these ideas in theory but not in reality. Defending the police isn't just a poster or a pic you like on Instagram. It has real world ramifications . So does letting thousands of people out of jail.
DeleteIt is the heat it makes people crazy.
ReplyDeleteMy camel's back already broke from too many straws. I'm happy to say, soon as my lease is up next year, I'm out of here!
ReplyDeleteAt 10:30 AM, Anonymous said:
ReplyDeleteIt is the heat it makes people crazy.
No excuse!
Is smashing windows even illegal anymore?
ReplyDeleteThe EV is returning to its pre-Guiliani state. Maybe we can get Rudy to run again and straighten this mess out. By mess I mean De Blasio, who has ruined the quality of life in the city.....and it's been worsened by the stupid no bail system and all has been exacerbated by Covid,..and let's not forget the rioters/looters who have hijacked the BLM movement to the point that the perception is that BLM is to blame for the violence. Perception is everything, whether it is right or not.
ReplyDeleteJust to add a little something to the current state of affairs in the EV, in which I have lived for over four decades, I wanted EMS pull up to the corner of E. 6th ST and Second Avenue on Saturday afternoon, administer Narcan to an overdosed male, who was obviously dead. After a few minutes they loaded him onto the gurney and left. First time I've seen that in the EV, though I don't doubt I missed a few along the way.
When you say you're opposed to bail reform, you're saying "I want poor people and people of color held indefinitely when only accused of crimes while well-off people can walk free." That's all. Bail is merely meant to ensure that a defendant shows up to legal proceedings. It's not supposed to be an extra punishment or an excuse to incarcerate people before you can prove they've done anything wrong, which is how it has ended up functioning.
ReplyDeleteIf your idea of an appropriate "consequence" of being accused of smashing a door is indefinite detention in dangerous conditions for periods that can significantly outlast any actual jail time we've formally determined is fitting for the crime in question, you're a fascist. Shame on you.
I'm sorry for this woman. I hope they catch the person responsible and the person suffers the actual legal consequences for their crime. But dumping more people into jail indefinitely--causing them to lose their jobs, their homes, sometimes their families--without even proving their guilt is not the answer. It's just primitive rage directed at the most vulnerable.
@1:23pm: Surely you don't actually want "the real" Rudy. He's 76 years old, he makes no effort now to hide his racism and prejudices, and he's widely known (as reported in newspapers & magazines) to have a drinking problem.
ReplyDeleteBTW, I have also lived in the East Village for over 4 decades, & I've seen it go through all the stages; now we're just circling back again. The difference is that back THEN, I was young, nimble & idealistic - I lost count of how many hours I spent participating in demonstrations & protests, writing letters, and going to endless Community Board meetings, etc.
NOW I'm elderly, arthritic & very cynical. I'd *like* to see a decent, honest (ha!), coherent person as Mayor of NYC, preferably someone as un-like de Blasio as possible. Someone who ISN'T on the take would be great! Someone who genuinely gives a functional damn about the quality of life for ALL of us who aren't living off a trust fund would also be great.
But I have no expectation of that in the future, since NYC seems to be becoming a kleptocracy that attracts, in politicians, people who are mostly interested in power & attention, rather than doing the WORK of SERVING the people. (For example: Carlina Rivera, just compare what she promised BEFORE she got elected, and we all know what her behavior has actually been.)
I'd take the EV as it was 40 years ago over the flood of entitled bro's, crusties, and anger-management-failure crazies we're inundated with now.
As an EVer for over 5 decades, I agree with all you’ve said!
DeleteI was born and raised in this neighborhood and despite seeing needles around the parks when I was growing up, I NEVER witnessed anyone actually using until a couple of years ago. Now they're passed out on the sidewalk with needles in their arm at 1pm in the afternoon in front of million dollar condos.
ReplyDeleteI voted for bail reform, but as it was presented to me, ONLY for non-violent crimes. On a daily basis I'm seeing news reports of people who are blatantly assaulting people/have a history of violence/hundreds of arrests under their belt and not being held which is insane to me and certainly not justice.
I am guessing that you must be quite young? I moved to the east village in 1980, and for the first fifteen years today I lived here, it was not even all that remarkable to see people shooting up or smoking crack.... in the park, in doorways, in my building's entry way, between parked cars. Just a point of note.
DeleteThe guy who shot the gun on 11th Street yesterday was arrested. He was out on parole and got in a fight with some teens. He shot into the ground a few times to scare them. It’s crazy. What a stupid, dangerous thing to do.
