Comments on: Portraits of devastation in Rockaways after Hurricane Sandy: Charles le Brigand http://boingboing.net/2012/11/05/portraits-of-new-york-devastat.html Brain candy for Happy Mutants Tue, 21 May 2013 10:19:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.4.1 By: acerplatanoides http://boingboing.net/2012/11/05/portraits-of-new-york-devastat.html#comment-1575018 acerplatanoides Tue, 06 Nov 2012 06:44:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=192183#comment-1575018 That's only on the day after thanksgiving. That’s only on the day after thanksgiving.

]]> By: ocker3 http://boingboing.net/2012/11/05/portraits-of-new-york-devastat.html#comment-1574996 ocker3 Tue, 06 Nov 2012 06:11:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=192183#comment-1574996  Guess they didn't pay their border-crossing tax to the right post-apocalyptic local warlord  Guess they didn’t pay their border-crossing tax to the right post-apocalyptic local warlord

]]> By: TWX http://boingboing.net/2012/11/05/portraits-of-new-york-devastat.html#comment-1574762 TWX Tue, 06 Nov 2012 00:22:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=192183#comment-1574762  I thought that was Stockbridge, MA...  I thought that was Stockbridge, MA…

]]> By: acerplatanoides http://boingboing.net/2012/11/05/portraits-of-new-york-devastat.html#comment-1574524 acerplatanoides Mon, 05 Nov 2012 19:42:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=192183#comment-1574524 A friend in Jersey City described it as as getting a bit too rapey and stabby outside lastnight. A friend in Jersey City described it as as getting a bit too rapey and stabby outside lastnight.

]]> By: Scott Bartlett http://boingboing.net/2012/11/05/portraits-of-new-york-devastat.html#comment-1574351 Scott Bartlett Mon, 05 Nov 2012 17:25:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=192183#comment-1574351 Yep--you're completely right! Yep–you’re completely right!

]]> By: jackbird http://boingboing.net/2012/11/05/portraits-of-new-york-devastat.html#comment-1574345 jackbird Mon, 05 Nov 2012 17:16:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=192183#comment-1574345 Why? In a large city there are plenty of reasons to have cars for management-level sanitation personnel.  They're orange lights, so it's not like they're going to go screaming down the road in a high-speed garbage chase. Why? In a large city there are plenty of reasons to have cars for management-level sanitation personnel.  They’re orange lights, so it’s not like they’re going to go screaming down the road in a high-speed garbage chase.

]]> By: Michael Dolan http://boingboing.net/2012/11/05/portraits-of-new-york-devastat.html#comment-1574318 Michael Dolan Mon, 05 Nov 2012 16:50:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=192183#comment-1574318  You make a good point. Firearms laws in NYC are the toughest in the US, no question (which I'm all for). As someone who does own firearms here, I can shed some light on this. It's basically impossible to get a carry permit here. There is around 3,000 carry permits for all 12 million or so NY'ers, and they are only given to security people, celebrities, and people who are under legitimate physical threat. It is expensive, and there is a lot of paper work involved, but getting a range and premises permit to keep a weapon in your home isn't too difficult. There are a lot of legal weapons in the city. There is an indoor range at the end of my block, and it's always packed. In addition (sadly) NYC is also filled with illegal weapons. Add the number of NYPD who live in the devastated areas, and I would say yes, there are plenty of firearms here to back up those boasts. I only know of two cases so far where firearms have been used to scare off looters, and I'm really hoping things stay that way. The last thing we need is vigilante justice breaking out everywhere right now. I do sympathize though with people protecting their homes and families, and the threat is real. I had a friend who was carjacked Saturday afternoon, at gunpoint, on the border of Coney Island/Bensonhurst, so safety is a real issue.  You make a good point. Firearms laws in NYC are the toughest in the US, no question (which I’m all for). As someone who does own firearms here, I can shed some light on this. It’s basically impossible to get a carry permit here. There is around 3,000 carry permits for all 12 million or so NY’ers, and they are only given to security people, celebrities, and people who are under legitimate physical threat. It is expensive, and there is a lot of paper work involved, but getting a range and premises permit to keep a weapon in your home isn’t too difficult. There are a lot of legal weapons in the city. There is an indoor range at the end of my block, and it’s always packed. In addition (sadly) NYC is also filled with illegal weapons. Add the number of NYPD who live in the devastated areas, and I would say yes, there are plenty of firearms here to back up those boasts.

I only know of two cases so far where firearms have been used to scare off looters, and I’m really hoping things stay that way. The last thing we need is vigilante justice breaking out everywhere right now. I do sympathize though with people protecting their homes and families, and the threat is real. I had a friend who was carjacked Saturday afternoon, at gunpoint, on the border of Coney Island/Bensonhurst, so safety is a real issue.

]]> By: acerplatanoides http://boingboing.net/2012/11/05/portraits-of-new-york-devastat.html#comment-1574282 acerplatanoides Mon, 05 Nov 2012 16:23:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=192183#comment-1574282 There but for the whim of the noodly appengage go I.  There but for the whim of the noodly appengage go I. 