ReplyDelete@2:51pm: You write of "dumping people into jail indefinitely" that "it's just primitive rage directed at the most vulnerable."
ReplyDeleteWhile I agree that people should not be just held in jail indefinitely, OTOH I would certainly say that what THIS man did in destroying the door with a bike lock is ALSO "primitive rage."
Now the store owner has to pay for new door glass, but the person who randomly and wantonly damaged her store suffered ZERO consequences for doing it.
For all we know, this man could have, in his rage, gone on to damage other stores or even HUMAN BEINGS - or he could do so in the future.
We don't know the cause of his rage, but he could have been drunk, drugged-up, or just insane (or some combination of those items). It doesn't matter the cause of the rage if YOU or your property become the target of that kind of fury.
Therefore I'd have wished for this man to be arrested and HELD for a couple of days, especially b/c I'd bet that he's got a rap sheet.
PS: Whose bike lock did he steal to do this with??
I am not a doctor, but I have seen a lot of homeless people who appear to be mentally ill and seriously struggling in our neighborhood. They are clearly incapable of caring for themselves and need help. I don’t understand where they are coming from. Were they staying in shelters where they had access to medication and care, or were they in hospitals? I have given people food and water, but I know it’s not enough. These people are in serious distress. I have lived here for more than thirty years and have never seen so many people flooding the streets in this condition.
ReplyDelete2nd Ave has been way out of control for the past month plus. During that time my store was robbed twice (that I know of) . Not break ins. Actually robbed of goods while staff was in the store. One woman actually dared me to call the cops as she filled his bag with chips and snack bars. I didn't. Wasn't worth it. I've had a steady flow of homeless and people with mental/drug issues ( One fellow plopped himself down in the middle of the shop naked (except for his underwear) and went to sleep. Stayed there for an hour before I was able to flag down an ambulance. About two weeks ago another fellow was walking around the avenue with a huge piece of tree. I assumed it fell in one of our recent thunderstorms. He was walking around 2nd Ave batting out garbage pales and whatever else he could find. Later he walked in, branch in hand, and 'asked,' me for a free cup of coffee. We gave it to him. On top of this the area has been bombarded with graffiti. They hit the old nail salon on 2nd and 12th to the point that they actually tagged the windows and glass doors. That's insanely expensive to get out. It's all very disheartening.
ReplyDeleteAt 3:28 PM, Anonymous wrote:
ReplyDelete@1:23pm: Surely you don't actually want "the real" Rudy. He's 76 years old, he makes no effort now to hide his racism and prejudices, and he's widely known (as reported in newspapers & magazines) to have a drinking problem.
I never did want Rudy; during his reign as mayor, I was arrested four times—had to spend the night in the Tombs twice.
But obviously, his story is playing out to its logical conclusion—nasty, mean old drunk (not that there's anything wrong with that.)
I'm sorry this happened and I really hope Azalea's stays. It's such a great store!
ReplyDeletereminder that crime is still at a historic low
ReplyDeleteI’m sickened by the cops being told to stand down at the beginning of the looting. When has doing Nothing Ever Stopped a bad behavior? I’m also shocked and sickened that it is SO HARD for each human brain to think...”I’m going to do what is Right.”...Committing a Crime...Not Right....Resisting Arrest...Not Right....Putting a knee on another human being’s neck until they lose consciousness...Not Right...Unfortunatrly, I think it’s going to get a lot Scummier before it gets Better and it’s going to come down to some Serious Force for that to happen. Like, Look what a MESS you made, and now Major Force “Has” To Step in. Then I’m all for a new non lethal force option available to all Law Enforcement at all times starting Now...and the Resisting Arrest BS has got to Stop as messed up as it may seem initially, Resisting should be warned once or twice and the non lethal force comes next. Too many people would still be Alive if they just kept their mouth shut and complied, letting LE do their job and sort it all out eventually. When has Resisting ever worked out...Ever. ...Don’t Commit a Crime, Don’t Resist Arrest, Treat Everyone Decently. Seems Pretty Logical.
ReplyDeleteParts of the neighborhood look tragic, including the spots where the toothless old homeless woman who begs for food drops her pants and violently shits all over the bus stops along Second Avenue. Lame ass tags going up on buildings, random acts of window smashing, heroin zombies, and that street art chick with her bobble head, Forrest Gump-esque platitudes.
ReplyDeleteIt's like a low-budget Suicide Squad sequel.