]]> By: Scott Bartlett http://boingboing.net/2012/11/05/portraits-of-new-york-devastat.html#comment-1574218 Scott Bartlett Mon, 05 Nov 2012 15:12:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=192183#comment-1574218 The photo of the cop-looking car with the word "SANITATION" printed across it creeps me out a little. I realize that's out-of-context, or whatever, but, y'know. The photo of the cop-looking car with the word “SANITATION” printed across it creeps me out a little.

I realize that’s out-of-context, or whatever, but, y’know.

]]> By: CSBD http://boingboing.net/2012/11/05/portraits-of-new-york-devastat.html#comment-1574213 CSBD Mon, 05 Nov 2012 15:09:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=192183#comment-1574213 I hope that the people who live behind signs like those have the bullets to back them up.  AFIK, NYC is not too open about firearm ownership (back alleys from movie plots like "The Brave One" notwithstanding). This could be a problem for law abiding people as soon as word really gets out about how vulnerable they are.  Is that why the news is not reporting how bad the situation is? I hope that the people who live behind signs like those have the bullets to back them up.  AFIK, NYC is not too open about firearm ownership (back alleys from movie plots like “The Brave One” notwithstanding).
This could be a problem for law abiding people as soon as word really gets out about how vulnerable they are.  Is that why the news is not reporting how bad the situation is?

]]> By: Michael Dolan http://boingboing.net/2012/11/05/portraits-of-new-york-devastat.html#comment-1574197 Michael Dolan Mon, 05 Nov 2012 14:47:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=192183#comment-1574197  It's really tough to get current into out of the worst parts of Staten Island, Rockaway, Coney Island and Red Hook because there is zero communication infrastructure at the moment. No lights, web, and limited to know cell phone services because the towers are either gone or without power. The best info I have is either first hand from what I've seen, or via Twitter. Not a great answer. I've been working with some people here to help get a bunch of my friends into some sort of temporary housing: http://rhicenter.org/tag/hurricane-relief/  They seem to be doing some good work despite all the obstacles. In Staten Island, they are just asking people to show up in any of the destroyed areas (New Dorp, etc.) and the locals have been organizing volunteers. Seems a bit crazy, but hearing from people there it is working and things are getting done.  It’s really tough to get current into out of the worst parts of Staten Island, Rockaway, Coney Island and Red Hook because there is zero communication infrastructure at the moment. No lights, web, and limited to know cell phone services because the towers are either gone or without power. The best info I have is either first hand from what I’ve seen, or via Twitter. Not a great answer.

I’ve been working with some people here to help get a bunch of my friends into some sort of temporary housing: http://rhicenter.org/tag/hurricane-relief/  They seem to be doing some good work despite all the obstacles.

In Staten Island, they are just asking people to show up in any of the destroyed areas (New Dorp, etc.) and the locals have been organizing volunteers. Seems a bit crazy, but hearing from people there it is working and things are getting done.

]]> By: Enki http://boingboing.net/2012/11/05/portraits-of-new-york-devastat.html#comment-1574182 Enki Mon, 05 Nov 2012 14:35:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=192183#comment-1574182 Michael, thanks for sharing that.  Do you know of any information outlets that are available with up to date information on relief efforts, what's needed, etc.? Michael, thanks for sharing that.  Do you know of any information outlets that are available with up to date information on relief efforts, what’s needed, etc.?

]]> By: Michael Dolan http://boingboing.net/2012/11/05/portraits-of-new-york-devastat.html#comment-1574174 Michael Dolan Mon, 05 Nov 2012 14:28:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=192183#comment-1574174 I'm not an alarmist, or a conspiracy person, but things here in NYC are much, much worse then what they are reporting in the mainstream news. These photos show how bad it is in Rockaway. Out where I live in South Brooklyn, Coney Island is in a similar state. There is general looting and lawlessness. Robberies, muggings and carjackings have become common in flooded areas. The temp dropped below freezing last night, and there are large numbers of people without electricity and heat.  I've lived through 911, and two NYC blackouts and this makes those events look like a dance party. If you can lend a hand, we can really use the help. We especially need technical people, like engineers, heavy equipment operators, plumbers and electricians, to get infrastructure up and running fast. We're expecting another pretty nasty storm on Wed., so I can't imagine what is going to happen then. I’m not an alarmist, or a conspiracy person, but things here in NYC are much, much worse then what they are reporting in the mainstream news. These photos show how bad it is in Rockaway. Out where I live in South Brooklyn, Coney Island is in a similar state. There is general looting and lawlessness. Robberies, muggings and carjackings have become common in flooded areas. The temp dropped below freezing last night, and there are large numbers of people without electricity and heat.  I’ve lived through 911, and two NYC blackouts and this makes those events look like a dance party.

If you can lend a hand, we can really use the help. We especially need technical people, like engineers, heavy equipment operators, plumbers and electricians, to get infrastructure up and running fast. We’re expecting another pretty nasty storm on Wed., so I can’t imagine what is going to happen then.

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